Right before the NFL regular season begins, the Packers made a huge addition by trading for Micah Parsons. As the Cowboys and Parsons struggled to find common ground on a new contract, Green Bay swooped in and acquired the EDGE rusher by also rewarding him with a record-breaking deal.
The Packers were already a Super Bowl contender, but Parsons potentially takes the team to another level. If there were any questions about the Packers this season, they were largely about whether Green Bay had enough star power on the defensive side of the ball.
Now, Parsons becomes arguably the best player on a talented Green Bay squad, a strong note considering the Packers have one of the better rosters in the league. Here's a look at how Parsons' addition impacts Green Bay's depth chart.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Packers depth chart projection
Position First Team Second Team Third Team
DE Micah Parsons Lukas Van Ness Kingsley Enagbore
DT Devonte Wyatt Colby Wooden Warren Brinson
DT Karl Brooks Nazir Stackhouse
DE Rashan Gary Brenton Cox Jr. Barryn Sorrell
LB Isaiah McDuffie Ty'Ron Hooper
LB Quay Walker
LB Edgerrin Cooper
CB Keisean Nixon Carrington Valentine Kamal Hadden
CB Nate Hobbs Bo Melton
S Xavier McKinney Javon Bullard Kitan Oladipo
S Evan Williams Zayne Anderson
The Parsons trade causes a major shake-up in the Packers' depth chart, as the star edge rusher enters and defensive tackle Kenny Clark exits. Parsons likely drops Lukas Van Ness down to the second team and gives Green Bay welcome depth at edge rusher.
However, Green Bay does take a small hit in the interior of the defensive line. Clark was set to start alongside Devonte Wyatt at defensive tackle, but his loss means Karl Brooks gets elevated to starter. The Packers are happy to make this trade, but they could need to add interior defensive line help as the season unfolds.
MORE: Full Micah Parsons contract dispute timeline with Cowboys
Why the Packers traded for Micah Parsons
Besides Parson being one of the best players in the league, he also fills a massive hole on the Packers defense. Despite missing four games iwth a high-ankle sprain, Parsons recorded 12 sacks in 2024, which was tied for fifth-most in the league and would have led the Packers defense.
Rashan Gary led Green Bay with 7.5 sacks last season, and while Green Bay was in the top 10 in sacks in 2024, it came due to more of a committee approach. Now, the Packers have a star edge rusher to lead a well-rounded defense.
The Packers haven't had a defender reach double-digit sacks since Za'Darius Smith did so in 2020, his second-straight season hitting that mark. Parsons, meanwhile, has totaled between 12 and 14 sacks in each of his first four seasons since entering the league in 2021.
MORE: Packers make Micah Parsons highest-paid non-QB in NFL history