Dallas Cowboys Trade Micah Parsons to Packers for haul, including Kenny Clark

The long standoff between Cowboys Owner and General Manager Jerry Jones and Superstar Pass-Rusher Micah Parsons is officially over as the Cowboys have agreed to part ways with the pass rusher being traded for Packers Defensive Tackle Kenny Clark, a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick.

Upon his arrival with to the Green Bay Packers, Parsons will sign the highest-paid contract for a non-qaurterback in NFL history; A four-year $188 million contract with $137 million guaranteed. Parsons will be earning $47 million per year.

Last year, both teams were top ten in the league in total sacks for the season with Dallas finishing the season third in sacks and Green Bay eighth by the end of the season. Both teams also finished top ten in forced fumbles and fumble recoveries with Dallas once again surpassing the Packers.

Parsons finished the 2024 season with 12.0 sacks and two forced fumbles, producing nearly a quarter of Dallas’ sack production. Had Parsons been on the packers, his sacks would have made up over a quarter of their sacks.

Kenny Clark recorded one sack, 37 total tackles, two fumble recoveries and five QB hits. Clark’s main value for the Green Bay Packers was in his run defense. In his final season with the Packers, the team only gave up 4 yards per carry, third least in the NFL. In the 2023 season, when Clark made the pro bowl team with 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, the Packers gave up 4.4 yards per carry, middling around the pack in the NFL.

As far as what the Packers are getting in Micah Parsons, they are getting a guy who can change the look of their defense. By acquiring Parsons, they assemble one of the best pass rushing pairs in the NFL with Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary; all the more important with the rival Minnesota Vikings having their own dynamic duo of a pass-rush in Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. This is to say nothing of Detroit’s Aiden Hutchinson who was a DPOY candidate prior to his injury and the Chicago Bears have Montez Sweat, who despite the down season, was a 12.5 sack player in 2023.

As for the Cowboys, the Micah Parsons trade only adds more questions to an offseason that has left fans with many questions, especially on the defensive end after the team lost DeMarcus Lawrence to the Seattle Seahawks during free-agency.

Next season the Packers and Cowboys play on Sunday September 28, 8:20pm. The Parsons trade adds another layer to a storied rivalry between the two teams. The last time they met in the playoffs was a humiliating 48-32 loss to the Packers in which the Cowboys were down 41-16 at halftime. Overall, its going to be an interesting match between two teams that don’t like each other, all the more exciting for two passionate fan bases.