How Nick Bosa's record-breaking deal impacts Cowboys' Micah Parsons

After 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa became the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history on Wednesday, Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons should lick his chops.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year and San Francisco agreed to a five-year, $170M deal. Parsons — who has two years left on his rookie deal, which includes a fifth-year option — could earn an exorbitant extension soon.

Teammates believe he's worth every penny.
 
"Just give him the checkbook, let him write his number down, and then let him cash the check," Dallas safety Jayron Kearse told Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News on Monday. "We have a lot of pivotal players on our defense, myself included. But that's one it will be tough, extremely tough, to duplicate the things he does for our defense."
 
The 12th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft won Defensive Rookie of the Year and has earned two first-team All-Pro nods. Over the past two seasons, he has recorded 26.5 sacks, sixth in the NFL.  

In 2022, he finished second in DPOY voting for a second consecutive season. So the 24-year-old is more focused on mirroring Bosa and capturing the elusive award instead of a new deal.
 
"[Bosa] really showed why he was the best player in the league last year, and it gives you something to chase," Parsons said Wednesday, per Gehlken. "Not in terms of his contract, but in terms of how great he was if you study his mindset, how patient he was."

Regardless, Parsons winning DPOY will raise his market value. Per OddsChecker, he's favored (+500) to win the award.

While Dallas has multiple stars up for extensions, such as wideout CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott, it must prioritize Parsons. He's one of the most dominant players in the league, and if the Cowboys are serious about pursuing a sixth Super Bowl title, they simply can't afford to let him walk.