Cowboys Defend Decision to Trade Micah Parsons to Packers
The Dallas Cowboys stunned the NFL on the eve of the 2025 regular season. After months of contract dispute tension that spilled into the public eye, the Cowboys traded All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for two first-round picks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark. It was a blockbuster that reshaped two franchises overnight, and the debate over who won the deal has never fully quieted down.
Fast forward to the offseason, the Cowboys converted the 2026 first-round pick, which landed at No. 20 overall, into a trade down with the Philadelphia Eagles, moving to No. 23 and collecting two extra Day 2 selections in the process.
Dallas used those picks on UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence at No. 23, Florida cornerback Devin Moore at No. 114, and Alabama defensive lineman LT Overton at No. 137. The 2027 first-round pick, meanwhile, was used to acquire defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets.
Following the draft, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones was asked directly about the trade on Mad Dog Radio. Per The Athletic's Jon Machota, Jones was unequivocal.
"We feel good about what we've added via that trade," he said, singling out Williams and Clark by name. "The decision we made was that one player is not worth four or five good ones. And we feel like that's where we're going to end up here, in a good spot."
Did the Cowboys get a good return on the Micah Parsons trade?
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 5, 2026
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on @MadDogRadio: "We feel good about what we've added via that trade. (He specifically mentioned Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark.) The decision we made was that one player is not worth four…
He added: "We had that opportunity there and didn't feel like we were one player away last year. But certainly feel like we're putting the pieces together to give us an opportunity to go do what our fans deserve, what we want, which is to go try and win the big trophy, win the Super Bowl. That's our goal. We feel like we have the right pieces in place to do that."
Parsons and the Cowboys had contrasting seasons in their first year apart. Dallas ranked as one of the worst defensive teams in the NFL, which ultimately led to the firing of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Green Bay, meanwhile, got exactly what they paid for, until disaster struck. Parsons recorded 12.5 sacks in 14 games with the Packers, before tearing his ACL and ending his season in December.
Related: Micah Parsons Reacts After Cowboys Announcement on Monday
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This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 5:54 PM.