Stephen Jones Confesses Mistake with Dak Prescott – Could He Be About to Repeat It with Micah Parsons?

Stephen Jones, executive vice president of the Dallas Cowboys, recently admitted that one of his past contract negotiations was a mistake — and it’s raising serious questions about the team’s approach to its current superstar, Micah Parsons. While Jones’s admission about Dak Prescott’s contract saga may seem like a sign of growth, it also highlights a troubling pattern. Could the Cowboys be on the verge of making the same mistake again with Parsons, a player poised to become one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in NFL history?

Stephen Jones’ Regret Over Dak Prescott’s Contract: A Cautionary Tale

In an interview with NBC5’s Pat Doney in 2021, Stephen Jones openly admitted that he regretted the way the Cowboys handled Dak Prescott’s first contract extension. “Probably would’ve signed Dak the first time around,” Jones confessed, laughing as he reflected on how things could have gone more smoothly for both the team and Prescott. At the time, Prescott was playing under the franchise tag, and negotiations dragged on for months before a deal was finally struck.

In hindsight, Jones acknowledged that delaying the contract extension created unnecessary tension and ultimately cost the Cowboys more money than if they had acted sooner. Prescott’s deal was finalized in 2021, but not before the team had to pay a premium for waiting. The Cowboys’ inability to lock up their star quarterback early in the process led to a protracted negotiation and a higher price tag in the end. Jones’s reflection on this misstep raises the question: Has the team learned from this mistake?

The Micah Parsons Dilemma: A New Contract, Same Old Pattern?

Now, as the Cowboys prepare for the 2025 season, the team finds itself in a similar situation with linebacker Micah Parsons. Like Prescott, Parsons is on the cusp of becoming one of the highest-paid players in the league, and the Cowboys face the challenge of locking him up long term. However, despite Parsons’ growing importance to the team, there’s been no major movement toward finalizing a contract extension—similar to how Prescott’s situation played out.

Given Jones’s past remarks about the Prescott negotiation, one has to wonder whether the Cowboys are once again risking the possibility of a prolonged, expensive negotiation. Parsons is undeniably one of the best defensive players in the NFL, and the longer the Cowboys wait, the higher the price tag could become. The team is already facing financial constraints, and failing to act quickly could lead to the same scenario they faced with Prescott, where they end up paying more than necessary.

Could Parsons End Up with the Same Fate as Prescott?

One of the main concerns for the Cowboys as they delay Parsons’ extension is the potential for external interest. While it’s unlikely that a trade for Parsons is imminent, the longer the Cowboys wait, the more they risk alienating their star linebacker. Other teams could potentially make a move for Parsons, knowing that he’s in the final stretch of his rookie contract. Waiting too long could also lead to dissatisfaction on Parsons’ end, which might harm team chemistry and morale.

Moreover, the pressure is mounting for the Cowboys to secure Parsons now. The defensive powerhouse is set to break records as the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, and every passing day adds to the cost of keeping him in Dallas. With the team’s roster still evolving and several positions in flux, it’s crucial for the Cowboys to lock in Parsons before his price becomes untenable.

Will Stephen Jones Make the Same Mistake Twice?

Given Stephen Jones’s history of reflecting on past missteps, it’s hard to ignore the parallels between the Prescott contract situation and the current negotiations with Parsons. While Jones has stated that waiting on negotiations is not an issue, he must understand that the stakes are incredibly high with Parsons. Parsons is a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ defense, and not securing him sooner could have disastrous consequences for the team’s future.

Jones’s public admission that he would have handled Prescott’s extension differently suggests that there’s room for improvement in how the Cowboys manage contract negotiations. However, the real test will be whether the Cowboys, under Jones’s leadership, act swiftly to avoid repeating the same mistake with Parsons. If they continue to delay, they may find themselves in a similar situation to Prescott’s—negotiating from a position of weakness and paying more than they should have.

The Clock Is Ticking: Time for the Cowboys to Lock in Parsons?

As the 2025 season draws closer, the Cowboys face an urgent decision regarding Parsons’ contract. The team must strike a balance between securing their star linebacker and maintaining financial flexibility. Waiting too long could lead to unnecessary complications, both on the field and off. As the Cowboys learned from their previous negotiations with Prescott, the cost of hesitation can be steep.

In the end, it remains to be seen whether Stephen Jones has truly learned from his past mistakes. The question now is whether he will act quickly and decisively to secure Micah Parsons or risk repeating the same costly errors that have haunted the Cowboys in the past. The future of the Cowboys’ defense—and their chances of competing for championships—may depend on it.