The Dallas Cowboys and DE Micah Parsons have not come to terms on a new deal. Now, trade rumors for one of the league's top pass rushers are swirling after Parson's trade request, with the Packers in the thick of them.
With Week 1 fast-approaching, there is a chance Parsons is not on the field when the Cowboys play the Eagles on Thursday, September 4 to kick off the 2025 NFL season.
There could be a new contract struck at the 11th hour, just like with the Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb last year. Although Dallas owner/GM Jerry Jones has no interest in trading Parsons, there are plenty of teams that would love to have him if he becomes available.
Let’s look at some trade destinations for Micah Parsons, who would warrant a huge trade package to get him moved.
🏈 Get started on PrizePicks today to get$50 instantly in Lineups after your first $5 Lineup.
Why Does Micah Parsons Want a Trade?
Micah Parsons is on the final year of his rookie deal, as he was selected with the No. 12 overall pick in 2021. The fifth-year club option of his rookie deal would pay him $24 million before he becomes a free agent next year.
For the first four years of the deal, Parsons averaged $4.27 million per year. In each of those seasons, Parsons had at least 12 sacks — an incredible deal for the Cowboys, who only won a total of one playoff game in that span.
It's safe to say — it's time for the Cowboys to pay up. Parsons publicly requested a trade from the Cowboys on August 1, 2025, as the contract talks stalled between Parsons and the team.
Owner/GM Jerry Jones is adamant that he will not trade Parsons, as all attention is on the Cowboys organization to get a deal done.
Find the top Cowboys to target and avoid in Fantasy Football here
Three Potential Micah Parsons Trade Destinations
While it's still possible the Cowboys get a deal done, if Parsons is traded, here are three teams that could make a move to get him.
Green Bay Packers
Last season, Green Bay's defense finished sixth in the NFL in points allowed per game (19.9) and tied for eighth in sacks (45). Former first-round DE Rashan Gary led the team in sacks with 7.5, but the seventh-year man was the only Packer who managed more than 5.
Parsons could be the next-level pass rusher the Packers need to thrive in the stacked NFC North.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Cowboys would want a return for Parsons similar to the deal between the Raiders and Bears for Khalil Mack. In that trade, the Bears sent two first-round picks, a third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick to the Raiders.
The Packers only have one pick in each of the seven rounds in next year's draft, so they would likely have to send 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to the Cowboys at least.
Most importantly, the Packers currently have $31 million in cap room and a projected $75 million in 2027. Parsons will likely demand to come near or exceed Steelers DE TJ Watt's three-year, $123 million contract extension. Watt's cap hit is $42 million in 2026 and 2027, and $46.5 million in 2028, so the Packers could potentially take on a similar contract with Parsons.
Twitter is ablaze with trade rumors between Parsons and the Packers, but there isn't a ton of validity to them. But where there's smoke, there may be fire. This is one to keep an eye on.
New England Patriots
The common theme in a potential Parsons trade destination will be teams with cap space. No team has a better situation than the Patriots, who currently have the highest cap space in the league at $60 million.
New England could be a place where Parsons flourishes, especially for someone defensive-minded like Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
Correlating “bad” with the Patriots defense is unusual, but that’s what they were last year; they finished 22nd in points allowed per game (24.5) and last in sacks (28). That result comes after former head coach Bill Belichick never allowed more than 21 points per game in his 24 seasons with the team.
The lack of pressure generated in 2024 was due to a 3-4 defensive scheme (three defensive linemen and four linebackers) under former head coach Jerrod Mayo, which focused on occupying space to free up the linebackers.
That will be the opposite approach under Patriots new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, who will inject a more aggressive defense, featuring four down defensive linemen. This scheme requires players who can attack the pocket — exactly what Parsons is known for.
Parsons is already familiar with this type of defense in Dallas and would fit in seamlessly, making an immediate impact.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Some draft experts believed Tampa Bay needed to address the defensive end position and grab a pass rusher, but they passed on the position in the draft. This could be their chance to correct the issue and help them win their fifth-consecutive NFC South title.
The 2024 Bucs defense was darn good at getting to opposing quarterbacks in 2024, finishing sixth in sacks (46), ninth in pressure percentage (24.3%), and tenth in QB knockdown percentage (10.5%). However, this is likely correlated with being the third-heaviest blitzing team (34.2%).
When you send extra men to attack the pocket, you’re sending fewer into coverage, which is likely why they were 29th in passing yards allowed per game (243.9).
An impact rusher like Parsons could make a huge impact, allowing the Bucs to only need to bring four defensive players to attack the pocket. They also added veteran LB Haason Reddick, with 11+ sacks in four of the last five seasons, and have devleoped third-year LB Yaya Diaby, with 12 sacks across two seasons.
However, by adding Parsons, they address an imminent need to get more pressure on opposing QBs.
They currently have $26 million in cap space, $38 million in 2026, and only one pick in each of the seven rounds in 2026. T
Tampa Bay will have to give Dallas at least 2026 and 2027 picks, while also having to create some cap space to get Parsons the contract he wants.
Make 2025 Cowboys Predictions on PrizePicks
The potential for Cowboys DE Micah Parsons to move to another team will be one of the biggest storylines leading up to NFL Week 1.
No matter how you see this NFL season playing out, you can win real money on your NFL predictions for the upcoming season with PrizePicks NFLZSN game. You can pick one of Parsons’ current teammates, like WR CeeDee Lamb and QB Dak Prescott, and predict how they will finish the season.
Just pick 2-6 players, predict More or Less on their season-long stats, and set your Lineup to win real money.
