The Dallas Cowboys are listening to trade offers for three-time All-Pro defensive end Micah Parsons, multiple team sources have confirmed to the Star-Telegram.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the development.
A rumored offer by the Green Bay Packers that has made its rounds on social media has not been directly confirmed by a person with knowledge of the situation, although Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was coy when asked about the possibility of a Parsons deal Wednesday.
“I can’t talk about any players on other teams,” Gutekunst said. “Every opportunity that’s out there that we think can help the Packers, we’re going to take a long, hard look at. If that opportunity makes sense, we’ll do it. If it doesn’t, we won’t.”
The idea of sending Parsons away is past the infancy stage of an idea, as the team is seeking a quick resolution before the start of the season.
For the Cowboys to engage in a trade, the deal would have to not only include substantial draft capital, but also a player who can immediately contribute, according to a team source.
The Cowboys will report to practice Friday to begin preparations for their Week 1 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The preference is that the Parsons situation is handled one way or another before Friday or soon after.
An added layer is that any team that the Cowboys would agree to a trade with would have to secure an extension with Parsons before the deal can go through. With such a large return on a potential trade, a team would not go forward without a long-term deal in place with the star pass rusher.
For the first time in the Parsons saga, which has lasted all offseason, the team has shown a willingness to move off their 2021 first-round draft pick this week. With Parsons seeking a second opinion on his back soreness after the team cleared him to practice, the team has reached a boiling point with the tactics involved in the dispute.
Both sides have felt manipulated by the other in recent weeks, as an even messier battle has ensued than when Parsons first requested a trade on Aug. 1.
However it shakes out, the resounding conclusion is that sources on both sides of the dispute are trending further away from sitting down to hammer out a contract extension and closer toward a divorce.
Whether that happens sooner or later remains to be seen, but the pressure is ramping up with just a few days left before the season begins.