The Green Bay Packers pulled off the unimaginable, acquiring edge defender Micah Parsons for a package with two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. As any move of this magnitude would, the trade brings significant repercussions throughout the entire building, with added pressure for some and added incentive for others for perform at a high level.

These are the winners and losers of the Micah Parsons’ trade to the Packers.

Winners

Jeff Hafley
Hafley was impressive last year to scheme up pressure. But he had to, because the Packers couldn’t generate real pressure with four. So he had to be creative with games, stunts, and blitzes. It worked, but it was probably not sustainable. That’s one of the big reasons why the Packers made this trade after all. Now, an already promising defensive coordinator has a huge tool to make his scheme look better and more effective.

Devonte Wyatt
Without Kenny Clark, the Packers have basically no option if not to feed Wyatt with snaps and hope that the former first-round pick improves as a run defender. If he can do that, in addition to his ability as an interior rusher, he will be in line for a big extension next offseason, when he will be entering his fifth-year option season.

Nazir Stackhouse
Without Clark, Green Bay has a sequence of question marks to defend the run. Undrafted rookie Nazir Stackhouse made the 53-man roster exactly because he offers that. Now with Clark in Dallas, he will certainly have a role in the rotation.

Brian Gutekunst aura
Gutekunst is a top 10 GM in the NFL, maybe top 5. He has his flaws, sure, but he’s been a consistent talent evaluator. The critics, mostly based on the franchise’s history, would say he’s not aggressive enough. Does that sound aggressive enough to you?

Losers

Rashan Gary
In a sense, the trade is good for Gary because he will be a secondary pass rusher. Without as much attention, he will be able to produce much more. But there’s a lot of risk involved. It’s hard to say that Gary has justified the big extension the Packers gave him back in 2023. Now, he’s slated to make $19.5 million in 2026 and $22.5 million in 2027, and that’s a lot of money if he doesn’t become more productive quickly.

Lukas Van Ness
Van Ness hasn’t been a starter since high school. It was about to happen, until now. Unless the third-year player surprisingly surpasses Gary on the depth chart, he will be a rotational edge rusher once again. Sure, the Packers tend to rotate a lot with their defensive ends, but it’s not the ideal outcome for him, especially considering that Green Bay will make its decision on Van Ness’ fifth-year option next offseason.

Pending free agents
The Packers are paying Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs, Xavier McKinney, Zach Tom. Now, Micah Parsons is the highest-paid non-quarterback in football. It’s impossible to pay everyone, which means it will be harder for the Packers to keep some of their own free agents—especially if they are not elite. Players like Rasheed Walker, Sean Rhyan, Christian Watson, and Romeo Doubs will have a more difficult time getting a second deal in Green Bay.

Green Bay Packers News

Insane number shows exactly the type of impact that Micah Parsons can have to transform the Packers

Parsons has been one of the most efficient defensive players in the NFL.

Wendell Ferreira