As you sit down in front of your TV to the soothing sounds of Rich Eisen, you may have noticed something is missing from the 2026 NFL Draft coverage. When do the Green Bay Packers make their pick?
Short answer: They don't.
Green Bay's first-round pick belongs to Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys. The Packers sent the selection, which became No. 20 overall, to the Cowboys as part of the Micah Parsons trade package last August.
Packers won't pick in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft thanks to the Micah Parsons trade
The Packers sent two first-rounders to the Cowboys, one this year, the other in 2027, along with defensive tackle Kenny Clark. In exchange, they received Parsons, who earned first-team All-Pro honors in his first season wearing green and gold.
While Parsons suffered a torn ACL in December and could miss the start of the 2026 season, the trade still looks genius for the Packers.
This year's draft class isn't deep in first-round talent. Dallas will need a miracle to find a prospect at No. 20 overall who can make an impact as seismic as Parsons.
Green Bay still enters the draft with eight selections. Along with its original choices in Rounds 2-7, the team also received a fifth-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles from the Dontayvion Wicks trade, and a compensatory seventh-round choice.
The Parsons trade isn't the only business conducted by the Packers and Cowboys.
On the eve of free agency, Green Bay sent edge-rusher Rashan Gary to Dallas for a 2027 fourth-round choice. The key there is 2027, not this year.
There's a reason for that, too. Many teams are prioritizing adding draft capital in next year's draft, which is expected to be far deeper in talent. It's also why the Packers carefully maneuvered through free agency to ensure they will land the maximum four compensatory draft picks in 2027.
In the long run, giving up two first-rounders is well worth it for Parsons. For now, though, we must take on the short-term pain of watching Round 1 without a Packers selection.
*Searches "Micah Parsons highlights" on YouTube.*
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