Packers new boy Parsons could have headed further east
Micah Parsons joined the Green Bay Packers in a blockbuster NFL trade, but could have returned to his home state instead.
The Green Bay Packers struck gold by landing Micah Parsons. The star linebacker parted ways with the Dallas Cowboys after the team opted not to extend his contract, which would have kept him among the NFL’s highest-paid defenders. Unsurprisingly, Parsons drew interest from several teams across the league - including some of Dallas’s fiercest NFC East rivals.
Super Bowl winners sought Parsons swoop
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Philadelphia Eagles made a push to trade for Parsons. Their plan was to bring him back to Pennsylvania, the state where he was born. But the Cowboys weren’t about to hand over the league’s premier defensive player to a division rival.
Had the deal gone through, Parsons would have joined a rare group of elite players who suited up for both the Eagles and Cowboys during their prime years - names like wide receiver Terrell Owens and running back Herschel Walker come to mind.
What would a Parsons-to-Eagles trade have involved?
To acquire Parsons, the Packers gave up defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks. Based on that price tag, the cost for Philadelphia might have been even steeper. Dallas targeted Clark, 29, to help stabilize their defensive front in the wake of Parsons’ departure. That means the Eagles would’ve needed to offer a proven veteran with Pro Bowl credentials.
Looking at Philly’s roster, the most realistic trade package would have centered around Jalen Carter and a first-round pick. Though Carter has just two seasons under his belt, he finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2023 and ranked 12th in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024 - making him a highly valuable asset.
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