The Green Bay Packers made arguably the biggest splash on the trade market this year. Micah Parsons, the superstar from the Dallas Cowboys, is on his way to Green Bay via a trade. The Packers are sending over 2026 and 2027 first-round picks, along with defensive tackle Kenny Clark, in exchange for Parsons. To top it all off, the Packers gave Parsons a four-year, $188 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL.
The Packers have been a good team that needed to add a superstar to help put them over the edge. They do so by getting a young edge rusher in his prime. As it turns out, no one has had a pass rusher like Parsons in nearly 40 years.
As ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter pointed out, there have only been two players in NFL history to have at least 12 sacks in each of their first four seasons. Parsons was one, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White was the other.
Micah Parsons' Reggie White comparison will only hype up Packers fans more
It just goes to show just how rare of a player Parsons is. One that teams simply have to keep around long-term. Well, unless you're the Cowboys.
Here is the total number of sacks recorded by Parsons in each of his first four years in the NFL:
Micah Parsons
Year | Sacks | Games |
|---|---|---|
2021 | 13.0 | 16 |
2022 | 13.5 | 17 |
2023 | 14.0 | 17 |
2024 | 12.0 | 13 |
Parsons was an immediate difference-maker since arriving in Dallas out of Penn State. In each of his first four years in the NFL, he made it to the Pro Bowl, won the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and finished in the top three of Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2022 and 2023.
As for White, let's take a look at his numbers in his first four years of his career.
Reggie White
Year | Sacks | Games |
|---|---|---|
1985 | 13.0 | 13 |
1986 | 18.0 | 16 |
1987 | 21.0 | 12 |
1988 | 18.0 | 16 |
Those are dominant numbers from White, and it's understandable why he was considered one of the best pass rushers in NFL history. Look no further than the 1987 season, where he recorded 21 sacks in just 12 games played!
Packers fans know White well, considering he played for Green Bay from 1993 until 1998. During his tenure, White recorded 301 combined tackles (239 solo, 62 assisted), 68.5 sacks, and 14 forced fumbles. White also helped the Packers win Super Bowl 31 in 1996, their first in nearly 30 years.
It has to feel good to be a Packers fan today. They have a generational talent locked under contract for the foreseeable future, and will hope he can bring him one (or more) Lombardi Trophies back to Green Bay.