While the Green Bay Packers are busy trying to nurse quarterback Jordan Love back to health, a fellow playoff contender in the Dallas Cowboys find themselves in the middle of some self-created drama by refusing to agree to a contract extension with star pass rusher Micah Parsons.
The Cowboys and Parsons seemingly remain very far apart on any sort of long-term contract, and Parsons has not shied away from voicing his immense displeasure with this reality. At this rate, Dallas may have no choice but to move on.
Buzz has been growing on social media that links Parsons to a Packers trade, as Green Bay is in the market for a pass rusher. The Packers jumping to the front of the line for Parsons may not be as much of a pipe dream as one might have thought a few weeks ago.
This Packers-Cowboys trade sends Micah Parsons to Green Bay
Packers get: EDGE Micah Parsons
Cowboys get: EDGE Rashan Gary, 2026 First Round Pick, 2027 Second Round Pick, 2026 Third Round Pick
The Cowboys aren't going to get rid of Parsons without receiving at least one Pro Bowl-type player back in return (preferably on the defensive side of the ball) in addition to multiple Top 100 picks in the NFL Draft. The Packers are one of a few teams in the league that have the assets to tempt Dallas.
It doesn't take a savant of football knowledge to illustrate how a player with Parsons' pedigree and physical traits playing at the top of his game is going to have a game-changing impact on the Packers' defense as a whole. That pass rush immediately goes from a weakness to a strength.
Dallas, meanwhile, would get a player in Gary that could help mitigate the loss of Parsons while freeing up more playing time for standout rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku. The Cowboys would have more ammo to begin a proper rebuild, as Will McClay could put those picks to good use.
The Packers still have multiple hurdles they need to clear if they want to secure Parsons, but they are in a better position than most teams. The longer this goes on, the more likely it is that Green Bay ends up coming to terms with an equitable package for the Cowboys.