With the ever-increasing salary cap, plus the market value for premium positions continuing to rise, the Dallas Cowboys are about to enter into a serious pickle. Not only does Dak Prescott need a new long-term deal, as does superstar wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

Oh, by the way, don’t forget about pass-rushing phenom Micah Parsons, who is quickly approaching his own lucrative record-setting deal to stay in Dallas. Potential movement on the Parsons front happened when the Jacksonville Jaguars inked Josh Allen to a five-year, $150 million extension earlier this week.

That is $30 million annual value for Allen, who exploded to a career-best 17.5 sack campaign last season during his contract year. Comparing Allen to Parsons over the last three seasons, it leans heavily in favor of the Cowboys’ star:

Allen = 32 sacks, 109 pressures in 50 games

Parsons = 40.5 sacks, 131 pressures in 50 games

Allen inking his own lucrative deal now sets the bare minimum floor for contract negotiations with Parsons. Parsons will demand he tops Allen’s deal, and he deserves that alone based on head-to-head pass rush production.

A fair market value for Parsons now leans more in the Aaron Donald stratosphere. Look back to what Donald signed on his last deal with the Los Angeles Rams: $95 million over three years. Donald carried an annual contract value of $31.6 million. Now, factoring in market inflation, Parsons should be looking in the neighborhood of $32 million AAV at minimum.

Would Parsons’ camp and the Cowboys agree upon a proposed structure paying him $160 million over five years? Not only does this top Allen’s figure, but also the Donald deal as well.

Parsons is ready to break records for defensive players, in terms of finances. Not only will Parsons want higher than Allen and Donald, but go ahead and parse over the record-breaking contract for Nick Bosa. The San Francisco 49ers signed Bosa to a five-year, $170 million deal, which is already proving its weight in gold for their organization.

Bosa has Parsons beat out in pass-rush statistics like sacks (44 vs. 40) and pressures (149 vs. 131) since 2021-22, but everyone knows the next up in line at this point is making history. Whether it be quarterbacks, wide receivers, cornerbacks or defensive linemen, record-setting deals are becoming the new normal every offseason.

Jerry Jones and the Cowboys’ front office better be ready to fork over maybe more than they ever expected, because Parsons will want $35-plus million in annual value.

So, is Dallas ready to pay up to the tune of $175 million over five years?