A New Era for the Cowboys’ Defense Dawns: Matt Eberflus and Micah Parsons to Write the Next Chapter

As Dallas named former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus its defensive coordinator, the franchise expects Eberflus to install a system that puts a premium on aggressive pressure from its defensive front.

The hitch in this plan: Dallas’ top pressure player, Micah Parsons, is entering the fifth-year option and final year of his rookie contract on a team that has failed to sign top stars to spring deals lately. When receiver CeeDee Lamb held out through this past summer’s training camp before receiving a deal, the Cowboys’ offense responded with a slow start to the season.

That was with continuity at play-caller and offensive system.

Parsons and the Cowboys are preparing to learn their third defensive system in three seasons, which could further the importance of contract clarity on the unit.

Will the Cowboys extend Parsons sooner?

“I don’t think anyone’s ever underestimated Micah’s value in terms of what he can bring,” executive vice president Stephen Jones told Yahoo Sports on Tuesday. “From the day he walked in the door, he’s been one of those [guys who] when he’s rolling, it’s a problem for the other guys and they got to find him. They got to figure out how they’re gonna go at him.

“I don’t want to get into the details [of] early, late, when all that comes. Too early for any of that, but obviously Micah is an important part of what we’re about.”

It may be too early for a team still assembling its defensive staff to develop a clear plan for player extensions. But the Cowboys’ route to extending Parsons could hinge on two factors.

The first: Is Dallas willing to pay Parsons the money players at his position have commanded, as some of his predecessors have reset the market among non-quarterback contracts?

And second: Lamb last year waited to sign with Dallas until Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson reset the market. Could Parsons similarly slow-pay a deal until the Pittsburgh Steelers extend T.J. Watt and the Cleveland Browns do so with Myles Garrett.

When the Cowboys drafted Parsons 12th overall in 2021, they envisioned Parsons could exceed the inside linebacker role he played at Penn State. Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones described Parsons’ potential that night as one of “pressure, pressure, pressure.”

After four years pressuring the rest of the league, Parsons now has the chance to pressure the Cowboys.