Micah Parsons dropped a bombshell on Friday when he publicly requested a trade from the Cowboys.
Parsons is about to enter the final year of his contract before hitting free agency, but Dallas has not made any progress on a potential extension. With the Cowboys’ leadership expressing to the media that they aren’t in a rush to come to an agreement, Parsons decided to request a trade and announce he no longer wants to play for the Cowboys.
As one of the best pass rushers in the league, Parsons would surely garner much interest on the trade market, and teams will call the Cowboys about his availability. However, Dianna Russini reports that Dallas currently has no intention of trading Parsons, even though the sides are not close to an extension.
So, what would it take to acquire Parsons? Here’s a breakdown.
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Micah Parsons contract details
Parsons is playing on the final year of his rookie contract, as Dallas picked up his fifth-year option last season. He is due to make over 24 million this year with a $24 million cap hit, so any team looking to acquire him would need to have financial space.
MORE: Micah Parsons’ contract dispute timeline with the Cowboys
Micah Parsons potential trade packages
TSN’s Dan Treacy named six potential landing spots for Parsons if Dallas decides to trade him. Here’s a look at what those teams could offer the Cowboys.
Bears
- Bears receive: DE Micah Parsons, 2027 2nd-round pick
- Cowboys receive: DE Montez Sweat, 2026 1st-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, 2027 6th-round pick
In order to make a deal for Parsons, Chicago would need to clear cap space, which makes Montez Sweat an interesting option to send to Dallas. Sweat is 29 years old and coming off a 5.5-sack season for the Bears, but is Chicago’s highest-paid player and would give the Cowboys an immediate replacement for Parsons. However, Parsons is significantly better than Sweat, as Chicago would still need to send multiple 1st-rounders to Dallas.
Chargers
- Chargers receive: DE Micah Parsons, 2026 4th-round pick
- Cowboys receive: 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 3rd-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, 2027 6th-round pick
The Chargers have enough cap space left that would allow them to take on Parsons without needing to shed any contracts, so they could offer the Cowboys a package that includes only draft picks. This package is very similar to the package the Bears sent to the Raiders for Khalil Mack in 2018, as Mack was a year older than Parsons is now at the time of the deal.
MORE: How Cowboys’ stubbornness is threatening relationship with Micah Parsons
Colts
- Colts receive: DE Micah Parsons, 2027 5th-round pick
- Cowboys receive: DE Kwity Paye, 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 2nd-round pick, 2027 2nd-round pick
Paye and Parsons were both first-round picks in 2021 and are both currently playing on their fifth-year option, putting them on similar contract timelines. The Colts would need to trade a player to have enough cap space to add Parsons, and Paye gives the Cowboys a young pass rusher to offset some of Parsons’ loss. With Paye recording 16.5 sacks in the last two years at the same age as Parsons, Dallas may only need one 1st-round pick back from Indianapolis.
Commanders
- Commanders receive: DE Micah Parsons, 2027 6th-round pick
- Cowboys receive: DE Dorance Armstrong, 2026 1st-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, 2027 3rd-round pick
It’s hard to imagine the Cowboys and Commanders making a blockbuster deal like this, but Washington has enough draft capital to put together a competitive offer. Washington is dealing with its own contract dispute right now, as Terry McLaurin is looking for a new deal, and could either be used as a trade chip here or be sent somewhere else to replenish draft capital lost in a Parsons trade.
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Seahawks
- Seahawks receive: DE Micah Parsons, 2026 4th-round pick
- Cowboys receive: 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 3rd-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, 2027 6th-round pick
Another team with enough cap space to absorb Parsons’ contract, the Seahawks could also send Dallas an offer comprised solely of draft picks. Parsons could potentially turn Seattle’s defense into one of the best units in the league, especially if the Seahawks are able to keep all of their players as part of the deal.
Panthers
- Panthers receive: DE Micah Parsons, 2026 4th-round pick
- Cowboys receive: DT Derrick Brown, 2026 1st-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, 2027 5th-round pick
The Panthers don’t have a pass rusher they could send to Dallas to replace Parsons, but they could offer defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who is on a four-year, $96 million deal. While Brown played just one game in 2024 after suffering a meniscus injury, he is still just 27 years old and two years removed from a Pro Bowl appearance.
