Lou Pickney's Latest Insight
August 29, 2025
In one of the most stunning trades in the NFL in years, the Dallas Cowboys dealt two-time All-Pro EDGE Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday for two first-round picks and DT Kenny Clark.
Parsons, who turned 26 this past May, finally got the contract he wanted, albeit via the Packers: 4-years, $188M ($136M guaranteed), a record for a non-QB. It ends a strange chapter for the Cowboys, who had been expected to reach a new long-term deal with Parsons during the off-season.
But when a contract extension for Parsons didn't happen by training camp, the impasse became an increasing distraction for Dallas. Parsons conducted a "hold-in", showing up but not participating in practices or preseason games.
The situation was complicated by the big contracts signed earlier this year by Myles Garrett in Cleveland and T.J. Watt in Pittsburgh, which drove up the price tag for ultra high-end EDGE rushers.
Perhaps Cowboys owner Jerry Jones felt betrayed by the negotiation process, but until pen is put to paper there is no deal, in football or anything else for that matter.
For more, I recommend this column by Bill Barnwell, who did a great job explaining what happened and why.
As for Parsons, he said goodbye to Cowboys fans with this post on X. Sadness but not bitterness.
We're less than a week out from the first NFL game of the 2025 season. Buckle up for what should be a wild ride.
2027 NFL Draft Prospects
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