Re-grading Micah Parsons trade: Packers still big winners despite injury, Cowboys go from pass to fail originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Micah Parsons has played in only 14 of the Packers' 23 games in two years since being traded from the Cowboys last August. He has yet to play at all in the 2026 NFL regular season after a suffering a major left knee injury (torn ACL, torn meniscus) last Dec. 25.
Even though he's needed a long time to recover, Green Bay officials should have no regrets about acquiring Parsons for their defense. Likewise, Dallas and GM/owner Jerry Jones should have reasons to rue the rash deal.
While Parsons should return to boost the Packers' pass rush soon after positing 12.5 sacks in 2025, the Cowboys so far have to be disappointed in the return for his services. Here's looking back to see just how more lopsided the trade has become 14 months later.
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Micah Parsons updated trade grades
Packers received:
- EDGE Micah Parsons
Cowboys received:
- DT Kenny Clark
- 2026 first-round draft pick (EDGE Malachi Lawrence)
- 2027 first-round draft pick
Clark, a three-time Pro Bowler for Green Bay, just turned 31 in early October. He produced three sacks with decent pressure from the inside working off Quinnen Williams. The Cowboys' new 3-4 base with Christian Parker, however, hasn't help either player at end.
Lawrence was taken No. 23 overall after the Cowboys moved from No. 20 overall in a trade with the NFC East rival Eagles. That in itself was a mistake, as Dallas then missed out on more ideal schematic edge rusher Akheem Mesidor, who went No. 22 to the Chargers. Mesidor has been a productive force to support Khalil Mack. Lawrence has one sack in five games in a situational role.
The Cowboys still have that first-rounder next year, but they also lost their own pick when they acquired Williams from the Jets.
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Packers' re-grade: A
The Packers have surprised many by being a strong pass defense despite Parsons not being on the field and former defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley leaving to become the Dolphins' head coach. Replacement Jonathan Gannon, the former Cardinals head coach and Eagles' defensive coordinator, has been a good hire in that capacity.
Green Bay is fifth in passing yards allowed per game and is tied for No. 7 with Seattle in sacks with 14 in five games, which is a 48-sack pace. Consider with Parsons under Hafley, it totaled only 36 sacks. It's been more of a committee effort to get to the quarterback. Unfortunately, inside linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who leads the team with three sacks so far, is now out for the season with a torn Achilles'.
The Packers have struggled a lot more in run defense, No. 24 in the NFL. That's an area in which Parsons can't help too much given his skill set. Parsons, however, will come back to a better pressure group under Gannon, which will only heighten his impact.
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Cowboys re-grade: D
Clark is getting close to the end of his career. Lawrence is just beginning his. Jones moved Parsons in his absolute prime at age 26.
Keeping Parsons would have been a tight salary squeeze. Right after the trade, the Packers gave him a new four-year, $188 million deal. That made Parsons the NFL's highest-paid defensive player of all time in average annual salary, until the Texans gave Will Anderson Jr. a three-year, $150 million extension this April.
Although the Cowboys have completed their return with a draft pick still pending, they do miss Parsons' presence on what's become a dumpster fire of a defense.
Dallas is No. 21 against the pass in 2026. The team has only five sacks, with only the Chiefs and Dolphins (four each through five games) behind the Cowboys. It's been hard to replace Parsons' production over two years, as they have dropped from 35 sacks last season to a paltry pace of 17 sacks for this season.
The Cowboys were No. 23 against the run last season but have plummeted to dead last at No. 32 this season, allowing an average of 168.4 yards per game and 5.1 yards per attempt. In Parsons' last season in Dallas, 2024, the team ranked No. 29 against the run.
Without Parsons, the Cowboys have lost that versatile game-wrecker around which offenses must game-plan every week. Jones feels that every week when his defense turns in another bad game and costs his team a win. That adds up to Dallas getting an appropriate Big "D" for the move.
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