Kicking poisonous habits to the curb can not occur in a single day. The street to restoration takes time, however the Dallas Cowboys took some steps in the fitting path relating to being extra proactive with figuring out and re-signing gamers they need to be part of the group’s long-term future.
No, it wasn’t Micah Parsons, however information broke Sunday that Dallas re-signed Professional Bowl tight finish Jake Ferguson to a four-year, $52 million contract with $30 million in whole ensures, per NFL Media. The Cowboys are re-signing Ferguson, their 2022 fourth-round choose, forward of the ultimate season of his rookie deal in 2025 even after an injury-plagued 2024 marketing campaign. He suffered a knee damage in Week 1 on the Cleveland Browns final season that he was unable to completely shake. Ferguson’s accidents woes have been compounded by a concussion in Week 11 towards the Houston Texans and quarterback Dak Prescott struggling a season-ending hamstring tear in Week 9 on the Atlanta Falcons. All of that added as much as Ferguson producing solely 59 catches for 494 yards receiving and no touchdowns on 86 targets, making 2024 the primary season of his NFL profession with out a landing catch.
“My knee damage for positive,” Ferguson mentioned of the 2024 season at necessary minicamp. “The concussion was bizarre, however I’ve mentioned this earlier than: If I am out on the sector, I ought to have the ability to give it my all. So I positively wasn’t happy with how I performed the entire 12 months final 12 months. I do not suppose I’ve ever performed a full season and never scored a landing, in order that was one thing I got here into this offseason actually engaged on.”
The season prior in 2023, Ferguson and Prescott made candy music collectively. The tight finish caught 71 passes for 761 yards and 5 touchdowns on 102 targets, which resulted in his sole Professional Bowl nod of his three-year profession. Prescott threw an NFL-leading 36 landing passes that season and earned league MVP runner-up for his efforts. With a return to well being in 2025, each Prescott and Ferguson might have vital bounce again years with the quarterback going to tearing tight window throws over the center to the 6-foot-5-inch, 244-pound tight finish. Loads of that was on show in necessary minicamp within the spring.
“That is been going again since I bought right here. I really like the seam ball, he loves throwing it,” Ferguson mentioned. “We simply occurred to have that play referred to as in the present day, however we have been repping that every day, routes on air, stuff like that. That is been a connection that is been constructing repeatedly.”
Cowboys proprietor and common supervisor Jerry Jones made a wise transfer, re-signing a key participant earlier than they hit free company regardless of coming off of a down 12 months. It is the time of proactivity that may serve Dallas nicely most of the time relating to contract extensions going ahead.
“Our relationship’s nice,” Prescott mentioned of Ferguson on the final day of necessary minicamp. “I believe if I in all probability completed that season out, he will get a landing. That is a man that is a competitor. He needs to win, has excessive requirements. I do know a 12 months like that, is simply pushing him. I’ve seen in the way in which that he is approaching this offseason and attacking every thing, the small print, the questions he is asking. Our relationship is simply rising. He is a gifted man. He is an enforcer on this offense. And we want him.”
Time for Jones to beat fears with Micah Parsons
Jones did every thing he might on the Cowboys’ introductory coaching camp press convention on Monday to point out he, most of the time, does not belief his gamers to stay wholesome sufficient, in the long term, to signal his personal marquee gamers early. Jones’ worry alerts why All-Professional edge rusher Micah Parsons stays on the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract getting into the 2025 regardless of nicely outperforming that deal.
“There’s numerous water below the bridge in case you step on the market and do one thing within the first two to a few years,” Jones mentioned Monday about giving out early contract extensions. “You may get hit by a automobile. Significantly. There’s rather a lot to take a look at over numerous years that would make a giant distinction.”
Parsons, on the age of 26, is the primary participant since sacks grew to become tracked as a person statistic in 1982 to register 12 or extra sacks in every of his first 4 seasons within the NFL. Corridor of Famer Reggie White completed the feat in his first 4 seasons performed within the NFL however not in his first 4 years within the league: White was the fourth total choose within the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft however did not start taking part in NFL soccer till the 1985 season. Parsons’ 330 quarterback pressures since getting into the NFL in 2021 are tied for essentially the most within the league with Las Vegas Raiders Professional Bowler Maxx Crosby, in accordance with TruMedia.
But, Jones’ paralysis has him considering again to early offers for cornerback Trevon Diggs and proper sort out Terence Steele not understanding due to accidents regardless of Parsons lacking simply 5 whole video games in 4 seasons. 4 of these have been in 2024 due to an ankle sprain, a determine Jones by accident misrepresented as six video games missed.
“Simply because we signal him, does not imply we will have him,” Jerry Jones mentioned Monday. “He was damage [four, not six] video games final 12 months. Significantly. I bear in mind signing a participant for the best paid on the place within the league and he bought knocked out two-thirds of the 12 months, Dak Prescott. So there’s numerous issues you possibly can take into consideration simply because the participant does while you’re desirous about committing and guaranteeing cash.”
The explanation Prescott is on a four-year, $240 million contract, which provides him the best common per 12 months wage ($60 million) within the NFL, is as a result of Jones waited to do a deal till hours earlier than Week 1 final season. He might have re-signed Prescott at any level after a 2022 down 12 months during which he led the NFL with 15 interceptions. Enjoying the ready sport allowed Prescott to revive his leverage and signal that market-resetting deal. It is too late for Jones to get well leverage with Parsons, however maybe he can do what’s greatest for his franchise by re-signing Parsons after which rapidly addressing a brand new contract for two-time Professional Bowl left guard Tyler Smith — the brand new chief of Dallas’ offensive line. Different key gamers getting into contract years for the Cowboys embrace All-Professional cornerback DaRon Bland, All-Professional kicker Brandon Aubrey and huge receiver George Pickens.
Hope for Jones to alter his methods at 82-years-old could be an excessive amount of to ask, however the re-signing of Ferguson signifies the Cowboys proprietor would possibly have the ability to take a distinct method to taking good care of his high gamers sooner or later. Both approach, Parsons is the apparent subsequent step.
