Micah Parsons trade deal explained: What do Dallas get in return?

The Dallas Cowboys are trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, ending the longest-running trade saga of the summer.

Parsons, an All-Pro edge rusher, was set to enter the final year of his rookie contract with the Cowboys and had been unable to agree terms on an extension. Dallas had insisted that they would hold onto Parsons but could not risk losing him to free agency next year.

In the end, a move to the Packers was deemed the best option for all parties. Parsons will be handed a four-year, $188 million deal in Green Bay. That average annual salary of $47 million per year is the highest ever given to a non-quarterback.

In return, the Cowboys have secured a hefty compensation package from the Packers with two first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark heading to Dallas.

In a statement released by Parsons on Thursday, he thanked the Cowboys for making him feel “right at home” over the past four years.

“From the moment I arrived in Dallas, you embraced me and my family as your own. You made a kid from the east coast feel right at home in Texas. Every time I pulled up to work, every time I stepped onto that field, I felt the weight and pride of representing you. You didn’t just give me a jersey, you gave me a place to belong…"

“This is a sad day but not a bitter one. I’ll never forget the joy of draft night, the adrenaline of running out of the tunnel, or the brotherhood I shared with my teammates, coaches and the staff who prepared me for every single game. Those memories are mine forever.”

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