SUBSCRIBE to our emails here

Micah Parsons wants out — mock trades that make sense for the Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys and contract disputes: name a better duo.

Star pass rusher Micah Parsons announced Friday that he no longer wants to play for the Cowboys and submitted a trade request to the team. “I no longer want to be held to closed-door negotiations without my agent present,” he said. “I no longer want shots taken at me for getting injured while laying it on the line for the organization, our fans, and teammates, I no longer want narratives created and spread to the media about me.”

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones responded by assuring fans that Parsons would not be traded. “I think the world of Micah,” he said. “That’s just the part of negotiation. I don’t really place that with any seriousness.”

So, Parsons’ trade request may just be a negotiating tactic. Or maybe it’s not? In case it isn’t, several of our writers put together six mock trades that’d make sense for the Cowboys to deal the 26-year-old Parsons. Let’s take a look a few of them:

Ravens offer an EDGE replacement and picks

• Cowboys get: EDGE Odafe Oweh, 2026 first-round draft selection, 2026 third-round draft selection, 2027 second-round selection
• Ravens get: EDGE Micah Parsons

“Baltimore is not traditionally a hyper-aggressive organization to make splash trades. But when the right player becomes available, they’re certainly willing to play ball. The Ravens proved as much with their acquisition of LB Roquan Smith. This is, admittedly, a little different ballgame.

“Baltimore can offer a former 1st-round pick who has finally started playing like one in Odafe Oweh to go along with three top-100 draft selections, although the Ravens would need to spread these picks out to help appease Eric DeCosta’s never-ending itch to draft in surplus. The Ravens have made 20 draft selections in the last two seasons, so they’re a little more willing than normal to part with marquee assets, and Parsons would obviously secure a premium contract in place of Oweh, who is playing this year on his fifth-year option.” —Kyle Crabbs

Packers come in with multiple first-round picks

• Cowboys get: 2026 first-round selection, 2027 first-round selection, EDGE Kingsley Enagbare
• Packers get: EDGE Micah Parsons

“The Packers may be conservative in making moves with a combination of high draft picks and high salary, but Brian Gutekunst has already shown a willingness to pull the trigger for elite, young players. Back in 2018, he had a similar offer on the table to the Raiders compared to what the Chicago Bears ultimately paid.

“Parsons is the same transformative type of talent at a premium position, so Green Bay could send the top picks plus an edge defender back to the Cowboys to make the deal more enticing to Dallas. A group of Parsons, Rashan Gary, and Lukas Van Ness would have the potential to be the best in the entire NFL.” —Wendell Ferreira

Steelers offer Alex Highsmith

• Cowboys get: 2026 first-round selection, 2027 first-round selection, EDGE Alex Highsmith
• Steelers get: EDGE Micah Parsons, 2026 fourth-round selection

“The Steelers and Micah Parsons have a bit of a history. Parsons has been open about playing for Pittsburgh if he were ever to leave for Dallas, and, well, we might be at that point. The Pennsylvania native has requested a trade, and there is a world where the Steelers can swing it. For one, they have cap space, and that’s before a restructure or two and potential offloading of Alex Highsmith to Dallas in a trade. So the financials can be worked out.

“The Steelers are armed with the most draft capital they have had in years in 2026. Oh, and Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta… He has a long history of dealing with Omar Khan and the Steelers. The Steelers brand is being renewed in front of our eyes, and a trade of this caliber would solidify that.” —Rob Gregson

Dallas Cowboys News

Looking at 6 mock trade offers for Micah Parsons: Dallas Cowboys make unconventional deal and receive $98 million player

Everyone wants Micah.

Destin Adams

Terry McLaurin wants out, too — the latest + his value

Parsons isn’t the only player who wants out of his town. Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin has also requested a trade, with the two butting heads on terms for a new contract.

This situation seems even less likely to end in a trade considering the Commanders’ leverage over McLaurin. The soon-to-be 30-year-old wideout is currently injured and may not have as strong of a market as he thinks. Our guy Kyle Crabbs actually examined recent WR deals to get a good idea of McLaurin’s current value. Here’s what he found:

DK Metcalf + 2025 sixth-rounder to Steelers for 2025 second-rounder + 2025 seventh-rounder: “The good news for McLaurin is that the Metcalf example, which went down this offseason, did indeed see the star receiver paid long-term [a four-year, $132 million extension with $60 million guaranteed at signing]. Some have used Metcalf’s contract figures as the benchmark that McLaurin is aiming for. But the reality of the situation is wide receiver age walls can come fast and Metcalf will play nearly this entire season as a 27-year old. McLaurin will turn 30 before the end of Week 2.

“Metcalf is a very different style of receiver than McLaurin, which could be argued in Scary Terry’s favor — but it’s not a coincidence that Metcalf’s guaranteed money on his new deal from Pittsburgh expires before his age-29 season in 2027.”

Stefon Diggs + 2024 sixth-rounder + 2025 fifth-rounder to Texans for 2025 second-rounder: “Diggs already had the big contract in hand from Buffalo when he got traded to Houston in April of 2024. As a matter of fact, the first order of business for these two parties after a deal came together was to tear up the remainder of his contract and collect a one-year raise. Diggs was originally slated to make $22.52 million in 2024 with the Bills on what would have been the first year of the extension he signed with Buffalo back in 2022. He collected $29.765 million from the Texans instead as a 30-year-old wide receiver before free agency after the season.

“The result was catastrophic. That original contract with the Bills doesn’t do McLaurin any favors — the annual average salary of that deal was $24 million per season, far below the price point he’s seeking now. The way Diggs aged on that contract doesn’t do McLaurin any favors, either. Diggs posted his worst yardage total in four years during his age-29 season in Buffalo and then, after being traded to Houston, tore his ACL and missed half of 2024.”

DeAndre Hopkins + 2020 fourth-rounder to Cardinals for 2020 second-rounder + 2021 fourth-rounder + RB David Johnson: “Hopkins was traded from Houston to Arizona back in March of 2020 after coming off of three consecutive first-team All-Pro seasons with the Texans. He was 28 years old at the time of the trade and played his first season in Arizona two years younger than what McLaurin will be this year.

“Upon Hopkins’ arrival to Arizona, he immediately negotiated a two-year, $54.5 million extension to secure a pay raise. Initially slated to earn $12.5 million from his prior contract in Houston, Hopkins collected over $27.5 million in 2020 after finalizing the new deal. It was, at the time, the highest new money average for any non-quarterback and it included a full no-trade clause. Just one year later, Hopkins was suspended six games for a violation of the PED policy and his star has faded quickly.

“As far as the trade compensation, the deal here is unique as a reference point, especially given Washington is in a competitive window and will almost assuredly want talent to replace McLaurin in the world in which he gets sent packing.”