NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
When the dust settles for the Dallas Cowboys, Micah Parsons will be a Green Bay Packer, the Cowboys will have picked up two first-round draft picks, and Kenny Clark will be a Cowboy. Tension heated up this summer, and now all parties can turn the page. Breaking down the deal, was it the right move by Dallas? A smart career move by Parsons? Does it make Green Bay a better contender?
From A Cowboys Perspective
Even before they decided to trade Parsons, Dallas was already in rebuild mode on defense. A team that ranked 28th in total yards in 2024 and allowed 355 YPG needed a reset. With five of the team’s nine picks focused on defense in the draft, the Cowboys knew what they were getting into. They also added free agents Dante Fowler Jr. and Kenneth Murray Jr.
Additionally, there’s a new sheriff in town as the DC for the Cowboys. The team moved on from Mike Zimmer in 2024 to Matt Eberflus in 2025. It’s safe to say that they were going to go through some growing pains as the team gels into a new system with heavy turnover. So, what the Cowboys needed from Parsons was his veteran leadership during the transitional phase of a rebuilt defense.
From A Parsons Perspective
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 28, 2025
Parsons was deserving of a new deal. He’s one of the best at his position, and the Dallas Cowboys knew it. Jerry Jones knew it, too; that’s why he was bragging about trying to sign him to the highest guaranteed, non-QB contract, but Jones overplayed his hand if reports are true.
The word is that Jones offered a 5-year extension, something rarely accepted on a rookie contract. Jones was looking to lock up Parsons for 6 more years. Financially, this would’ve cost Parsons one more big contract. The back half of a player’s career is often 1–2-year deals with lesser money. By Parsons getting a 3-year extension with the Packers, he’ll still be on the right side of 30 years old. That doesn’t guarantee a big payday, but his productivity and health need to be intact, but it’s more likely to get another 3–4-year deal when it’s up. Chances are, if Parsons stayed in Dallas, not many teams would be looking to offer a 32-year-old a hefty contract. Three years doesn’t seem like a lot, but a position that gives and takes a lot of hits tends to wear down in the early 30s.
From The Packers’ Perspective
Green Bay fans have to be loving the Dallas Cowboys right now. They might build a statue to Jerry Jones at Lambeau Field. The team was already a playoff contender last season and needed to do a bit more to stay toe to toe with the Detroit Lions. The Packers defense allowed, on average, just 310 yards and 39 touchdowns, but it was the 290 yards and 2 TDs in the playoffs that they have to be mindful of.
Getting a pass rusher in a division that features the fast-paced defense of the Detroit Lions and new-look Minnesota Vikings was key. Even outside of their division, they’ll still have to go up against the Eagles and Commanders in the playoffs, both with high-performance QBs under center. This was an instant upgrade for Green Bay.
When it’s all said and done, the two sides were just too far apart. Jerry Jones thought the star on the side of the helmet instantly bought him loyalty, and Parsons knew his worth. No matter how you look at it, Micah Parsons wasn’t going to be a Dallas Cowboys defender in 2025. The defense is still rebuilding, and two picks and contract savings will help rebuild that defense. Like it or not, this went a long way towards that.
