Has it sunk in yet? Did the Green Bay Packers really just trade for Micah Parsons?
They sure did, and as usual, the Packers got the better of the Dallas Cowboys. While two first-round picks and a Pro Bowl talent in Kenny Clark is a hefty price, Parsons is on a Hall-of-Fame trajectory. The San Francisco 49ers gave away more draft capital for Trey Lance.
It's a franchise-altering acquisition that skyrockets the Packers' Super Bowl hopes. They are the big winners, but let's zoom in closer. Who benefits the most, and who could be impacted negatively by the blockbuster Parsons trade?
Biggest winners and losers after Packers make shocking trade for pass-rusher Micah Parsons
Winner: Micah Parsons
Let's start with the obvious. Parsons has 188 million reasons to love this trade. He didn't just reset the edge-rusher market — Parsons blew the roof off it. Beyond the financial benefit, the four-time Pro Bowler gets an upgrade on the field, too. The Packers are ready to win now, and his arrival ignites a Super Bowl challenge in Jeff Hafley's defense.
Winner: Rashan Gary
Rashan Gary hasn't quite smashed through the elite pass-rusher ceiling just yet despite making his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2024. Now, he gets to play the role of the Packers' No. 2 edge defender, and that's a scary prospect.
He has still registered 16.5 sacks, 37 quarterback hits, and 16 tackles for loss over the past two seasons, but his production could skyrocket with Parsons alongside him.
Gary has the talent to take over games, and that's as the opposing offense's premier focus. He'll receive far more one-on-one opportunities now, which could allow him to dominate.
Winner: Jeff Hafley
Remember how creative Jeff Hafley had to get to scheme pressure last year? He couldn't even resist pulling out some exotic looks in the preseason this summer.
Just imagine what madness is brewing in his laboratory with Parsons coming to town. The Packers have the personnel to win with four rushers, and Hafley can sprinkle in his creative blitzes whenever he feels like it. Talk about a nightmare for offensive coordinators.
As they worry about Parsons and Gary up front, here comes Edgerrin Cooper. Parsons is a true chess piece and Hafley will use him all over the field.
Good luck stopping this front seven.
Winner: Jordan Love
Every Packers franchise quarterback needs a cornerstone defensive star alongside him. Would Brett Favre have won a Super Bowl without Reggie White? Could Aaron Rodgers have done it without Charles Woodson?
The Packers just moved heaven and earth to land Love his tag-team partner. Parsons is on that level. He's soaring toward Canton, and now he can become a starring piece that defines this era of Packers football.
Love is poised for a breakout season, and his job just became far easier with Parsons' arrival.
Loser: Kenny Clark
Ugh, this one hurts. It's a tough business, and the Packers were always going to have to part ways with a key starter to get this deal over the line. We assumed it'd be a pass-rusher, not Kenny Clark.
The Packers will feel the impact of Clark's departure, no doubt, but the Pro Bowl defensive tackle also loses in this deal. He led this defense through tough times and deserves the benefit of playing alongside Parsons.
That's the NFL. Clark is coming off a difficult year, but the Packers made the tough decision to move on. It hurts. We all wish Clark the best, but he faces a daunting task in a Cowboys defense without Parsons.
Loser: Lukas Van Ness
Let's be clear: Lukas Van Ness has a lot to gain from this trade. Parsons can play all over the field, so it's not entirely accurate to assume Van Ness is relegated to a backup role. However, his snap counts will feel the most pain from Parsons' arrival.
Van Ness hasn't started a game since high school, which is a bizarre but true fact. Preston Smith's departure pushed the door open for the Packers' 2023 first-rounder to finally grab hold of that full-time role as an every-week starter. He undoubtedly rose to the challenge on the practice field this summer, too.
But it's fair to wonder how many starts he'll make now. Parsons can play inside or even at linebacker, so Van Ness will get opportunities on the edge, but this trade will blunt his snaps at least somewhat.
Of course, there are huge positives. Parsons will take away attention, which, in theory, should make Van Ness' job far easier. The drawback is that the third-year player is now the Packers' No. 3 edge-rusher, which naturally will reduce his opportunities slightly.
Loser: Packers in contract years
The Packers have added Parson's $188 million contract to Love's $220 million deal from last year — it's a lot of cash for the Packers' salary cap to absorb.
All that flexibility is gone, and the Packers will feel it during free agency. They smartly extended Zach Tom earlier this summer, but they will now have to pick their spots for future long-term deals.
Green Bay has a loooong list of upcoming free agents, including tackle Rasheed Walker, wide receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, linebacker Quay Walker, and edge-rusher Kingsley Enagbare. Many of these players could be headed for the exit door following this season.