Micah Parsons has been traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Together with the commerce, the four-time Professional Bowl edge rusher has already reportedly agreed to a four-year, $188 million cope with Inexperienced Bay that features $120 million assured. In trade for Parsons, the Cowboys are receiving two-first spherical picks — one in 2026 and one other in 2027 — and defensive sort out Kenny Clark.
Parsons requested a commerce out of Dallas on Aug. 1 as contract negotiations with the Cowboys, notably proprietor and normal supervisor Jerry Jones, turned contentious. The cope with the Packers will make Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL historical past, forward of fellow cross rushers T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett and receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
“I by no means wished to chapter to finish, however not every little thing was in my management,” Parsons wrote in a letter to Cowboys followers. “My coronary heart has all the time been right here, and it nonetheless is. By means of all of it, I by no means made any calls for. I by no means requested for something greater than equity. I solely requested that the particular person I belief to barter my contract be a part of the method. This can be a unhappy day, however not a bitter one. I will always remember the enjoyment of draft night time, the adrenaline of operating out of the tunnel, or the brotherhood I shared with my teammates, coaches, and the workers who ready me for each single sport. These recollections are mine endlessly.”
Micah Parsons commerce: Former Cowboys star points assertion to followers following commerce to Packers
Jordan Dajani
Thursday was the cumulation of a contract saga that lasted over a yr, beginning when the Cowboys picked up Parsons’ fifth-year possibility final spring. Whereas that’s frequent observe for groups and first-round picks, it in the end foreshadowed what was to return between Parsons and the franchise that chosen him No. 12 general in 2021 and noticed him develop right into a two-time All Professional.
On the time, Parsons mentioned he had no difficulty remaining affected person and persevering with to play underneath his rookie deal in 2024. This offseason, nevertheless, Parsons hoped to obtain a brand new contract that will be corresponding to what the league’s different premier cross rushers had obtained. That quantity skyrocketed after each Garrett and Watt signed extensions with their respective golf equipment that included annual salaries of $40 million and $41 million, respectively.
Exterior of cash, one of many essential issues that prevented Parsons and Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones from getting a deal achieved was Jones’ perceived “handshake settlement” with Parsons that allegedly came about when the 2 met in March. Whereas Jones thought that an settlement had been reached between the 2, Parsons clearly did not view issues that manner.
Including to the disconnect was Jones’ refusal to speak with Parsons’ representatives. That, coupled with a stalemate concerning continued contract talks, in the end led to Parsons staging a hold-in this summer time earlier than formally requesting a commerce.
With the skin noise reaching a frenzied pitch, and after weeks of seeing his disgruntled linebacker exhibiting as much as Cowboys observe in both avenue garments or his observe jersey, Jones in the end determined that sufficient was sufficient. By buying and selling Parsons, Jones has made historical past by pulling off one of the surprising trades in franchise historical past since Jimmy Johnson traded Herschel Walker to the Vikings in 1989, a deal that in the end set the desk for the Cowboys’ dynasty through the Nineteen Nineties.
And in a considerably ironic twist, the Cowboys traded Parsons to the workforce they confronted the final time they appeared in an NFC title sport — manner again in 1995.
Micah Parsons commerce grades: Packers get this technology’s Reggie White; Cowboys’ franchise set again for years
Jeff Kerr
Concerning the Packers, the acquisition of Parsons is Inexperienced Bay’s largest offseason acquisition for the reason that workforce acquired Reggie White in 1993, a signing that signaled the start of the NFL’s free company period. Three years after signing him, White had three sacks in serving to lead the Packers to a Tremendous Bowl win over the Patriots, the franchise’s first championship in 29 years.
Including much more irony to this deal is the truth that it includes Ed Coverage, the Packers new president and CEO whose father, Carmen Coverage, was the 49ers’ president and CEO when San Francisco traded future Corridor of Fame cross rusher Charles Haley to the Cowboys forward of the 1992 season. Dallas then proceeded to defeat San Francisco within the subsequent two NFC titles earlier than the 49ers extracted a measure of revenge within the 1994 title sport.
Whereas the Cowboys are dropping Parsons, the Packers are buying one of many NFL’s high defensive gamers who continues to be very a lot in his prime. Parsons has made the Professional Bowl every of his first 4 seasons. Throughout that span, he collected 52.5 sacks, 63 tackles for loss, 9 compelled fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries.
Parsons is becoming a member of a Packers workforce that’s coming off of consecutive playoff seasons. Inexperienced Bay shocked Parsons’ Cowboys within the 2023 wild card spherical earlier than falling final yr to the eventual Tremendous Bowl champion Eagles within the first spherical of the NFC playoffs.
Inexperienced Bay is as soon as once more anticipated to be a contender this season, particularly now with Parsons within the fold. Notably, Parsons’ return to Dallas will come on Sunday, Sept. 28 when the Packers and Cowboys sq. off on Sunday Night time Soccer.
