The one way Cowboys and Jerry Jones could have stopped Micah Parsons’ move to Packers

Micah Parsons sent the NFL world into meltdown after his much-rumored departure from the Dallas Cowboys was confirmed on Thursday, when he was traded to the Green Bay Packers.

Micah Parson’s Packers deal

Parsons will sign a four-year, $188 million deal with $120 million fully guaranteed, giving him a $47 million average annual salary, the highest ever for a non-quarterback in league history.

The contract surpasses the $41 million per year deal of Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, cementing Parsons’ status as one of the NFL’s elite defensive stars.

As part of the deal, the Cowboys will receive two first-round picks (2026 and 2027) along with defensive tackle Kenny Clark, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.

Parsons: “Not in my control”

Almost immediately after the news broke, Parsons posted an emotional message aimed at Cowboys fans on social media, saying, “I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control.”

Although there had been much speculation about the linebacker’s potential departure, Cowboys fans had remained hopeful he would ultimately agree to a new deal. Negotiation points had been the main sticking points for his continuation in Dallas.

How the Cowboys and Jerry Jones could have stopped Parsons trade

That ultimately was not the case, with NFL insider Adam Schefter revealing on The Pat McAfee Show that Parsons decided to move on because of one condition set by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones during negotiations.

“Jerry Jones had what he thought was an agreement for a deal that averaged $40.5 million a year,” Schefter explained. However, Jones’ insistence on cutting David Mulugheta, Parsons’ agent, out of the talks eventually led to the NFL star walking away to Green Bay.

As a result, Dallas have lost one of their best players and will even have to go up against him when they meet the Packers at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Sunday, September 28.

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