The biggest NFL storyline over the past week has been the saga surrounding star edge rusher Micah Parsons, who has requested a trade amid a contract standoff with the Dallas Cowboys.
If a Parsons trade is indeed a serious possibility, should the Seattle Seahawks swoop in and make a run at one of the league’s premier defensive players?
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The 26-year-old Parsons has racked up 52.5 sacks and 63 tackles for loss over his first four seasons, ranking fifth in the NFL in both categories over that span. He’s already earned four Pro Bowl nods, three top-three finishes in Defensive Player of the Year voting and two first-team All-Pro selections.
However, the price tag would be immense. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote that a Parsons trade would probably require two first-round draft picks, along with a contract extension upward of $40 million per year.
Would it be worth it for the Seahawks? Former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus thinks so.
“Yes, it would be worth it,” Bumpus said Monday on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy. “There are no other Micah Parsons walking the earth as far as I know. … The name of the game is to get the quarterback. If you are able to do that at a high clip, and be supported in other places (on the roster), you have an opportunity here.”
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— NFL (@NFL) December 12, 2021
The Seahawks already have a talented defense that’s on the rise, but a superstar like Parsons could push the unit over the top. Seattle also happens to have an immediate need at edge rusher, with Uchenna Nwosu’s health a question mark heading into the season.
In addition, the Seahawks might be among the best-positioned teams to make a run at Parsons. They still have all their upcoming first-round picks intact, along with ample salary cap space. According to OvertheCap.com, Seattle has the sixth-most cap space for 2025 ($34.7 million), the sixth-most for 2026 ($53.2 million) and the 13th-most for 2027 ($129.4 million).
“Of course you don’t fundamentally need Micah Parsons,” Stacy Rost said. “But why would you not want Micah Parsons? Micah Parsons is maybe the most talented defensive player in football right now – at least top three or four. He is better than any defensive player on your roster, and you have a really good defense. … You’ve got a lot of really talented guys. He makes you that much better.”
How much better would Seahawks be with Micah Parsons?
Bumpus thinks that adding a transcendent talent like Parsons could push the Seahawks closer to the formula the Philadelphia Eagles rode to the Super Bowl last season – an elite defense, a strong running game and a complementary passing attack.
Of course, that’s dependent on Seattle’s offense – and specifically its ground attack – taking a step forward.
“If (quarterback) Sam Darnold can be average, if you can run the football, control the clock and sprinkle in your big plays, that’s essentially what Philly did,” Bumpus said. “Why not give this thing a look? … I feel like the defense is gonna be excellent. With Micah Parsons, they’re elite.
“I don’t think you necessarily need him to be a team to compete for the division,” Bumpus added. “But you need him if you want to be a team that’s competing for a conference championship.”
Listen to the full Bump and Stacy conversation at this link or in the audio player near the bottom of this story. Tune into Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
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