Dallas Cowboys open 2025 camp with Super Bowl talk from Tyler Smith, but all eyes are on Micah Parsons' looming contract hold-in. Will the star get his deal?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The California sun is back, the tents are up in Oxnard, and the Dallas Cowboys have officially opened training camp for the 2025 season. But alongside the familiar optimism of a fresh start, two massive, conflicting narratives are already battling for the spotlight. While Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith boldly set the bar at 'Super Bowl champions,' the entire operation is overshadowed by the looming contract situation of its best player, Micah Parsons.
'Super Bowl champions.' That's the expectation.
You can't talk about Cowboys camp without talking about #11. All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons is in Oxnard, but the question is for how long and in what capacity. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Parsons is looking for a historic extension, one that will likely eclipse T.J. Watt's market-setting $41 million per year. While he's expected to report to avoid fines, a 'hold-in'—where he attends meetings but limits or avoids on-field participation—seems almost certain until a deal is done. The front office just locked up fellow defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80 million extension, a move that Osa hopes is a sign of things to come for his teammate. Still, the silence from the Joneses on Parsons' deal is deafening, making it the single biggest storyline heading into the season.
Despite the contractual storm clouds, the players on the field are talking big. Left guard Tyler Smith didn't mince words upon arrival, declaring the team's expectation is to be 'Super Bowl champions.' It's a bold statement for a team that finished 7-10 last season and hasn't sniffed an NFC Championship Game in 30 years. But it speaks to the renewed energy under rookie head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who also takes over play-calling duties. The optimism is fueled by an influx of new talent, including receiver George Pickens, linebackers Kenneth Murray Jr. and Jack Sanborn, and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. The message is clear: last year was a fluke, and this new-look roster has the talent to finally get over the hump.
With the team officially arriving on July 20th and kicking things off today, the real work is about to begin. The first practice open to the public is scheduled for tomorrow, July 22, giving fans their first glimpse of Schottenheimer's squad. This camp is crucial for building chemistry, especially with key acquisitions like Pickens on offense and several new faces on defense. The coming weeks will be filled with intense roster battles as the team works its way toward the August 26 cutdown day. For now, it's about stacking good days, installing the new schemes, and proving that the talk of a championship is more than just California dreaming.
The stage is set in Oxnard. On one side, you have a team talking championships, eager to integrate new pieces and erase the memory of a losing season. On the other, you have a contract negotiation with a generational talent that could define the franchise's salary cap for the next decade. All eyes now turn to the State of the Union press conference, where Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and Brian Schottenheimer will face the music. Will they talk about a deal for Parsons, or will they echo Smith's Super Bowl-sized expectations? In Dallas, the drama is always just getting started.
