Blue White Illustrated

August 2025

Penn State Sports Magazine

Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1537537

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 111 of 115

1 1 2 A U G U S T 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M W ill Micah Parsons have a new contract by the time his fifth NFL season kicks off with a trip to his home state? The Dallas Cowboys will open their season Sept. 4 against the defending Super Bowl cham- pion Philadelphia Eagles, and Parsons would like to have a new pact signed by then. The Har- risburg, Pa., native and former All-America linebacker at Penn State is in the final year of his rookie contract, which is when most franchises try to lock up their standouts. Parsons is a two-time first- team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection, as well as the only player in league history to have at least 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons. He's a standout by any measure, but he was still without a deal as of mid-July. Parsons has attended mandatory events this offseason while skipping vol- untary ones. Both sides have been work- ing on a contract that should eclipse the $40-million-per-year pact that star pass rusher Myles Garrett signed with the Cleveland Browns in March. The Cowboys open camp on July 22 in Oxnard, Calif. Parsons told Cow- boys.com earlier this year that it was "extremely important" to have a deal in place before that. "You really see a lot of players struggle when guys aren't participating in camp and they're getting off to slow starts," he said. "I don't want to get off to a slow start. I want to hit the ground running and establish ourselves in this league and get some wins early in the season, and be in rhythm. It's going to be ex- tremely important for me to get going and lead these guys." He added that he plans to attend training camp no matter what his con- tract status. "I might not be on the field for part of it, but I'll be there learning," he said. "That way, I'm at least getting prepared to be ready for Week 1." FORMER NITTANY LIONS IN THE NFL As of July 14 Saquon Barkley (Played at Penn State from 2015-17), RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Barkley, who last year finished the regular season with 2,005 yards to become only the ninth player in league history to top the 2,000- yard plateau, signed a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension in March, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. Ryan Bates (2016-18), OL, Chicago Bears: Bates was slowed by injuries throughout the 2024 season. It started with shoulder and elbow problems, and he ended up missing the Bears' last seven games after suffering a concussion. Jaquan Brisker (2019-21), S, Chicago Bears: Brisker missed five of the Bears' first 10 games with a concussion. He went on injured reserve Nov. 14 and never returned. He totaled 40 tackles and an interception. Cam Brown (2016-19), LB, Miami Dolphins: Brown was signed to Miami's practice squad during the 2024 offseason but spent the year on injured reserve. His status with the fran- chise entering training camp is not clear. Ji'Ayir Brown (2020-22), S, San Francisco 49ers: In his second pro season, Brown fin- ished fourth on the team with 77 tackles. He also had an interception and 6 passes defended. Abdul Carter (2022-24), DE, New York Giants: Chosen third overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Carter signed a four-year, $45.3 million contract with the Giants, including a $29.6 million signing bonus. Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21), CB, Philadelphia Eagles: Picked up by Philadelphia after Carolina waived him last October, Castro-Fields was on the Eagles' roster ahead of train- ing camp. Dan Chisena (2015-19), WR, Caro- lina Panthers: Chisena was elevated to the active roster for the final six games of the regular season and caught 3 passes for 37 yards. He signed a one-year deal with Carolina this spring. Sean Clifford (2017-22), QB, Green Bay Packers: Clifford spent his second pro season on the Packers' practice squad and did not see any game action. He now enters his third pro season as the team's third-string quarterback. Jahan Dotson (2018-21), WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Dotson caught 19 passes for 216 yards during the regular season. In the Super Bowl, he caught 2 of 3 targets for 42 yards. One of them went for 28 yards, which set up the Eagles' first score of the game. Arnold Ebiketie (2021), LB, Atlanta Falcons: Ebiketie played in 17 games and started two. He had 38 tackles including 6 sacks, 12 quar- terback hurries and 2 pass breakups. Olumuyiwa Fashanu (2020-23), OL, New York Jets: Fashanu totaled 534 snaps as a rookie in 2024. He is expected to start at tackle this fall. Pat Freiermuth (2018-20), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Freiermuth led the Steelers in catches (65) and receiving touchdowns (7), and he was second in receiving yards (653) during the regular season. Will Fries (2017-20), OL, Minnesota Vi- kings: After four seasons with Indianapolis, Fries signed a five-year, $88 million contract with the Vikings this offseason. Mike Gesicki (2014-17), TE, Cincinnati Ben- gals: Gesicki finished his first season in Cin- cinnati with 65 receptions for 665 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Bengals signed him to a three-year, $25.5 million contract extension this offseason. Blake Gillikin (2016-19), P, Arizona Cardi- Micah Parsons Still Seeking New Contract From Cowboys G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G . P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M PSU IN THE PROS A consensus All-American at Penn State, Parsons totaled 52.5 sacks in his first four NFL seasons. PHOTO COURTESY DALLAS COWBOYS

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Blue White Illustrated - August 2025