It's been over seven months since the Micah Parsons trade went down, and the Green Bay Packers are still finding more ways to win the deal.
In exchange for Parsons, the Packers gave the Dallas Cowboys their first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027, along with veteran Kenny Clark. At the time, that seemed like a fair price to pay for a superstar edge rusher. As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, it's becoming even clearer that the Packers got a steal.
The 20th overall pick that the Cowboys received in the deal is turning out to be much less valuable than it initially seemed. With no clear options on the board, Dallas may be stuck regretting the blockbuster trade.
Packers look smarter by the day as Micah Parsons trade nets Cowboys disappointing draft options
In most draft classes, the 20th pick would net a player with the potential to become a high-impact starter. That may not be the case in 2026. This class holds fewer surefire first-rounders than most, and the Cowboys are sitting in exactly the wrong position.
After the top 15 prospects in the class, there is an alarming drop in talent. Some scouts and analysts view players 20-40 as almost interchangeable in terms of value. The few defensive stars in the draft, players like Caleb Downs and Reuben Bain Jr., will be long gone by the time the Cowboys pick at No. 20.
In the back half of the first round, teams will be taking risks on prospects with major question marks surrounding them. In Peter Schrager's mock draft, he had the Cowboys selecting edge rusher Akheem Mesidor with the 20th pick. Mesidor is already 25 years old and wasn't even the most productive edge rusher on his team in college. He projects as a capable starter, but that's just about all that the Cowboys can expect with their second first-round pick.
Meanwhile, the Packers are sitting in a great position with Parsons as a defensive cornerstone to build around. Even coming off of his injury, Green Bay can be confident in what the former All-Pro defender brings to the table.
Of course, it would be nice to have their pick, but Green Bay won't be regretting their trade when draft night rolls around. Perhaps the 2027 draft will offer a different story, but for now, the Packers are looking like the clear winners of the trade.