Has Micah Parsons played his last game in a Cowboys uniform?
A report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini detailed the tense standoff between Parsons and the Cowboys, with Dallas reportedly refusing to negotiate with the star pass-rusher’s agent before the season. Parsons, meanwhile, has submitted a trade request to the organization that drafted him in 2021.
Whether that is just part of a pressure campaign by Parsons or a serious threat is unclear, but it is clear he and the Cowboys aren’t on the same page ahead of the final year of his contract.
If the Cowboys decide that trading Parsons is the best course of action, where could he go? Here are the top potential landing spots for the former All-Pro.
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Micah Parsons landing spots
Chargers
The Chargers are looking to stand out in a division loaded with major names and high-profile quarterbacks. They also have the third-most projected cap space entering the 2026 offseason. Why not make a splash and add a player who can make Patrick Mahomes’ life more difficult?
L.A. has plenty to offer Parsons, between location, chances of contending, playing for Jim Harbaugh and plenty of money available long-term. The Chargers also have a need at the position with Khalil Mack taking his career year-to-year at this point and Tuli Tuipulotu perhaps the only starting-caliber option still standing if Mack retired or left after 2025.
Seahawks
The Seahawks got by fine with Uchenna Nwosu, Derick Hall and Leonard Williams all getting to the quarterback in 2024, and they added Parsons’ former teammate Demarcus Lawrence this past offseason to help defend against the run. None of those players can disrupt the way Parsons can disrupt. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald is a defensive-minded leader, and there’s no doubt he would be thrilled to have a defensive anchor like Parsons for years to come.
Seattle has the sixth-most cap space available this coming season and 10th-most projected cap space available entering the 2026 offseason, so fitting in a new deal for Parsons is realistic.
MORE: How Cowboys’ stubbornness is threatening relationship with Micah Parsons
Bears
The Bears might have to move some things around financially to make a Parsons deal work, but they are another team that hopes to contend despite pass-rushing questions. Montez Sweat was heavily disappointing in 2024 after a stellar finish to 2023. He’s looking to bounce back under new DC Dennis Allen, while new addition Dayo Odeyingbo is hoping to take advantage of a featured role next to Sweat, but Parsons is on a completely different level than both players and would signal that the Bears will stop at nothing to compete in a loaded NFC North.
Colts
The Colts have gotten a combined 16.5 sacks out of Kwity Paye over the last two seasons and have second-year edge rusher Laiatu Latu set for a large role this season, but the pass-rush has been lacking in Indianapolis for a number of years — and neither of those pieces rival the kind of impact Parsons can make.
It’s unlikely the Colts go very far until they get their passing game in order, whether that’s with Anthony Richardson or someone else under center, and that could make the idea of trading a premier draft pick for Parsons a major risk. Would it be safer for the Colts to hold onto their top 2026 pick in case they need to draft a quarterback? Possibly.
Chris Ballard knows, however, that he might not be in a position to make that pick if Indianapolis’ season goes off the rails, particularly after the death of the loyal Jim Irsay. Adding Parsons to the defense would give the Colts a chance to keep up with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter in Houston or Josh Hines-Allen in Jacksonville.
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Commanders
Whether the Cowboys would ever be willing to trade Parsons within the NFC East is a complete unknown, but dealing him to the Commanders wouldn’t be quite the same optics disaster as dealing him to the Giants or Eagles. What is known is that Washington could really use a standout pass-rusher.
The Commanders have their own contract dispute going with Terry McLaurin, but they are set to enter the season with Dorance Armstrong and Deatrich Wise Jr. as two of their top edge rushers. That’s not ideal for a contender, even if they survived a questionable pass-rush in 2024. If Washington is serious about taking advantage of its window to win while Daniels is on his rookie deal, Parsons would certainly move the needle.
Panthers
If any trade requires a contract extension, would Micah Parsons agree to go to the Panthers? Carolina isn’t exactly a destination for NFL stars — at least not in this era — and playing under owner David Tepper doesn’t seem ideal. What we do know is that Tepper is desperate to finally win after toiling near the bottom of the league for much of his first six years as an NFL owner. Adding Parsons to a defense that has one of the worst pass-rush units in the sport would be a massive coup for the Panthers, even if it would take more than just that to actually contend.
