Micah Parsons’ agent sets record straight on why Packers were chosen to acquire elite edge rusher in huge trade
Green Bay pulled off a monster trade.
It’s rare for an agent to give interviews, but David Mulugheta wanted to speak. Micah Parsons’ agent went on ESPN’s First Take on Tuesday to talk about the failed negotiations with the Dallas Cowboys and how the elite edge rusher ended up on the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers gave up two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark to acquire Parsons. The big sticking point for the player was the contract, with $136 million in guarantees ($120 million fully guaranteed at signing) as part of a four-year, $186 million extension — with an extra $2 million available via incentives.
“If you look at many of these contracts that the Cowboys have done over the past few years, and the recent ones, the guarantees don’t stretch much further than the first new year,” Mulugheta explained. “If you look at Micah’s current deal, he has guarantees into four years from now. So again, there are certain things that have been put out in the media to make it look as though Micah turned down a fair or a great deal, but that’s simply not the case.”
The deal shows how valuable the Packers think Parsons can be. The contract has basically the structure of a quarterback deal, and it’s the first time a veteran non-quarterback has guarantees beyond Year 1. Usually, even in big signings like Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney last year, or significant extensions like Zach Tom’s this offseason, the Packers only guarantee the signing bonus.
It was a combination of exceptions for the Packers to pull the trigger: Giving up two first-rounders for a veteran, the strong guarantees, and even allowing him to wear number 1, something no other Packers player had done since Curly Lambeau in 1926.
Issues with the Cowboys
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones mentioned throughout the process that he had reached an agreement with Parsons himself. However, Mulugheta made it clear: This is not the players’ attribution.
“I don’t really do these interviews. We try to keep the negotiations out of the media, but in this case, so much information has been put out there that we want to just address a couple of things. But as far as Micah was concerned, he wanted to be a Cowboy,” Mulugheta added. “We did everything we could. And sometimes you got to be a little careful with what you read in the media, as far as what was offered to Micah, the guarantees that were offered, the APY that was offered. There’s so much that goes into an NFL contract.”
Last week, before the trade, the agency Athletes First sent the Cowboys an e-mail trying to set up a negotiation. However, Dallas said that Parsons would have to play under the fifth-year option or go to another team. The answer was obvious at that point, and Parsons is now a Packer.
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From slow discontent in Dallas to a monster deal, how Packers shocked the NFL world with Micah Parsons blockbuster trade
Green Bay pulled off a blockbuster trade.
