Micah Parsons

Cowboys, Jets Discussed Micah Parsons Trade Involving Quinnen Williams

September 14th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the aftermath of the Micah Parsons trade, a number of details have emerged with respect to other potential partners for a swap. Discussions took place between the Cowboys and Jets, but it quickly became clear no agreement would be feasible.

During an appearance on ESPN 880 AM in New York, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini) he contacted the Jets about Parsons. His asking price as part of a package from New York general manager Darren Mougey would have included defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. That comes as little surprise since Dallas specifically targeted an addition at that position in the event Parsons were to be dealt.

As one would expect, Mougey and the Jets let it be known in short order no trade would be taking place. Williams, 27, has three Pro Bowls and one first-team All-Pro nod to his name. The former No. 3 pick is well established as a focal point of the team’s defense, and his contract runs through 2027. With $64MM in outstanding compensation, Williams would have been considerably more expensive for the Cowboys than their eventual acquisition (Kenny Clark).

A major reason why the Packers ultimately swung the Parsons trade, of course, was their willingness to make a record-breaking commitment via an extension. The All-Pro edge rusher landed $47MM in AAV on a four-year pact, the highest figure ever for a non-quarterback. Parsons secured over $123MM in full guarantees, as detailed by Cimini’s colleague Rob Demovsky. The 26-year-old will also see $12.09MM – most of his 2028 salary – shift to a full guarantee early in the 2027 league year. Per-game roster bonuses worth up to $200K annually along with $250K workout bonuses are present from 2026-29, with three void years included in the accord.

SNY’s Connor Hughes notes the Jets were never going to match an extension with those terms, nor a pact in line with the informal agreement Parsons and Jones reached early this offseason. New York’s regime led by Mougey and first-year head coach Aaron Glenn made a number of lucrative commitments but prioritized in-house players in the process. Cornerback Sauce Gardner reset the cornerback market while fellow 2022 first-rounder Garrett Wilson also secured a monster second contract. Fitting in Parsons would have substantially altered the Jets’ financial planning for years to come.

Green Bay will instead look to translate the Parsons acquisition into success in 2025 and beyond. The Jets, meanwhile, will aim to end their playoff drought in Year 1 of the Mougey-Glenn era. Williams will be a critical factor in that effort, and he will no doubt be counted on well beyond 2025 as well.

Jerry Jones: No CBA Violation During Micah Parsons Negotiations

September 12th, 2025 at 10:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

Throughout the negotiating process between Micah Parsons and the Cowboys, it became clear agent David Mulugheta was not a participant. An in-person meeting between Parsons and owner Jerry Jones was followed multiple times by unsuccessful attempts on the edge rusher’s part to conduct traditional extension negotiations.

Players without agents conduct contract talks directly with their teams, but such instances are uncommon when it comes to players who have NFLPA certified representation. Mulugheta – long known as one of the most prominent agents in the NFL and who ultimately landed Parsons a Packers extension which moved the bar for non-QB compensation – was not included in the initial Parsons-Jones talks, which the All-Pro attempted to distance himself from through his trade request. Negotiations were not restarted after that took place, leading to an eventual trade agreement with Green Bay.

Interim NFLPA executive director David White commented on the matter of Jones going out of his way to avoid including Mulugheta in negotiations. Meanwhile, Darrell Revis (who has been rumored as a candidate for the full-time executive director position) offered a sharp criticism of the way the Parsons situation was handled. When speaking on the subject, Jones denied the notion that any CBA violations occurred.

“There is no violation, period,” Jones said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan (via Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS). “I have all the authority in the world and the player has all the authority in the world to negotiate directly with me. There is no equivocation there… But I will a hundred times [pay] the fine or the penalty [if one is issued].”

To Jones’ point, there is precedent for players working out extensions directly with general managers and having their agents simply finalize the agreement. The Cowboys have taken that route on multiple occasions, with Jones handling a central role given his position as Dallas’ owner but also general manager. On the other hand, monster deals like the Parsons one are not known to be worked out in short order and especially not by means of informal talks where agents are absent.

The Cowboys informed Parsons upon his attempts to resume negotiations in August he would remain in place and play out his fifth-year option or be traded. The latter route was taken, with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and a pair of first-round picks heading to Dallas. The timing of the agreement (one week before the start of the season) led to many raised eyebrows around the league and marked a departure from standard procedure for the Cowboys regarding big-ticket extension agreements being worked out late.

Jones has received criticism for the terms of the trade but also the process which resulted in a swap taking place. There have been no indications any kind of discipline will be issued to the Cowboys stemming from the Parsons negotiations, and it is clear Jones does not expect a punishment to be handed down.

Eagles Made Top Offer For Micah Parsons; Bills, Colts, Patriots Also Contacted Cowboys

September 10th, 2025 at 10:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jerry Jones slammed the door on trading Micah Parsons within the division, and while the team had hoped to send him outside the conference, traction did not pick up on such a deal. Thus, the Packers blockbuster that sent Kenny Clark and two first-rounders to the Cowboys for the All-Pro edge rusher.

The Eagles are believed to have made the top offer for Parsons, according to Fox’s Jay Glazer, who indicates the defending Super Bowl champions offered two first-round picks, a third-rounder, a fifth and other unspecified assets in an attempt to convince the Cowboys to deal within the NFC East. As could be expected, this bid did not advance far. The Panthers joined the Eagles in pursuing Parsons, though the Carolina offer was clearly not where Green Bay’s ended up going. Clark’s presence played a major role in closing the deal.

Jones said during a 105.3 The Fan appearance (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer) the Cowboys made no counteroffer to the Eagles’ proposal. Considering the Glazer-reported hesitancy about trading Parsons in-conference — something Jones himself did not indicate was part of this process — it would have been shocking to see Parsons traded to Philly. The Eagles are counting on 2024 third-round pick Jalyx Hunt to replace Josh Sweat alongside Nolan Smith, but the team is also playing without the retired Brandon Graham to open the season.

The Cowboys did receive interest from some AFC teams, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. The Bills, Colts and Patriots made calls on Parsons, but it does not appear any of these talks progressed too far. Each team was told two first-rounders and a “significant” player would be the baseline trade package. With a record-setting extension also essentially a requirement in this deal, it does not appear any major traction with an AFC team ensued. This surprised the Cowboys, per Glazer.

It is likely more interest from the AFC would have come out had the Cowboys truly shopped Parsons this offseason. The team only internally discussed moving him before the draft; no outside talks took place at that point. Still trying to extend the impact pass rusher at that stage, the Cowboys belatedly pivoted as the relationship deteriorated. Though, Glazer reports Dallas made the decision it would trade Parsons around a week before the deal ultimately went down. This would mean the team was prepared to move on before Parsons’ actions during the team’s final preseason game.

Still, Jones needed staffers to convince him to finally move on, according to Russini. As of mid-August, teams were not convinced Parsons was truly on the table. It looks like it took an effort to sway Jones, who had initially told Cowboys supporters not to lose sleep over Parsons’ trade request. But no resumption of negotiations took place. Jones dug in on the informal talks he had with Parsons this offseason. That effort to go around agent David Mulugheta did not sit well with Parsons, Mulugheta or the NFLPA. The team ended up telling Parsons, who had attempted to relaunch negotiations just before the season, to either play on his fifth-year option or be dealt.

Regarding Jones’ effort to negotiate directly with Parsons, the formerly disgruntled D-end believed the owner steered a conversation about leadership toward contract talks, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Don Van Natta Jr. report. While Parsons initially told Jones to talk to Mulugheta about the contract matter, the player contacted COO Stephen Jones later that day (March 18) to have him up the team’s offer. Parsons asked for “several different elements and increases.”

Mulugheta labeled it “unfair” to ask Parsons to both be a dominant NFL defender and be a great lawyer when it comes to negotiating, and interim NFLPA leader David White said he contacted Jerry Jones about directly negotiating with players tied to agents. Parsons’ agency never saw the terms from the direct Jones-Parsons negotiations, per Fowler and Van Natta.

The Cowboys insist they offered more in guaranteed money, but Dallas was believed to have proposed a five-year extension. Considering the cap increases to commence during this CBA, Parsons viewed — as Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb had before him — that as a too long of a commitment. The Cowboys also are believed to have “heavily” backloaded the deal — one worth $40.5MM per year — and Russini adds only one year of the contract was guaranteed.

This presumably means fully guaranteed, as Jerry Jones had previously informed Michael Irvin he offered Parsons a deal that contained the highest guarantee of any non-QB. The Packers’ willingness to fully guarantee $120MM at signing — well out of character from a team that typically offers non-QBs signing bonus-only guarantee structures — likely differs from the full guarantee in the Cowboys’ proposal. In terms of total guarantees (which cover injury guarantees or triggers that vest later), it is not unreasonable to view Dallas as beating Green Bay’s extension offer — particularly since it was a five-year proposal.

The Cowboys also received the impression, after no extension was reached in March, Parsons wanted to do his deal after the Steelers locked down T.J. Watt, according to Fowler and Van Natta. His initial negotiation with Jerry Jones occurred shortly after the Myles Garrett deal, helping explain the $40.5MM-AAV offer (as Garrett is signed to a $40MM-per-year Browns extension).

Understandably, Parsons believed he would “blow away” the deals given to Watt and Garrett due to being more than three years younger than either future Hall of Famer. The Packers’ four-year, $186MM proposal — which reset the EDGE market by more than $5MM per year — proved him accurate there.

Dallas, which is now considering Jadeveon Clowney to help its post-Parsons pass rush, drafted 2024 Division I-FBS sack leader Donovan Ezeiruaku in Round 2. That marked the third time in four years the Cowboys used a second-round pick on a defensive end (after choosing Sam Williams in 2022 and Marshawn Kneeland last year). The Cowboys did not view the Ezeiruaku pick as Parsons insurance, per Fowler and Van Natta, as the plan at the time was to have the Boston College product develop as a Parsons sidekick.

While Prescott had said he was surprised by the trade, Fowler and Van Natta add the DE’s behavior during training camp — when he staged a de facto hold-in while using a back injury — rubbed many staffers and players the wrong way. Parsons’ energy during camp was “deflating,” per the ESPN duo. However, Trevon Diggs said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) he did not believe any Cowboys players had an issue with Parsons.

Playing only 45% of the Packers’ defensive snaps in his debut, Parsons registered his first sack with his new team in a dominant home win over the Lions. It was believed Parsons was still dealing with the back injury ahead of Week 1, but he is not in danger of missing Week 2 (a Thursday-night assignment against the Commanders) on short rest. While the Cowboys attempt to replace Parsons, the Packers will attempt to unleash the well-paid trade asset in the weeks to come. Though, the fallout from this megadeal figures to last years in Dallas and Green Bay.

Packers Tried To Trade For Trey Hendrickson Prior To Micah Parsons Acquisition

September 6th, 2025 at 10:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Packers made a major investment – in terms of acquisition cost and the finances needed for an extension – by adding Micah Parsons. The now ex-Cowboy is not the only notable edge rusher Green Bay targeted this offseason.

Before the Parsons trade, the Packers were among the top suitors for Trey Hendrickson, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. Cincinnati fielded calls through the spring for the 2024 sack leader. Green Bay was among the teams which showed the most interest in Hendrickson, per Rapoport, who adds an offer was made to the Bengals.

Hendrickson’s future was again in question for much of the 2025 offseason. The Bengals allowed him to seek out a trade, differing from their stance on the matter in previous years. As Rapoport notes, though, retaining him was always Cincinnati’s preference. An agreement was reached on the length and value of a long-term extension, but the gap between team and player on guarantees could not be bridged.

As a result, Hendrickson agreed to a straight raise for 2025 without any new years being added to his pact. Efforts to work out a top-up did not begin until training camp, during which Hendrickson did not practice until his revised deal was in place. By that point, the Packers had been in contact about a trade, with a splashy addition along the edge being seen as a key priority.

Rapoport notes Kenny Clark would have been included in a Hendrickson-to-Green Bay deal, although the Packers were not willing to part with him during their initial discussions with the Bengals. The three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle ultimately wound up being on the move when Green Bay sent him and a pair of first-round picks to Dallas for Parsons. At 26, Parsons obviously represents a longer-term investment from the Packers’ perspective than Hendrickson, who will turn 31 in December.

The Eagles made a push to acquire Parsons, but to no surprise the Cowboys were not willing to deal the four-time Pro Bowler within the division. Carolina also showed interest, although no offer was made in that case. Green Bay won out based on the team’s willingness to part with Clark but also to extend Parsons on a $47MM-per-year pact, the most in NFL history for non-quarterbacks.

The back issue Parsons has been dealing with through the summer led to questions about his Week 1 availability. He is expected to suit up tomorrow, with Rapoport noting a full workload is unlikely. Having arrived one week before the start of the season, Parsons will ramp up early in the year in advance of an every-down role with his new team. The Packers are banking on a high-profile EDGE addition helping them join the NFC’s elite, something illustrated by their eventual Parsons acquisition but also the Hendrickson pursuit which preceded it.

Eagles, Panthers Showed Interest In Micah Parsons Trade

September 5th, 2025 at 10:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

Last night’s season opener began the post-Micah Parsons era for the Cowboys. Dallas’ decision to trade away the All-Pro one week before their regular season began came as a shock to many and took place after interest from a number of suitors was shown.

Following Parsons’ trade request, teams around the league did not view a swap as realistic. Dallas’ stance shifted over time, however, and calls came in before the team informed Parsons and his camp he would be play out his fifth-year option in 2025 or be dealt. Further details have now emerged regarding the trade market which took shape.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Eagles made a “strong push” to acquire Parsons this offseason. That comes as little surprise, of course. General manager Howie Roseman has a reputation for being aggressive in pursuing impact roster moves, and adding Parsons to the fold would have helped offset the losses Philadelphia suffered in the pass rush department during free agency. Josh Sweat took a Cardinals pact on the open market while Brandon Graham retired and Bryce Huff was traded to the 49ers.

The Eagles made a pair low-cost investments in Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche, inking both to one-year pacts. Their projected impacts pale in comparison to what Parsons would have been counted on to contribute, of course. In any case, a homecoming for the Pennsylvania native and Penn State product did not receive serious consideration on Dallas’ part. As Schefter notes – and as Jerry Jones stated in his post-draft press conference last week – the Cowboys were not willing to trade Parsons within the division.

In addition to the Packers, other NFC suitors were present in this case. One of those was the Panthers, per Schefter’s colleague Jeremy Fowler. He notes Carolina called about Parsons and showed interest in a potential trade. No formal offer was made by general manager Dan Morgan, however. The Cowboys targeted a defensive tackle upgrade when evaluating partners for a Parsons trade, meaning Derrick Brown would have been involved in any serious discussions had they taken place. The Panthers opted to keep Brown (instead of wideout D.J. Moore) in place when trading with the Bears for the No. 1 pick in 2023, so it comes as no surprise Carolina was not as aggressive as other suitors.

Fowler adds Parsons was “intrigued” by a few destinations, with the Packers being one of them. Before his trade (and record-breaking extension) was in place, though, the 26-year-old also showed interest in joining the Chiefs and Ravens. Per Fowler, Kansas City was never truly in contention to pull off the move. Baltimore, like other teams, would have been hard-pressed to fit a Parsons deal into future cap planning; the Ravens also would have faced a logjam along the edge had no outside linebackers been sent back in the trade.

In the end, the Packers agreed to send Kenny Clark and their first-round pick in the next two drafts to the Cowboys for Parsons. The effects of the deal will be felt by both organizations for years to come, while other suitors will move forward with their current setups on the edge.

More Parsons/Cowboys Fallout: Negotiations, Extension Length, NFLPA

September 3rd, 2025 at 9:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Following a mid-March meeting between Jerry Jones and Micah Parsons, the Cowboys owner was left with the belief that he reached an extension agreement with his star pass rusher. That deal obviously never came to fruition, ultimately culminating in last week’s stunning blockbuster trade with the Packers.

Following that fateful meeting, Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, claims he made several attempts to resume negotiations with the organization. However, Jones apparently stuck to his apparent handshake agreement and refused to return to the the negotiating table.

“To expect somebody like Micah Parsons to be one of the best defenders in the NFL and also a great lawyer when it comes to contracts, I think it’s a bit unfair,” Mulugheta said during an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” yesterday (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky and Todd Archer). “His job is to go out there and chase quarterbacks, and our job is to go out there and chase commas for him. I’m not sure exactly why it went this way, but we were always prepared and open to negotiating a contract with the Jones family.”

Mulugheta made it clear that his client always wanted to remain a Cowboy, and despite the public stare down with the organization, Parsons would have suited up for Week 1 without a new contract. That made Jones’ refusal to resume negotiations especially frustrating for the player’s camp.

“If you’re a [then-]25-year-old football player and your boss, who happens to be the most powerful person in the NFL, starts talking about contracts, it’s hard for you to end that conversation,” Mulugheta said. “So they had a conversation. Micah nodded his head out of respect.

“Obviously there’s a power dynamic that’s a little different there. One guy’s the owner of the team and the GM, and the other one is Micah Parsons, a young 25-year-old football player. So, I’m not sure if there was miscommunication there by the time Micah walked out, but at no point did Micah believe that he was negotiating a contract.”

While there apparently wasn’t much back-and-forth between the two sides, it sounds like the Cowboys still had a definitive contract on the table. Jones claimed they offered Parsons a contract that would have made him the highest-paid non-QB in league history, and sources told ESPN that the offer exceeded $150MM. However, the main difference in the Cowboys’ standing offer and the four-year, $188MM deal Parsons ultimately accepted from the Packers was the length. As Mulugheta notes, the Cowboys were sticking to a five-year offer, a contract that the agent believes would have cost his client about $60MM to $70MM in future earnings.

There was also some belief that Jones was potentially circumventing CBA rules by attempting to negotiate with Parsons directly. The interim leader of the NFL Players’ Association, David White, seemed to tiptoe around the controversy when asked about the matter.

“We intend to enforce every provision of the collective bargaining agreement when we think that there may be a violation,” White said (via Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press). “And the best way to do that is to call people and say: ‘Knock it off.’ When both sides are able to do that, when needed, that usually makes for a productive management-labor relationship. When it doesn’t work, for whatever reason, that’s when you take it to the next level, which is to file a grievance to go to court, or to take whatever action is available to you under the collective bargaining agreement. In this instance, and here you’re talking about Jerry and Micah and their representatives and the other folks involved, I will say Micah has found his way to Green Bay with a contract that he has publicly stated makes him happy, and that makes us happy.”

One contender for the full-time NFLPA executive director job was a bit more pointed in his criticism. Hall of Fame cornerback Darrelle Revis took to social media to question whether Jones should be held accountable. Revis suggested that the NFLPA could look into a grievance against the Cowboys, although he acknowledged that the subsequent fine would only amount “to pennies.”

“At the very least, the NFLPA should be saying it does not condone what Jerry is doing, that all options are on the table, and reminding players that if ownership ever tries to deal with them directly while represented, they should contact their agent and the union immediately,” Revis wrote. “The bigger issue is respect. Jerry’s actions show that owners have no problem taking advantage of us, and when our union fails to respond, it sends the message that they’ll be able to do the same in the next CBA negotiations if the current leadership remains in place.”

Packers’ Micah Parsons Uncertain To Play In Week 1?

September 2nd, 2025 at 9:50am CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 2: During a Tuesday appearance on First Take, agent David Mulugheta said (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky) Parsons’ back is feeling “much better” following the use of the corticosteroid. He added Parsons will push to play on Sunday, although his workload will be something to monitor.

SEPTEMBER 1: Through much of the Cowboys-Micah Parsons saga, back tightness was cited as the reason he did not participate in training camp practices. Following last week’s blockbuster trade to the Packers, Parsons is still dealing with the issue.

The All-Pro edge rusher has a facet joint sprain in his fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This ailment — clearly a legitimate one, rather than a simple negotiating ploy during extension talks which proved to be rather contentious — has resulted in at least a degree of uncertainty regarding whether Parsons will play in Week 1, Schefter adds. Green Bay’s season kicks off Sunday against the Lions.

If Parsons is to suit up, an epidural injection may be required. The Cowboys had the four-time Pro Bowler on a plan involving the use of an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid for five days along with a physical therapy program prior to the trade. Parsons had been cleared by Dallas’ medical staff before seeking out a second opinion.

Parsons went through a limited Packers practice in his first workout — the first true practice work he has gone through since last season — but The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Matt Schneidman and Zach Powell add a full practice is possible later this week and that it would surprise if Parsons is not at least in uniform for some part-time work against the Lions. When asked about his health at his Packers introductory presser, Parsons described himself as “great” physically.

“Physically, I’m great. I think I can contribute a lot,” Parsons said. “I’m going to team up with the doctors in creating a plan. We already talked about how we can ramp things up and get me into a flow where they feel comfortable and I feel comfortable. But my plan is to be here. They didn’t give up what they gave up for me to sit on the sidelines and make this big of a risk and change for me to do that, so I’m going to give them my all.”

Green Bay sent two first-round picks and nine-year defensive tackle starter Kenny Clark to Dallas for Parsons, and the trade haul has been widely viewed as insufficient for a player on Parsons’ trajectory. While the Cowboys’ trade timing has drawn more scrutiny, Parsons having a genuine back issue does inject some risk for the Packers. Green Bay brass is clearly unconcerned through a long-term lens, as evidenced by the record-smashing extension (four years, $186MM), but the superstar’s short-term status will need to be monitored as his first Packers season nears.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Micah Parsons Trade Fallout: Financials, Cowboys, Packers

August 30th, 2025 at 3:43pm CST by Ely Allen

When the Micah Parsons trade from Dallas to Green Bay was reported, we had a good number of details concerning the new contract Parsons would sign with the Packers. To reiterate, we listed it as a four-year, $188MM deal with $136MM in total guarantees ($120MM guaranteed at signing). Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, $44MM of those guarantees will be in the form of his signing bonus.

Pelissero continued his breakdown of the deal. Base salaries for the next two years of $1.17MM in 2025 and $2.39MM in 2026 are fully guaranteed, while the base salary of 2027 ($3.11MM) is guaranteed for injury. Option bonuses in 2026 ($38MM) and 2027 ($34.44MM) are fully guaranteed at signing, as well. Any remaining guarantees (approximately $12.89MM) would be partially guaranteed from his 2028 base salary of $40.55MM. In 2029, the final year of the deal, Parsons would have a base salary of $43.55MM and a $1MM 90-man bonus.

Parsons will also receive per game active roster bonuses of $11,764 which could total and additional $200K in each season. Every year from 2027-29 offers $250K Pro Bowl and All-Pro escalators, and 2029 holds additional $250K incentives for making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst expressed how he “really likes” Parsons’ salary cap numbers for the next three years, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, and it makes sense that he drew the line at three. Those cap hits are $9.97MM in 2025, $19.24MM in 2026, and $26.85MM in 2027. Once you jump into Year 4, though, Parsons’ cap hit goes to $64.29MM in 2028 and $68.29MM in 2029.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter points out that Parsons will be subject to Wisconsin’s state income tax on games played in Green Bay, whereas Texas has no state income tax, so that portion was not withheld for Cowboys home games. Schefter’s crude calculation removing 7.65 percent from Parsons’ annual value may be a bit understated; regardless, it still leaves Parsons with more money after taxes than the deal Dallas had offered to him.

Here are a few more fallout items coming out of the monumental trade from two days ago:

On the Cowboys’ side of things, this week’s trade freed up $19MM of 2025 cap space. Now with an estimated $42MM in free salary cap space, Dallas is second in the NFL in that regard, behind only the Patriots ($52MM), according to Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac.
The Cowboys may end up using that cap space, too. Pelissero quoted team owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones saying, “Nothing says we can’t use some of those picks right now to go get somebody right now.” The team has four first-round picks in the next two years, but if both teams remain playoff contenders, how much value does the draft capital hold? It may make more sense to bring in some immediate contributors by trading the first-rounders and absorbing their extra cap hits with the team’s ample cap space.
Pelissero also noted, in an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, that this move is out of character for the Packers. He notes that, for decades, Green Bay has been reportedly close to deals for players like wide receiver Randy Moss or tight end Tony Gonzalez, but the deals have always fallen just short as the Packers balk at giving up more compensation than they’re comfortable with. He also notes that they haven’t traded a first-round pick (let alone two first-round picks) since they acquired quarterback Brett Favre in 1992. The reason they’re willing to do so now? We’ve seen recent Super Bowl champions be extremely active in the trade market. The Eagles, Chiefs, and, most notably, the Rams have all made ambitious win-now moves when they felt they were closest to contention. While there’s certainly an art to building a team through the draft and developing a culture and roster, once you get to a certain point, one or two big moves for impact players could be the factor that wins a Super Bowl, and a player like Parsons is definitely of that caliber.

Micah Parsons Attempted To Restart Cowboys Extension Talks Prior To Trade

August 29th, 2025 at 11:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

One week before the start of the regular season, the Cowboys and Packers completed a landscape-altering trade. Micah Parsons will play out his second contract in Green Bay after talks with Dallas did not produce a deal.

Further details on the process which ultimately resulted in Parsons landing a record-breaking investment for non-quarterbacks have emerged. The four-time Pro Bowler and his camp spent a lengthy period without negotiations taking place, with owner Jerry Jones attempting to stick to the terms spoke about during the spring. Agent David Mulugheta was not present for that conversation, something which proved to be a central talking point in this saga.

In the aftermath of the trade, Parsons told NFL Network’s Jane Slater he and his camp went to the team in a bid to reengage on contract talks once reports emerged about a trade being possible in recent days. The two-time All-Pro said Dallas’ response was for him to commit to playing on his fifth-year option or to “leave.” During Thursday’s press conference, Jones confirmed (via colleague Mike Garafolo) that was the team’s stance leading up to the trade being finalized.

“We do have players that come in, and we totally respect it, that say, ‘I don’t feel comfortable talking about my contract. I’d like you to go through my agent,'” COO Stephen Jones said during the presser (via Garafolo). “And we do that respectfully. I mean, you’re not required to come in and negotiate the contract yourself. All the ones we’ve done like that are those who request to come in and visit with Jerry or myself. That’s the only ones we’ve done that way.”

Among Jerry Jones’ many comments on the situation was the claim he offered to make Parsons the top earner for non-quarterbacks during the unofficial spring contract talks. A report from yesterday indicated the deal discussed was five years in length and averaged $40.5MM per season. The Athletic’s Jeff Howe confirms (subscription required) those were indeed the terms presented by Dallas. In the end, Parsons landed $47MM on average – along with massive guarantee figures – on a four-year Packers extension. Term length is often a point of contention regarding Cowboys contract talks, with the team preferring longer pacts.

As the Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb deals indicated last offseason, though, Jones and Co. have been willing to compromise with four-year accords. That did not prove to be the case with Parsons. As a result, the 26-year-old is on the move just before Week 1. The deteriorating relationship between team and player in this case included a trade request being issued on August 1, something which is commonplace during extension talks. Jerry and Stephen Jones added during the press conference (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport) they never felt as if Parsons genuinely wanted to leave, though.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes the length of Dallas’ offer appears to have been an issue. He adds the Penn State product’s behavior shifted over the course of the summer as this situation played out; Parsons attended walkthroughs and team meetings but did not take part in on-field drills during training camp. His decision to lay on medical table during Dallas’ final preseason contest became a talking point (and was immediately followed by a meeting with head coach Brian Schottenheimer). Jerry Jones noted that episode did not impact the decision to move forward with a trade.

“We’ve certainly got a new coaching staff and a third of all the players are new,” Jones said (via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News) when reflecting on the Parsons trade and the Cowboys’ 2025 prospects. “And obviously there is freshness, we’ll use the word new on that basis. We have the highest-paid player in the NFL at quarterback and we made that commitment last year and we’re proud we made it. It had everything to do with this decision. It gives us every opportunity with Dak Prescott, Lamb and the base that we got to win now.”

Observers are skeptical about Dallas’ defense improving in the short term without Parsons in the fold, although the inclusion of defensive tackle Kenny Clark in the package sent from Green Bay will help the Cowboys’ run defense. The fate of the two first-round picks Dallas also received will be key in telling the final story of this trade. For now, all parties are positioned to move forward after a last-minute effort to work out a Cowboys extension was shut down.

Cowboys Limited Micah Parsons Trade Conversations To Teams With DT Depth; No Talks Occurred Pre-Draft

August 29th, 2025 at 11:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of this century’s most significant NFL transactions occurred Thursday, when the Cowboys shockingly traded Micah Parsons to the Packers for two first-round picks and 10th-year defensive tackle Kenny Clark. After a monthslong saga that brought a host of rumors (and Jerry Jones confirming them in his rather pivotal Michael Irvin interview) no trade would happen, Parsons has since arrived in Green Bay and is now tied to a record-smashing defender contract.

While the topic of a trade came up multiple times during this process — including an early-February report indicating internal dialogue transpired on a deal — no real waves surfaced regarding a swap until this week. Parsons’ camp had attempted to reengage with Jones, who had waged an interesting crusade against the defensive end’s agent (David Mulugheta) during this saga, this week but was told he would either play on his fifth-year option number or be traded.

Parsons has barely a week to prepare for the Packers’ opener. It does not sound like the four-time Pro Bowler will be a full-time participant — after a de facto hold-in — according to Brian Gutekunst (via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky). Parsons attended Cowboys minicamp and training camp but did not practice, using a back injury as cover during training camp. That was never viewed as a major issue, the Thursday trade haul confirming the Packers’ minimal concerns here.

Jones’ stance of Clark replacing Parsons on the 2025 being a net gain is a tough sell, as the 2026 and ’27 first-rounders are the lead assets here — for a Cowboys team that has drafted eight All-Pros in Round 1 since 2010. But the longtime owner did say the team’s interest in adding a D-tackle impacted the team’s search.

The 37th-year owner indicated (via NFL.com’s Jane Slater) the Cowboys only discussed trades with teams who carried sufficient DT depth and would be willing to meet Parsons’ contractual demands. The latter component goes without saying in a trade like this, but it is interesting the Cowboys made the DT position a central part of this deal.

This included “several” conversations with the Packers, per Jones (via TMJ4’s Ashley Washburn) in recent days. While the Cowboys would presumably have a much better chance to justify Jones’ comments about potential post-Parsons improvement in 2025 had they unloaded the superstar EDGE before the draft, the owner/GM said (via Slater) the team did begin considering it in the spring. Though, the 82-year-old Cowboys honcho added the team did not discuss Parsons with other clubs pre-draft.

Jones (via Slater) cited the Cowboys’ D-end depth as a reason they felt OK making this seismic move. Dallas used a second-round pick on a defensive end for the third time in four years, adding Donovan Ezeiruaku a year after selecting Marshawn Kneeland. Sam Williams is also a former second-rounder, but the 2022 draftee is coming off an ACL tear.

Dallas also reunited with Dante Fowler, who registered a Washington-best 10.5 sacks last season. That said, ESPN.com’s Bill Barnwell relayed a telling stat about Parsons’ value to the team. From 2021-24, Dallas led the league in defensive EPA per play with Parsons on the field. In 1,039 snaps without Parsons in that span, the Cowboys’ defense ranked 31st in that metric.

Jones (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo) cited run defense as a key need. The Cowboys, who have not invested much at linebacker in recent years, ranked 29th in run defense last season and 22nd in 2022. In their 2021 and ’23 playoff years, the team ranked 16th.

A 2016 first-round pick, Clark was a nine-year Packers starter en route to two extensions. He earned Pro Bowl nods in 2019, 2021 and 2023, being regarded as one of the NFL’s better DTs. Pro Football Focus ranked Clark 53rd among interior D-linemen last season — a career-worst finish — but ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric slotted him 18th among DTs in 2023.

Clark, 30 in October, also underwent offseason foot surgery to address an issue that hampered him in 2024. Clark joins the recently re-signed Osa Odighizuwa (four years, $80MM) as high-priced DTs in Dallas, which took on Clark’s three-year, $64MM extension that runs through 2027.

Although Gutekunst said Friday (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman) he only believed a legitimate shot at landing Parsons existed a couple days ago, the Packers had the framework of a trade by Wednesday (via Demovsky) were both among the first teams to reach out and appealed to Parsons. Green Bay reminding Parsons of Penn State, where he attended college, increased his interest, per the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins. The $47MM-per-year windfall — $6MM north (in AAV) from T.J. Watt‘s previous non-QB record and $6.5MM higher than Dallas had offered — didn’t hurt, either.

Jones said (via Garafolo) the intra-NFC component of this trade did not matter to him, indicating he would only have avoided trading within the NFC East. Parsons, 26, will return to Dallas as a Packer in Week 4. While we might learn some dissenting opinions down the road, depending on how this trade goes, Jones said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) the front office and coaching staff were “unanimous” this was the right trade to make.

Clark was “shocked” by the trade; he joins some Cowboys in reacting that way. Brian Schottenheimer said (via WFAA’s Ed Werder) he talked to between 12 and 14 players, including Dak Prescott and Trevon Diggs, about the move at it was completed. Schottenheimer had said he was confident Parsons would suit up for the Cowboys in Week 1, but days after he spoke with the disgruntled player about his actions during the Cowboys’ preseason finale, the new HC will oversee a lower-profile pass-rushing group. Schottenheimer added Friday this trade was “not an overnight thing.”

“This is not something we came about; it wasn’t something where it was like an overnight thing,” Schottenheimer said. “We had talked about it, and at the end of the day, I think when you look at a football team, when you can potentially add up to four or five players and things like that, it gives you the ability to do some things.”

It certainly seems like the Cowboys pivoted, as their aim had been to extend Parsons in 2025 for a while. They prioritized Prescott and CeeDee Lamb deals in their 2024 contract years, giving them top-end contracts — Prescott’s a still-unapproached $60MM-per-year accord — just before last season. This Parsons zag naturally prompted Jones to bring up the seminal Herschel Walker trade, which ignited the Cowboys’ rebuild into a three-Super Bowl run between 1992-95.

In Jones and Jimmy Johnson‘s first year at the helm, the Cowboys received a staggering haul for the then-superstar running back in October 1989, landing three first-round picks, three second-rounders, a third and a sixth between the 1990 and ’92 drafts. The Parsons haul does not compare to the Walker swap, which would be an impossible deal to pull off today.

These extension talks breaking down led to the Cowboys betting they can improve based on the two additional first-round picks — and whatever Clark can provide in his early 30s — they collected from the Packers. Early proclamations for the Green Bay side as the trade winner have emerged, but Dallas has two first-round choices to make before the judges’ scorecards are turned in on this momentous swap down the road.

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