The Green Bay Packers needed to give up a few assets that they held in very high regard if they were willing to acquire superstar pass-rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys, and Brian Gutekunst managed to do just that by giving up two first-round picks in addition to starting defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
Trading away a veteran player like Clark is a very risky move, as he is a solid starter who earned a great deal of respect on the youngest team in the league. However, based on some of the underlying metrics, the Packers may not miss him as much as some believe.
Clark is fresh off a down 2024 season, all while his contract will continue to get more expensive, and his pass-rush productivity continues to decline. The Packers needed to eventually make a clean break from Clark, and they managed to pick up Parsons as a replacement.
Packers got rid of Kenny Clark at perfect time in Micah Parsons trade
Clark posted a 59.3 Pro Football Focus grade and a 57.1 run defense grade, both of which are far below what he has put up in past seasons. With multiple young players stockpiled through years of drafting behind him, Green Bay feels confident in its ability to replace him for cheap.
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The Packers also were able to acquire Parsons without parting ways with former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness or Pro Bowler Rashan Gary. As good as Parsons can be by himself, this unit may not have dominated as a collective if they didn't have a solid No. 2 like Gary to work in tandem with Parsons.
While Dallas will get an immediate short-term upgrade over Mazi Smith as a result of this deal, Clark is only going to get more expensive as his contract tolls on. Furthermore, Dallas seems to be heading towards a rebuild after parting with Parsons.
The Packers may lose two first-round picks as a result of this trade, but all signs point to those picks ending up at the bottom of the first round. Losing Clark may ultimately put the Packers in the championship contender tier.