Mailbag: How does Garrett deal affect Parsons?

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Now that Myles Garrett has signed a new contract extension worth $40 million per year, how will that affect Micah Parsons' contract negotiations? Parsons has said he doesn't have to be the highest paid non-quarterback, but I can't imagine he would take anything less than $36 million per year. – Stephen Smith/Coatesville, PA

Nick: I think it's probably good to know where the ceiling is and that contract seems like that would be the top. I don't see Parsons going over that. Sure, Garrett is older but he's a little more accomplished even after his first four seasons in the league, where Micah is currently.

I do think the Maxx Crosby contract is probably going to affect Parsons' contract more than Garrett. Crosby getting a three-year extension worth $106 million has to be the floor for what Micah will be asking for. I can see a Parsons deal now fitting somewhere in between that.

I hate to say this in terms of jinxing things, but it might even be easier now. If you don't think Parsons is going to be less than Crosby and won't be higher than Garrett, then it's time to get something down right in the middle of that. And the sooner the better, knowing that a deal for Parsons could save the Cowboys as much as $10 million right now. How much is $10 million? Well, sounds like a slot cornerback with a huge locker-room presence that just left for the Jaguars.

Kurt: It's a good bet that Parsons was never signing for less than $36 million even before Garrett inked his new deal. Once the Raiders and Maxx Crosby agreed to a three-year extension for $35.5 million, you knew Parsons was likely going to get more.

But will he now top Garrett's mark? Parsons has said before that he didn't need $40 million per year, but that was before the Browns so graciously reset the market for EDGE rushers. You'd have to think that's changed everything, which I'm sure the Cowboys are thrilled about.

Comparing the two players' first four seasons in the NFL, Parsons (2021-24) and Garrett (2017-20) averaged exactly .833 sacks per game but Parsons came out ahead in nearly every other category, including tackles per game (4.06 to 2.98), tackles for loss (1.0 to .82), QB hits (1.78 to 1.6) and pressures (2.81 to 2.33).

Garrett, who is four years older, earned two Pro Bowl invites in his first four years with one first-team All-Pro honor while Parsons totaled four Pro Bowl trips, two first-team All-Pros and won the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Throw in their Approximate Values in those stretches as determined by Pro Football Reference (60 to 37) and Parsons clearly got off to a better start to his career than Garrett, which Parsons' negotiating team will likely use to argue for a better contract.

Now, if you just look at the last four seasons when Parsons entered the league (2021-24), Garrett outpaces Parsons in some categories, including total sacks, 60 to 52.5. And Garrett has four Pro Bowls, three first-team All-Pros and, of course, Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023. He also has a better AV, 67 to 60.

Which perhaps might be the argument the Cowboys try to make. Hey, Micah, you're no doubt good, but you're not Myles Garrett quite yet. Regardless, if Parsons' upcoming deal doesn't top Garrett's, he's going to be mighty close.

Perhaps the one good thing to come out of Garrett's signing is there really is no reason for Parsons and the Cowboys to drag out their negotiations. The bar has been set. It's time to get a deal done.