Trade chatter surrounding Micah Parsons has proven to be substantive. Not long after a Thursday report indicated the star edge rusher may very well be on the move, a blockbuster trade has indeed been worked out.
The Cowboys have an agreement in place to send Parsons to the Packers, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Jane Slater. The package heading back to Green Bay includes two first-round picks. Rapoport adds defensive tackle Kenny Clark can be heading to Dallas as the ultimate a part of the trade agreement. The move is now official.
As a part of this massive deal, Parsons has worked out a Packers extension. A four-year, $188MM accord has been agreed to, per the NFL Network report (which has since been confirmed by others). The deal comprises $136MM in total guarantees. ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds Parsons will receive $120MM fully locked in at signing, including $62MM paid out in 2025. Those figures – together with a $47MM average annual value – easily mark a brand new high point in compensation for non-quarterbacks.
In recent days, the opportunity of a trade has gained steam. Yesterday, it was reported the Packers were among the many teams showing interest; as such, it is cheap Green Bay is where Parsons is now headed. Still, today’s move is an enormous development for all involved and marks a departure from standard operating procedure within the Packers’ case. The team has a status as a draft-and-develop franchise, and that features recent first-round investments along the sting in Rashan Gary (2019) and Lukas Van Ness (2024).
Each of those players will remain in place even with Parsons arriving. Green Bay’s defensive front has nevertheless been dealt a blow with Clark heading the opposite way. The three-time Pro Bowler has spent his entire nine-year profession with the Packers, and he’ll provide the Cowboys with a needed upgrade on the DT spot. Clark, 29, has three years remaining on his contract. The previous first-rounder posted a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2023, but that figure fell to 1 last season. Even and not using a bounce-back in that department, stable play against the run can be welcomed by the Cowboys.
Dallas has a status for dragging high-profile negotiations deep into the offseason. Many observers viewed the Parsons situation as the newest example of that, but relations between the 26-year-old and owner Jerry Jones have taken a turn for the worst this summer. Informal talks between the 2 produced a handshake agreement through the spring, one Jones maintained a desire to follow within the means of finalizing an extension. When Parsons went public together with his trade request at first of the month, though, he stated he didn’t wish to be held to the terms mentioned in that conversation. No formal offer is understood to have been made by Dallas, and negotiations got here to a halt within the wake of Jones’ comments on agent David Mulugheta.
Per Rapoport, this trade was agreed to earlier this week. Negotiations then turned to the matter of an extension, with Mulugheta negotiating this monster accord. The Packers’ financial outlook might be altered considerably with this deal in place, especially since quarterback Jordan Love is attached to one in all the league’s costliest accords. The team’s window to contend for a Super Bowl is clearly viewed as being open given this trade.
Dallas, meanwhile, still has a core headlined by Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. They each signed major extensions of their very own last offseason, and Clark joins Osa Odighizuwa (re-upped this spring on a $20MM-per-year deal) as a key figure on defense for 2025 and beyond. The Cowboys are thus not able to show away from contention within the near future, but with one week remaining within the offseason they’ve moved on from arguably their best player.
The Cowboys lost DeMarcus Lawrence during free agency, so today’s blockbuster means each of their starting edge rush spots could have recent occupants. Sam Williams, Dante Fowler, Marshawn Kneeland, James Houston and second-round rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku are in position to handle pass rush duties moving forward. How that group fares might be key in determining the success of the post-Parsons Dallas defense. 
The Packers went 9-8 during Love’s first season as their starting quarterback, they usually improved to 11-6 last season. A step toward the NFL’s elite was targeted of their roster moves this offseason, and that process has prolonged deep into August. Parsons was already on the books for 2025 on account of his fifth-year option (the worth of which is yet to be finalized). The All-Pro is now under contract through 2029.
“I never wanted this chapter to finish, but not every little thing was in my control,” a statement from Parsons reads partly. “My heart has at all times been [in Dallas], and it still is. Through all of it, I never made any demands. I never asked for anything greater than fairness. I only asked that the person I trust to barter my contract be a part of the method.
“Thanks, Cowboys Nation, for each cheer, every moment, and each ounce of affection you showed me. Wearing the star has been the consideration of my life.”
As Schefter notes, 29 players drafted since 1970 have been named to the Pro Bowl in each of their first 4 seasons. Parsons might be the primary name on that list to play for a special team of their fifth NFL campaign. Dallas and Green Bay will meet in a Sunday Night Football matchup in Week 4. It goes without saying what the highest storyline for that contest might be.