Kristina Roberts
Micah Parsons is just 26 years old and already one of the top players in the entire NFL. Many people say he’s the best defensive player right now. Even if some think Myles Garrett or T.J. Watt are better, Parsons is still younger than both. That makes him more valuable to a team because he likely has more years left to play at a high level.
Parsons plays for the Dallas Cowboys. On Friday, something surprising happened — he asked the team to trade him. This doesn’t mean the Cowboys will trade him right away. According to Dianna Russini from The Athletic, the Cowboys don’t actually want to let him go. But since Parsons hasn’t yet signed a new contract with the team, things have gotten tense. If this situation continues and both sides don’t agree soon, Dallas might change its mind and decide to trade him.
If that happens, many NFL teams would be interested. A player like Parsons doesn’t come along often. He’s young, fast, smart, and can stop the best quarterbacks. If a team really wants him, they’ll have to give up a lot — and also pay him more than what other top defenders like T.J. Watt are getting. Right now, Watt is earning around $41 million a season, so Parsons could ask for even more.
Most people still believe the Cowboys will do what they usually do in situations like this: pay their star and keep him happy. But what if they don’t? What if Parsons really does leave? What would that kind of trade look like? And which teams in the US would even be able to pay what it takes to get him?
To understand what might happen, we can look at a past trade that’s similar. Back in 2018, something like this happened. The Oakland Raiders traded Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears. At that time, Mack was 27 — close to Parsons’ current age. Mack had already won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2016. Parsons hasn’t won that yet, but he’s still been named one of the best defensive players twice, just like Mack had.
When Mack was traded to the Bears, the Raiders received two first-round picks — one for 2019 and one for 2020. They also got a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick. In return, the Bears got Mack, a second-round pick, and a possible fifth-round pick. After the trade, Mack signed a huge contract with the Bears, making him the highest-paid defensive player ever at that time.
So, if we compare that to Parsons’ case, it’s likely the Cowboys would want at least two first-round picks in return. That would just be the start — other picks might be added too. And the team that gets Parsons would then have to give him a record-breaking contract.
That’s why, even though almost every team would love to have Parsons, not all of them can afford it. Some don’t have enough draft picks to offer. Others don’t have enough money left in their budget to pay such a high salary. A trade like this would be massive, not just in terms of football, but in news too. It could be as big a story as something like Luka Dončić, the basketball star, being traded to the Lakers.
Parsons has been a key part of the Cowboys’ defense. He brings energy and skill that’s hard to replace. Letting him go would be a huge move for Dallas. But at the same time, if the team and Parsons can’t agree on a contract, keeping him may become difficult. A happy player performs better — and right now, Parsons seems frustrated.
Still, there’s no final decision yet. Many fans hope Dallas finds a way to fix things. They want to see their star defender stay. The Cowboys have paid their top players in the past. There’s a good chance they’ll do it again. But it’s also clear that Parsons knows his value. He wants a deal that shows how important he is. And he’s not afraid to speak up about it.
This whole situation also shows how much the NFL has changed. Players now have more power. They’re willing to speak out when they feel they deserve better. Parsons’ case isn’t the first like this, and it won’t be the last. More young stars are realizing they don’t have to stay quiet if they feel unfairly treated. They want respect, both in words and in salary.
In the end, whether Micah Parsons stays with the Cowboys or goes to another team, his value is clear. He’s one of the brightest young talents in football. If he does get traded, it will be a huge event across the US — not just for fans, but for the whole league. Teams will watch closely. Players will talk about it. And fans will argue about whether it was the right move.
Until then, everyone will be waiting to see what Dallas does next. Will they step up and pay their star? Or will they do something shocking and let him go? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure — Micah Parsons is worth every bit of attention he’s getting.
