Cowboys Quarterback Hunter Not at Voluntary OTAs

SAN ANGELO— Another Dallas Cowboys superstar is not at the voluntary organized team activities.

Yesterday, it was reported that Cowboys All-Pro wide receiver Ceedee Lamb was not attending the team’s organized team activities. Now, All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons reportedly is not with the team either.

Parsons told NFL’s Jane Slater that he will attend the Cowboys OTAs and has been with Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud on a tour through Southeast Asia.

These are, again, voluntary workouts.

The Cowboys did pick up Parson’s rookie fifth-year option for 2025, as a defensive end, but fans can expect the Cowboys and the All-Pro to get a deal done at some point. The Cowboys might not go wild in free agency anymore signing other team’s former players but do try and hold onto talent they draft.

Parsons, along with Lamb, were both drafted by the Cowboys in 2021 and 2020 respectively and are franchise players. Only problem is, franchise players cost money, and both will want to be paid at the top of their positions.

Lamb will be easier to work as he is a receiver, but Parsons plays all over the defense, or used to, for Dallas. The designation of picking up Parson’s fifth-year option as a defensive end over linebacker makes a difference in the money the playmaker makes. As a linebacker, he would make around $24 million and as a defensive end, he’ll make $21 million.

In 2021, Parsons spent 41% of defensive snaps on the line, 55% at linebacker, and 3% at defensive back. Compared to 2022 and 2023 where Parsons spent over 80% of defensive snaps on the line. Parsons was drafted as a linebacker.

Fans might have issues with where Parsons spends his snaps. On the line, he’s coming after the quarterback most of the time but at linebacker, he can utilize his athleticism and speed to move around the field.

Although, it doesn’t seem to matter where Parsons plays, in relation to quarterback hunter, as in 2021, he had 13 sacks, 13.5 in 2022, and 14 in 2023.

On top of Lamb and Parsons, the Cowboys also have quarterback Dak Prescott’s deal to worry about. Many thought they would get an extension, and very well still might, before the start of the season as he enters his final year of his current deal.

The Cowboys already extended cornerback Trevon Diggs and have another ball hawk in DaRon Bland, who made NFL history with five interceptions returned for touchdowns this past season. Bland is coming up on a contract as well. Tight end Jake Ferguson, who had a breakout season last year, will be waiting to sign the dotted line also.

At the end of the day, this is Jerry Jones we’re talking about.