Cowboys “Poison Pill” Locks Eagles Dreams
Let’s go back to the preseason, before any games fully counted, and we got the word that Micah Parsons was being traded to the Green Bay Packers from the Dallas Cowboys. Signing him to a $188 million deal. Also, giving the Cowboys two first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. We all saw this and thought, “What in the world was going on?” However, little did we know there was more buried beneath the surface of that blockbuster deal.
Hidden deep in the deal’s fine print, there was a clever safeguard that’s now causing frustration across Philadelphia. In multiple reports, the Cowboys included a “poison pill” clause in the trade - one designed to specifically prevent Parsons from ever landing with the Eagles or another NFC East rival in the next two seasons. Within that clause, it also states that if Parsons were ever traded to an NFC team during the 2025 or 2026 seasons, Green Bay would have to surrender its 2028 first-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys. For the Cowboys, it's a clever tactic; for the Eagles, it’s locked dreams.
The Eagles have announced their interest in Parsons, right before the Cowboys came to terms with the Packers. Given Parsons' Pennsylvania background, with growing up there and attending Penn State for college football, it would make total sense to bring him back to Philly to continue his football career. Parsons would have been a great fit for the Eagles' defensive line. He is a dominant, versatile rusher capable of bringing sufficient pressure to the offense when needed. Unfortunately, the Cowboys had other ideas, giving him off to the Packers, where he has been an effective add-on, and Philly is still searching for their consistent edge rusher.
This “poison pill” agreement ensures that the Eagles won’t be getting Parsons anytime soon. It is too much of a risk for the Packers, who would face a massive draft penalty for dealing with him within the division. Dallas knew exactly what they were doing, cutting off Philadelphia’s best chance at creating one of the most powerful defenses in the league. Dallas wanted to take control of the board, maintaining future first-round draft picks and blocking Parsons, who has completed years of effectiveness for their franchise. For the Eagles, it’s a reminder that the NFC rivalry goes beyond the field. It happens behind closed doors, and upsettingly enough, the Cowboys won.
