What a Realistic Micah Parsons Trade Would Look Like for Cowboys

What would a return for Parsons look like if the Cowboys agree to grant his trade request?

Micah Parsons would fetch a huge trade package for the Cowboys if they agree to his trade request. / Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK

Earlier in August, Micah Parsons demanded a trade from the Cowboys.

Even with months of Parsons's public discontentment simmering due to his desire for a contract extension, it is shocking to see the Cowboys let the situation get to this point. Parsons is one of the best defensive players in football, hard stop. He's accumulated 52.5 sacks in his first four NFL seasons and earned two first-team All-Pro nods. It's no exaggeration to say Parsons is on track for a Hall of Fame-caliber career. But the Cowboys played hardball with his contract negotiations and now have to decide whether they'll actually trade their 26-year-old superstar.

Early signs suggest no, they will not. It took less than a half hour after Parsons's trade request went public for a report to emerge stating the team has "no intention" of trading the star pass rusher. Between that and how the Myles Garrett situation unfolded earlier this year, it seems far more likely that Parsons's dramatic trade demand will be used to finalize an extension with Dallas rather than as a vehicle to play elsewhere next season.

However, recent reports have emerged that the Cowboys are "at least willing to listen" to trade offers for Parsons. This is a big change from the stance Jones & Co. have held fast to throughout training camp. It's still far from a guaranteed outcome but now it feels more likely than ever Dallas will just wash its hands of the situation and ship Parsons off for an absolute haul.

Should that be the path the Cowboys take it would interest 31 other teams, as just about every franchise would be very keen on procuring Parsons's services for their own ends. There would be no concerns about on- or off-field fits with a player of this talent. Opposing teams all over the league would be over the moon to just get him in the building and go from there, even if it means having to pay him top-of-the-line pass-rusher money.

So, if the Cowboys did trade Parsons, what would a realistic deal actually look like?

What a Micah Parsons trade would look like for the Cowboys

As was pointed out in the immediate aftermath of Parsons's request, there is a decent comparison in modern NFL history. Back in 2018, a 27-year-old Khalil Mack was traded by the then-Oakland Raiders to the Bears for an absolute haul of picks. The deal fetched the Raiders four draft picks (including two first-rounders) for Mack, a second-round pick, and a conditional fifth-round pick.

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— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 1, 2025

That seems like a good starting point for Parsons. He's a bit younger than Mack was at the time of his trade request, with just as strong a résumé leading into the trade demand. Additionally, both players were searching for their first big-money extension at the time of their trade request. And in the past seven years the value of a great edge rusher has only increased.

It feels safe to believe a trade package for Parsons would start with multiple first-round picks and include additional mid-round selections on top of that. If the Cowboys wanted an established player for Parsons, that changes the formula quite a bit for both sides. Additionally, while every other team would love to have Parsons, only a few could be in the running to trade for him. It's impossible to see Dallas trading him to any NFC East rival, for example, and teams without any cap space would find it very hard to make enough room for Parsons and the new deal he would require as part of the trade.

Even with those restrictions, there's no way Dallas would fail to find a willing and able trade partner. Players of Parsons's caliber never, ever hit the trade market.

But the All-Pro may very well might. And no matter what the final price may be, we can know for sure right now that it'll be sky-high.

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