Micah Parsons trade winners and losers: Packers ascend while Dallas fans get kicked again
Labeling a trade as the biggest in NFL history is difficult, but Thursday's deal between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers stands out as one of the most consequential and potentially franchise-altering trades. The league will be revisiting its impact for years to come.
The Cowboys' Herschel Walker trade became legendary, but the immediate and intense reaction to Dallas trading superstar Micah Parsons to the Packers signals a truly game-changing move. The combination of Parsons' stature and Dallas' high profile sets this trade apart. The decision could reshape legacies around the league and is likely to be viewed as a turning point for both franchises. While some may argue Dallas's return was impressive, the main story is the Packers acquiring an elite, Hall of Fame–caliber player in his prime. This deal defines winners and losers across the NFL.
Brian Gutekunst
The Packers' general manager, Gutekunst, has built the team's roster very well. However, Green Bay still seemed one superstar away from being great. That was one reason why they went 0-6 last season against the Lions, Eagles, and Vikings. Their ceiling seemed slightly short of a Super Bowl contender. That was altered by Gutekunst's daring deal. In recent Packers history, their great GMs have been defined by big moves that led to championships. In exchange for Brett Favre, Ron Wolf signed Reggie White. Ted Thompson drafted Aaron Rodgers, even though the team already had Favre. Gutekunst made one fearless move when he drafted Jordan Love, and the Parsons trade could define his career.
Trading two first-round picks and a good defensive lineman like Kenny Clark would be risky for most teams. It is, for the Packers, really not. Green Bay has a very young and deep roster. PhillyVoice.com reports that the Packers, who made the playoffs the previous two seasons, had the youngest NFL roster following cuts. And they got younger, trading Clark for Parsons.No team wants to lose first-round picks, but the Packers might not miss them much because of their young depth. And, presumably, those picks the Cowboys are getting will be near the bottom of the first round. The Packers may choose No if they reach their limit. 32.
NBC
The NFL and NBC benefit immensely from the Week 4 Cowboys-Packers game, elevated now by the Parsons trade and sure to attract outsized viewership. The matchup encapsulates the new narrative: Dallas faces the star it traded, while Green Bay steps up as a title contender. This new expectation puts pressure on players like Jordan Love, who now must meet championship standards. The trade redefines both teams' futures and heightens league-wide anticipation.
LOSERS
Dallas fans
Presumably, there are a ton of fans who root for the Cowboys and Mavericks. And, well ...
Luka Doncic's transfer from the Mavs to the Lakers was probably the most significant NBA trade of recent times. In Dallas, people didn't like it. That took place in February. Dallas fans didn't have time to recover by the time Parsons was shipped to Green Bay.
The situations are different, and the Cowboys probably got more back in return than the Mavericks did, but Doncic and Parsons might be the two biggest stars to change teams this decade in any sport, and Dallas said goodbye to both of them. There will be a lot of sad Doncic and Parsons jerseys available on eBay today.
Lions, Bears, Vikings
The Packers might have gone from very good to great with one move. We'll see, but it can't be good for the other three teams if Parsons ends up in the NFC North. The Lions may be most affected. Last year, they went 15-2, but a lot of injuries to their defense prevented them from making the playoffs. Detroit still came back with Super Bowl hopes, but that challenge gets tougher with the Packers leveling up. It's possible that when we look back, we'll see that the Lions' Super Bowl window finally came to an end on Thursday. The Vikings, who finished 14-3 and have a very good roster this season, but saw their main rival get much better, are also having a hard time with it. And the Bears should have been feeling good about improving and being a factor in the division with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams, but that path got tougher.
There will be a battle royale in the NFC North for years to come.
Kenny Clark
There is a scenario in which Clark performs admirably for the Cowboys and contributes to their improvement on defense. Based on how frequently he mentioned improving the run defense on Thursday night, Jerry Jones certainly believes that will be the situation. However, the most likely outcome is that Clark will now be associated with Parsons's expulsion from town. That's unfair because Clark is a very good player. He is a three-time Pro Bowler. However, he is not Parsons. And at age 29, it's unlikely his best years will come in Dallas.
In his press conference, Jones repeatedly stated that the Cowboys' objective was to improve their run defense. While it is great to stop the run, it is no longer the highest priority in a league dominated by great quarterbacks. Clark could significantly contribute to the Cowboys' run defense. And it probably will not be enough to make up for the loss of Parsons.
