The Micah Parsons trade might have an unexpected winner after all, and it’s neither the Cowboys nor the Packers
It’s often argued who won the Micah Parsons trade: The Dallas Cowboys or the Green Bay Packers? Honestly, maybe it was another team entirely.
Dallas Cowboys fans like to go back and think about who really won the Micah Parsons trade in hindsight, even though it’s way too early to tell. But at this point, it may not be the Cowboys nor the Green Bay Packers, who acquired the star pass rusher for two first-round picks and DT Kenny Clark in 2025.
As I was watching the Atlanta Falcons run all over the Packers en route to a dominant 35-14 win in which Bijan Robinson ran for 194 yards, I couldn’t help but think about the Packers’ offensive line issues potentially derailing their season before Parsons even gets a chance to return from the Physically Unable to Perform list. In two of their first three games of the season, they’ve lost by 17+ points against the Carson Wentz-led Vikings and Michael Penix Jr-led Falcons.
As I watched on Thursday night, for a brief second, I thought, well the Cowboys will get a juicy draft pick if this ends up being a tough season for the Packers. And then it hit me.
The Jets would own the Packers’ first-round pick
The Cowboys gave up a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick in exchange of DT Quinnen Williams last year. The first-round pick sent to the New York Jets was agreed to be the highest of the Cowboys’ own pick and the one which the Packers gave up for Parsons.
So say the Packers’ struggles this year translate to a Top 10 pick and the Cowboys go on to make the playoffs (don’t worry, it’s just an example), the Top 10 pick would belong to the Jets.
As of right now, the Jets hold three frist-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, as the Indianapolis Colts sent one as part of the Sauce Gardner trade.
With the Packers struggling and the Cowboys off to a rough start on defense one year after the Parsons trade, right now the winner looks to be the Jets.
As for the Cowboys…
This is a reminder of why there’s a lot of pressure on DT Quinnen Williams to step up his game in 2026 and on the Cowboys’ coaching staff to make sure they maximize his talent. Dallas paid a hefty price to land the defensive tackle and then signed him to a $106 million contract extension.
Through two weeks in 2026, Williams has been one of the best Cowboys defenders but he hasn’t played at the superstar level you expect of him. Is it fair to look at him through that lens? I think it should be.
It’s also up to the Cowboys to better utilize his talents. Williams’ specialty is getting upfield, which isn’t necessarily a natural fit with Christian Parker’s light box scheme. But we knew that going into the season. The Cowboys have to find a way to get him to do what he does best and Williams needs to reduce the number of reps which he loses in evident fashion.
Again, that’s not to say he’s playing poorly. He’s not. But there’s more he can give.
