Cowboys-Micah Parsons Feud Ends In Trade to Green Bay Packers

Well, the Micah Parsons contract saga in Dallas has finally ended, as the three-time All-Pro linebacker and pass rusher is headed to the Green Bay Packers. Parsons will sign a four-year, $188M megadeal ($120M guaranteed) with Green Bay to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, as he always wanted.

This trade marks the end of a brutal contract “hold-in” between the superstar LB and the Dallas Cowboys, as Jerry Jones’ pride actually cost him a legendary player instead of money this time. The two sides simply couldn’t agree on an extension, causing Micah to sit out training camp and miss practices due to the unresolved situation, as well as a back injury.

The Cowboys will receive DT Kenny Clark and two first-round picks, which seems like a solid haul for Parsons. Unfortunately, the team who dealt away a future Hall of Famer in the middle of his prime almost never wins the trade. In fact, that franchise usually suffers for years to come, unless they can take the assets they receive and quickly rebuild the roster.

Dallas was already heading towards another disappointing season and is now stuck in complete darkness.

Dallas is in Deep Trouble Due to Jerry Jones

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Things were already bleak in the Big D for “America’s Team”, as they’ve fully become a drama entertainment show rather than a winning football operation. Yes, Jerry Jones and company are excellent at drafting and developing young players; their rosters are usually filled with high-end starters and star players.

It’s often drama and poor coaching that causes seasons to unravel in Dallas, rather than a lack of talent. In addition, for all the criticism that the Cowboys get, they’re almost always a competent team contending for a playoff spot.

Well, not anymore, as Dallas is now firmly the third-best team in the NFC East with the Giants nipping at their heels in 2025. They’re certainly not a playoff team, and sportsbooks have them set for around 7.5 wins this season before the Parsons trade.

The Cowboys are now a team that lacks the talent and depth to compete for championships. They’re paying Dak Prescott top QB money even though he’s more in the 10-12 range in the rankings, and CeeDee Lamb, while great, cannot single-handedly drag a team to the postseason.

Jerry Jones’ pride has prematurely ended this era of contention in Dallas. They won 12 games in three straight seasons from 2021 to 2023 but predictably folded in the postseason each time. Unfortunately, Jerry’s refusal to give in to his players caused them to give a belated and much more expensive contract to both Prescott and Lamb than they had to.

In a hard-cap league, paying players more than the market says they’re worth is never a formula for success. Furthermore, now Jones has traded away their best and most valuable player for the future in Parsons, who is on the path to being a first-ballot Hall of Famer someday.

While Kenny Clark is a good player (three-time Pro Bowler), he’s also about to turn 30 years old. He won’t be part of Dallas’ plans for much longer, so that’s a wash. Two first-round picks sound great, but Green Bay is now poised to be an elite team for years to come.

Expect those selections to be in the very late first round, which is still excellent, but not value commensurate to a no-doubt Hall of Famer.

Green Bay is Now a Top Super Bowl Contender

Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

While the outlook in Dallas is all gloom and doom, things couldn’t be better in Titletown, USA. The Packers, who had been at the precipice of greatness for the past two seasons, needed a big move to really make a move up the NFL hierarchy. Well, now they’ve done it without compromising their current team much at all.

Parsons, who has racked up 12-plus sacks and 12-plus TFLs in all four of his NFL seasons, joins a young defense that ranked sixth in yards allowed and points per game in 2024. As arguably the best defensive player in football, the former Cowboy should instantly make Green Bay a scary unit in 2025.

The Packers now have the formula for greatness: they have an elite running game behind a quality offensive line and one of the league’s best running backs in Josh Jacobs. They have Jordan Love looking to make the leap in his third full season, with new stud receiver Matthew Golden joining an already deep group of pass-catchers.

GB is an extremely well-rounded youthful team that should be hungry to make a jump in 2025. Well, they just got their superstar in Micah Parsons. It’s hard to find a weakness in this Packers’ squad, but time will tell how great they can be.