The Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones actually did it. Micah Parsons, the face of their defense and one of the league’s brightest young stars, is officially on his way to the Green Bay Packers.
The blockbuster trade was announced Thursday afternoon, sending Parsons to Green Bay in exchange for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks.
Parsons didn’t waste time securing his future either, agreeing to a four-year, $188 million extension with $136 million guaranteed. At $47 million per season, he becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
For Jones, it’s another bold swing in a tenure full of them.
Jerry Jones has never been shy about making bold moves in his nearly 40 years as Cowboys owner. The most famous example, of course, was the Herschel Walker trade in the early 1990s that helped build Dallas into a dynasty.
Now, for just the second time in franchise history, Jones has dealt away a player coming off an All-Pro season.
Parsons’ resume speaks for itself. Three All-Pro nods in four years, four straight seasons with 12 or more sacks, and a reputation as not only one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers but one of the best overall defenders in the game.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Now at 26 years old, he’ll anchor a Packers defense that’s young, talented, and already one of the league’s most exciting units. His arrival only adds more intrigue to an NFC North division that suddenly feels as competitive as any in football.
Green Bay does lose Kenny Clark in the deal, and his absence on the interior will be felt.
When a team has the chance to land a generational player like Parsons, the price tag takes a back seat. It’s a move that feels eerily similar to when the Chicago Bears landed Khalil Mack from the Raiders in 2018—a franchise-defining deal that instantly changes expectations.
For the Packers, this is a statement of intent. They’re ready to win now, and Parsons is the kind of player who tilts the balance of power.
For the Cowboys, it’s a high-risk bet on the future—one that could reshape the franchise for the better, or become a decision that haunts Dallas for years to come.
