What Trading Micah Parsons Means for Dallas
Jerry Jones, AKA the Gambler, and the Cowboys made a blockbuster move that has sent shockwaves through the NFL, not just for the 2025 season, but for the next ten years. This huge move is the trade of four-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro Micah Parsons. As most know, Parsons is a top-five defender in the NFL and is on track to be a future Hall of Famer. The Green Bay Packers traded two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark for Parsons. This has fans around the league questioning, more than usual, whether it was enough for Parsons, and the answer for most is no.
Parsons isn't just a star player; he was the heart and soul of the Cowboys' defense. Some would even argue that he was the face of the team. He truly is a generational talent. In his absence, the defense is now more vulnerable. They went from a top-ten pass rush unit to being below average, which has caused a massive hole in the front seven. His departure will have the defense scrambling to find its next leader to step up. A couple of players who have the potential to step up include veteran defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., rising talent Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland, and recently drafted Donovan Ezeiruaku. All of these players will get a chance to prove themselves in Parsons' absence. These guys need to produce to save the Cowboys' defense. Even though not all of the young players on their roster might be able to make as much of an impact on the Cowboys as Parsons would've this year, these young players will have the opportunity to develop and become top players. If this were to happen, then in a few years, we will look back and see how much of a genius Jerry Jones is.
One beneficial aspect of the Cowboys trading Parsons was not having to pay him an extremely high salary to give him the title of the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. His new deal from Green Bay, as a result of the trade, has him receiving a whopping forty-seven million dollars a year. By acquiring Clark, they saved approximately $25 million a year in salary cap and addressed their front office needs, which were terrible a year ago. Hopefully, with the addition of Clark, the Cowboys will finally be able to stop the run, which has been a significant struggle over the past years.
By trading Parsons to the Packers, they not only received Clark but also gained two first-round picks. The Cowboys can use these picks to either trade up in next year's draft or add depth to their roster. With first-round picks not costing as much in guaranteed money, the depth on their roster looks to be the best route to go. This gives the Cowboys more flexibility and freedom to build a competitive roster with minimal financial responsibility, allowing them to sign two to three players for the price of one, such as Parsons.
From a financial standpoint, building a competitive roster is extremely hard when you pay CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott, and Parsons the majority of their salary cap. When you look at the bigger picture, Jerry Jones has to make tough decisions, and that may only mean paying two out of three cornerstone players to have a competitive roster. Parsons was a pivotal player for the Cowboys over the past four years, and trading him could redefine the franchise not just for the next season, but for the next decade. Even though the trade freed up the salary cap, it watered down the defensive line. They lose a captain and a top-five defender, but the Cowboys will have to keep the mentality of next man up.
