FRISCO, Texas – With just one week remaining before the NFL season begins, the Dallas Cowboys have made one of the most shocking moves in NFL history.
On Thursday, the team traded All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, according to a tweet from Parsons on social media. It's still unclear what the compensation package is that Dallas will be getting in return, although it's been reported that at least two first round picks are involved. Parsons, who was going through a contract dispute with the organization while trying to get an extension, now has abruptly finished his time in Dallas after four seasons.
For most of the offseason, the word used to describe Parsons' future with the Cowboys was "when." Now, it's "how?"
Parsons, 26, has become the cornerstone of one of the biggest and most groundbreaking trades in NFL history. After owner and GM Jerry Jones repeatedly said that the team would not trade Parsons after his official request on August 1, the Cowboys ended up changing their minds.
The trade marks the finish line of a months-long back-and-forth between Parsons and the Cowboys over a contract extension. Jones thought the two had a deal after speaking and agreeing to most terms of the deal in March, but Parsons wanted to get his agent involved while Jones wanted to cross the finish line.
After that point, the two sides did not hold conversations with one another. The Cowboys did not contact Parsons' agent, David Mulugheta, and Parsons "held-in" by attending mandatory events but not practicing on the field. Ultimately, the tension between both sides led to Parsons' request to be dealt, which has now been fulfilled.
In four years with the Cowboys, Parsons tallied 52.5 sacks in 63 games and joined Hall of Famer Reggie White as the only two players in NFL history to record 12 or more sacks in their first four NFL seasons. Over those four years, Parsons was also named defensive rookie of the year in 2021, was a two-time All-Pro, and earned a Pro Bowl nod in each year.
It goes without saying that a player of Parsons' caliber will have an impact on Dallas' defense with just _ days until the 2025 season kicks off in Philadelphia. Since the Cowboys drafted Parsons in 2021, the team has been first in defensive EPA per play when he's on the field. When he hasn't been on the field, they rank last.
The Cowboys have depth among their pass rushers with Dante Fowler, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Marshawn Kneeland and Sam Williams among others. Now, they'll need to lean heavily on that depth with Parsons out of the picture.
Brian Schottenheimer, Matt Eberflus and the rest of the Cowboys' staff now face a massive early challenge in their time together to figure out how to incorporate the new pieces they've acquired, and how to make up for not having a game-wrecker like Parsons on the field.
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