The Dallas Cowboys unsurprisingly picked up Micah Parsons' fifth-year option ahead of the 2024 NFL season, which means he's now under contract through 2025. 

The news is only relevant to a degree as both sides are likely going to have to hammer out a contract extension before the 2025 season anyway (ideally, that would happen this offseason) to avoid a holdout or a hostile negotiation with a generational player such as Parsons. 

However, there's a bit of information from the report that has raised some eyebrows among fans and media members alike. 

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Micah Parsons' fifth-year option is reportedly being picked up as DE

Per the Dallas Morning News, Micah's fifth-year option is being picked up as a defensive end instead of as linebacker, which has financial implications worth around two million dollars:  

Parsons is receiving his fifth-year option at defensive end, not linebacker, two people familiar with the decision told The Dallas Morning News. As a linebacker, Parsons would earn a little more than $24 million in 2025, the final season of his rookie contract. As a defensive end, his 2025 salary will be $21.32 million. – Michael Gehlken

My immediate reaction to this was somewhere along the lines of "Wait, what!? A linebacker fifth-year option is costlier than a defensive end? Why?" 

The answer to that question revolves around the fact that the NFL is severely outdated in how it lists positions at a league level. Players like T.J. Watt are counted as linebackers because they're outside LBs. Instead, the NFL should group those together as EDGE players and separate LB as off-ball players only. It doesn't make sense that Watt and Fred Warner go under the same LB group, right? 

As for what it means for Parsons and the Cowboys, there has been a lot of speculation about this potentially being a contention point between the two sides. I believe that to be an overblown storyline so far for two big reasons. 

Cowboys reportedly don't get to decide what position Micah Parsons is classified as

Some clarity emerged on Wednesday as Ari Meirov from The 33rd Team reported, "the Cowboys aren’t the ones who decide what position Micah Parsons is classified as. That will be decided by the NFL Management Council."

Parsons could file a grievance if he's unhappy with the decision but this isn't as simple as the Cowboys arbitrarily picking the position.

Additionally, the difference between the two positions is only around $2.7 million. While that's a lot of dough, Parsons might be better off having the Cowboys acknowledge him as a DE in the long run. After all, when his contract is negotiated it will be as an edge rusher, something the front office is leaving zero doubt of by listing him as DE.

The real story here will be all about how quickly the Cowboys are able to get a deal. Often times, they've allowed the market to get ahead of them handing leverage to the players. This is one of those they shouldn't wait on. Just get Micah secured already.

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