The possibility of the Dallas Cowboys trading star linebacker Micah Parsons has become a major topic in NFL circles. Entering the last year of his rookie contract with a salary set at $24 million, Parsons has performed at a Pro Bowl level in each of his four seasons but has yet to match the top defensive salaries in the league. This situation has sparked widespread interest and speculation about his future.
Packers Identified as Leading Team Interested in Parsons
Although the Cowboys have not shown any willingness to trade Parsons, NFL Network analyst Ian Rapoport singled out the Green Bay Packers as the leading candidates if a trade were to occur. Rapoport emphasized that if Parsons were to leave Dallas, the Packers would be the most likely destination for the standout linebacker.
“I would expect that the Packers would be among the teams interested.” “That’s the kind of team that I would say, if Micah was going to be traded, that he’d be going to.” — Ian Rapoport, NFL Network Analyst
Green Bay holds all their picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, positioning them well to offer a competitive package to Dallas in exchange for Parsons.
Contract and Value Challenges Ahead for Potential Trade
Despite the speculation, the Cowboys have not indicated readiness to entertain trade offers for their two-time first-team All-Pro pass-rusher. However, a sufficiently attractive offer might prompt them to consider parting ways with their best defensive player. Any acquiring team, including the Packers, would need to exceed Parsons’s current contract value to match his proven elite status and career production.
Parsons has consistently recorded double-digit sacks in each season since entering the league, demonstrating his value as one of the NFL’s most productive defenders. Matching his worth financially remains a critical hurdle in trade discussions.
How Parsons Could Impact the Packers’ Defensive Line
The Packers have struggled to secure a reliable pass-rushing force beside Rashan Gary. Despite investing multiple high draft picks in players like Lukas Van Ness and Quay Walker, neither has matched Parsons’s level of impact. Both are expected to start in the upcoming season, yet their combined output falls short of what Parsons delivers as a premier defender.
Green Bay further bolstered their defensive end depth with selections of Barryn Sorrell in the fourth round and Collin Oliver in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Nevertheless, bringing in Parsons would immediately address the team’s longtime pass-rush concerns and provide elite production for the foreseeable future.
At just 26 years old, Parsons is still in the prime years of his career, offering the Packers a chance to solidify a key defensive position for at least five more seasons or longer.
Implications of a Parsons Trade for the NFL Landscape
If the Cowboys were to agree to trade Parsons, it would mark a significant shift in their defensive strategy and signal a major change in the NFC landscape. The Packers acquiring a player of Parsons’s caliber would transform their defense, ending years of searching for a consistent pass-rushing threat opposite Gary.
This potential move could alter team dynamics across the conference, impacting draft decisions and salary cap management for both franchises. While no official trade talks have surfaced yet, the growing rumors underscore Parsons’s status as one of the league’s most sought-after defensive talents.