From 2021 through the end of the 2024 season, the Dallas Cowboys had Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence at each end of their defensive line terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.
The Cowboys decided they couldn’t afford to retain either of them by the time the 2025 season kicked off.
Lawrence was allowed to depart for Seattle as a free agent signing. Jerry Jones got butthurt and sent Parsons off to Green Bay.
The company line was that exchanging Parsons for Kenny Clark and two first round picks made the Cowboys a better defensive team against the run.
We were told Dallas had plenty of edge players remaining that could get after the quarterback.
It seems Jones Inc. sits upon a throne of lies.
And there’s your six-weeks-too-early Christmas movie reference for the holidays.
The Stat Lines
In case you missed it, Lawrence scored two touchdowns on fumble recoveries for the Seahawks in their 44-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Lawrence currently has four sacks, 25 tackles, and 11 quarterback hits in eight games, and he has started all eight. Seattle is now 7-2 and seems likely to make a deep playoff run.
Seahawks football player running with ball during NFL game, team in blue and green uniform, stadium crowd in background.
Parsons has started eight of the nine games he has played in for Green Bay.
He has 6.5 sacks, 22 tackles and 14 quarterback hits.
Like Lawrence, Parsons is likely heading for a playoff berth and maybe his first-ever NFC title game. In short, both players have found themselves in a much better place this year.
It would be ironic indeed if they were to meet for the first time in the 2025 NFC Conference Championship game in January.
The same clearly cannot be said for their former team.
That’s Not How It Works
Meanwhile, the Cowboys have had five players start at the two defensive end positions this year.
Dante Fowler has eight starts in nine games, Sam Williams has five starts, the late Marshawn Kneeland had three starts, while Jadeveon Clowney and Donovan Ezeiruaku got their only starts last week against Arizona.
Defensive end James Houston leads the position with 3.5 sacks and he hasn’t started a single game.
Dallas Cowboys player in action during a game, wearing helmet and dark jersey, focused on the play, symbolizing NFL sportsmanship and athleticism.
The six defensive ends have combined for 11.5 sacks in nine games along with 95 total tackles. The improved run defense never materialized.
The five defensive tackles have a combined 3.5 sacks and 71 tackles. They’ve been unable to slow down opposing teams’ rushing attacks.
Clark has 2.5 sacks and 21 tackles.
Osa Odighizuwa has one sack and 25 tackles.
Mazi Smith, the first round pick in 2023, had just three tackles this year. He was shipped off to the Jets for Quinnen Williams.
The Cowboys will now hope that Williams can team up with Clark and at least prevent teams from running all over the defense.
The Early Returns
Clearly, the reason for trading Parsons away has been proven bogus. The fact Dallas had to trade for yet another defensive tackle less than three months later proves that.
Celebrating victory, Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers players share a moment on the field after an NFL game, surrounded by cameras and media at the stadium.
Based on 2025 alone, Dallas’ decision to move on from both Lawrence and Parsons seems to have been a huge blunder.
It will be up to Williams and Clark, and likely the 2026 and 2027 seasons, to change that verdict.
Richard Paolinelli is a sports journalist and author. In addition to his work at InsideTheStar.com, he has a Substack -- Dispatches From A SciFi Scribe – where he discusses numerous topics, including sports in general. He started his newspaper career in 1991 with the Gallup (NM) Independent before going to the Modesto (CA) Bee, Gustine (CA) Press-Standard, and Turlock (CA) Journal -- where he won the 2001 Best Sports Story, in the annual California Newspaper Publishers Association’s Better Newspapers Contest. He then moved to the Merced (CA) Sun-Star, Tracy (CA) Press, Patch and finished his career in 2011 with the San Francisco (CA) Examiner. He has written two Non-Fiction sports books, 11 novels, and has over 30 published short stories.
Inside The Star Dallas Cowboys football coaches discussing strategies outdoors in team gear, wearing caps, sunglasses, and jackets with the Dallas Cowboys logo during a game or practice.
Inside The Star Dallas Cowboys football coaches discussing strategies outdoors in team gear, wearing caps, sunglasses, and jackets with the Dallas Cowboys logo during a game or practice.