Why the Cowboys’ Micah Parsons clause could shape future NFL trades
A day after the “poison pill” clause made headlines, attention turns to what it says about Dallas’ long game, and the Cowboys’ rivalry with Philadelphia.
The details of the Dallas Cowboys’ trade that sent Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers have been public for nearly 24 hours, but the ripple effects are still being felt around the league.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Dallas owner Jerry Jones added a rare “poison pill” clause to the trade, ensuring that Green Bay cannot deal Parsons to the Philadelphia Eagles...at least not without paying a steep price. If the Packers ever trade the All-Pro edge rusher to an NFC East team, they’d owe Dallas their 2028 first-round pick.
ESPN Sources: Micah Parsons’ trade to the Packers included a poison pill that the Cowboys inserted to block a deal in the near future to the Eagles. pic.twitter.com/S4mjfM7CpQ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 9, 2025
At first glance, the clause looks like simple rivalry insurance. But in reality, it’s a glimpse into how Jones and the Cowboys are managing their competitive future, and how much respect (and concern) they still have for the defending NFC champions.
The Parsons clause speaks volumes
Parsons’ Pennsylvania roots made him a constant topic of speculation during his Cowboys tenure. He grew up near Harrisburg, starred at Penn State, and was often linked to the Eagles by fans convinced he’d one day play in Philadelphia. Jones, always conscious of the division rivalry, appears to have made sure that would never happen without a serious payoff.
Such clauses are exceedingly rare in the modern NFL. The most notable historical comparison dates back to 2008, when Green Bay included a similar provision in the Brett Favre trade to the New York Jets, a penalty that would have cost New York three first-round picks if Favre wound up with the Minnesota Vikings. (He eventually signed with Minnesota a year later, after being released.)
The “poison pill” hasn’t been an issue for Green Bay, and likely won’t be anytime soon. Parsons has been exactly the kind of game-changer the Packers envisioned when they traded for him in the offseason. Through eight games, he’s recorded 6.5 sacks, wreaking havoc on opposing offenses and giving Green Bay’s defense a much-needed jolt.
Shortly after his arrival, Parsons signed a four-year, $188 million extension, solidifying his place as the face of the Packers’ defense.
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