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Todd Archer
Frisco, Texas – This would be the perfect time for Dallas Cowboys to move forward.
And it is not just an extension for the All-Pro Micah Parsons passes corridor.
Three key members of the Cowboys Draft Class are in a position to sign extensions. The first round Tyler Smith, a Pro Bowl guard, has its fifth year option by 2026 at a cost of $ 21.27 million. The closed wing Jake Ferguson, his fourth round selection, and corner Daron Bland, his fifth round selection, are about to enter the last year of their respective rookie contracts.
The cowboys created more than $ 55 million in capitalization space for a reason, although it has not yet led to a high -price firm of an external free agent. They can use that money in extensions for the three players, and Parsons, who is entering the last year of their rookie agreement.
As has been said again and again, an extension would actually reduce the 2025 salary lid figure of Parsons.
The extensions for Smith, Ferguson and Bland would increase those 2025 figures but not exorbitantly.
Smith went to North Crowley High School in Fort Worth. This is home. It was an All-Rro of the second team in 2023 and has been in the last two Pro Bowls.
Despite having played three seasons, he only turns 24 next month. It is the perfect cornerstone to build the offensive line, now that Zack Martin has retired, in the same way as before with Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Martin.
At the end of the season, Smith rang ready for the challenge of becoming the leader of the line.
“In my mind, I think it begins to maintain that standard,” said Smith. “When I got here, from the movie theater to the tutorials, I have seen how Tyron and Zack practice. I have seen how they study. I have thought about how I can be the best leader I can be.
Bland was an All-Pro in 2023 when he led the league with nine interceptions and established a NFL record for most returns for a touchdown in a season with five. Ferguson was a replacement for injuries at the Pro Bowl in 2023 after catching 71 passes for 761 yards and five touchdowns.
The injuries helped destroy the 2024 seasons for Ferguson and Bland.
Bland failed 10 games after undergoing surgery due to a stress fracture in the left foot. After intercepting 14 passes their first two seasons, he did not intercept one in seven games last season. Ferguson lost three games in 2024, ending with 59 trapped for 494 yards. Just when he was approaching 100% after suffering a sprain of MCL in his left knee in the first game of the season, he suffered a brain shock in the tenth game, losing two competitions.
Giving a player an extension before the final season of his contract is how the cowboys used to operate, although it seems a long time ago. Smith, Frederick, Tyrone Crawford, Terence Newman, Jason Witten, Bradie James, Tony Romo and Demarcus Ware signed extensions before they sniff the free agents market.
At that time, the cowboys signed them in agreements of six, seven and even eight years, while repairing larger guarantees. It allowed them to have salary flexibility having the ability to restructure the agreements year after year if they chose.
But those days are a past era, and now the cowboys have to find a way to convince Smith, Ferguson and Bland that Dallas is the right place to play in the long term.
Bigger guarantees. Excessively just a little. There is a risk in doing so, just as there is a risk in waiting, since it could cost more money in the future. The recent extension signed by the Houston Texans corner Derek Stingley Jr., averages $ 30 million per season in new money, which probably represents a roof for a soft contract. Three years ago, the Cowboys signed Trevon Diggs to a five -year agreement and $ 97 million ($ 19 million per year).
Ferguson could be more a projection due to the injuries last season, but plays a closed wing, a position that has not seen a considerable leap in the salary of the way other positions have moved.
The open receiver of the Cincinnati Bengals, Ja’Mar Chase, is now the best fourths paid at $ 40.25 million. The Cleveland Browns passes corridor, Myles Garrett, maintained that brand for approximately a week at $ 40 million annually.
While Parsons said he does not need to be the best paid defensive player in the NFL, he can bet that his agent will want it to be. Last year, the Cowboys could not sign the Ceedee Lamb receptor until the end of the training camp and the Dak Prescott field marshal hours before the first game of the season. Those agreements made Lamb the second highest receiver paid and Prescott the best paid player in the game.
With Parsons, cowboys can have it under contractual control until 2028, if they choose to use the franchise label. Parsons has declared that his goal is to be a cowboy for life. The cowboys have said that their goal is to sign Parsons in the long term. Maybe they find that midpoint before what many believe.
But if they need the label for Parsons, then they will not have one for Smith, Ferguson or Bland next March.
In a perfect world, the cowboys would sign the four to the extensions before the season begins, although recent history says that will not happen.
Getting at least one or two of them would be a good start.
