Aug 28, 2025 5:44 PM EDT
The entire point of using picks in the NFL Draft is the hope that every now and then, you’ll be lucky enough to land a player who quickly becomes one of the most dominant in the sport, ideally at a premium position.
The Dallas Cowboys did just that when they landed do-it-all defensive weapon Micah Parsons with the 12th overall pick in the 2021 draft.
All Parsons has done since is make the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons, using his rare combination of explosiveness and athleticism to become one of the most disruptive defensive players at any position in the NFL.
But after a public soap opera of a contract extension disagreement throughout this most recent offseason, the Cowboys traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, opting to send him to another team in their conference instead of paying him what he’s worth:
Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now.
View directly on 𝕏
So, how in the world did we get here?
The same way we always do: Because of Jerry Jones’ pride, and his ineptitude as a general manager.
Jones has made it clear that he was under the impression a handshake agreement had already been worked out between him and Parsons directly, without the need for his representation to be a part of the negotiations.
Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now.
View directly on 𝕏
Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now.
View directly on 𝕏
That’s not exactly how things are supposed to work, and Parsons made a public statement earlier in the offseason expressing his frustration with Jones’ approach:
Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now.
View directly on 𝕏
Jones was already fielding plenty of warranted criticism for waiting this long to get Parsons signed to a long-term extension in the first place, watching as the market for elite pass-rushers continued to get reset by older veterans who are past their prime. But it’s not the first time, even in recent memory that Jones has waited until well past the 11th hour to get a deal done with a star player. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb both got the same treatment recently.
That didn’t happen this time, though.
Instead of locking up arguably the most valuable defensive player in the league with a well-deserved extension, Jones is willingly trading him away within the conference, to the same team that embarrassed his Cowboys on their home turf in the playoffs just two seasons ago.
This kind of deal would have been the easiest layup for any NFL GM worth their combine stopwatch, but no, not for Jones. He definitely moves to the beat of his own drum, and the song he’s composing is one that Cowboys fans grew tired of a long time ago.
No, like usual, Jones had to let his pride stand in the way of making the right decision for the success of his football team on the field, instead of just being concerned with how much publicity he can create for his lucrative business venture. As I’ve said before, Jones doesn’t actually seem interested in returning the team to their championship glory, but he still moves through the football world like his team has actually won a championship since Batman Forever was the top-grossing movie at the U.S. box office.
Oh, and the return on the trade? Not even that impressive, as the Cowboys get just two first-round picks, along with veteran defensive lineman Kenny Clark:
Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now.
View directly on 𝕏
Clark is a solid player, of course, but he turns 30 years old in October. Those first-round picks were already projected for the bottom-half of the draft for a contending team like the Packers, and with Parsons now on board, you can bet they’ll be even later selections.
Every other NFL general manager yearns for the opportunity to draft a player so special that making them the highest-paid player in the league at their respective position, as soon as possible, is a joy of a transaction to execute. But Jones, as usual, just couldn’t get over himself enough to do what should’ve been the easiest thing in the world.
If the Cowboys want to be relevant beyond headlines and Netflix specials anytime soon, they need to find themselves a real general manager who actually knows what they’re doing, and will build them a winning roster and a healthy organizational culture.
Until then, days like today will keep happening, and Cowboys fans will be left to accept that their team’s only value as “America’s Team” is just to serve as a buzzy news item, instead of actually ever having a chance at a Lombardi Trophy.
About the Author
Luke Easterling
NFL Draft analyst
Luke is the NFL Draft analyst for Athlon Sports, with more than two decades of experience covering college football, the NFL, and the NFL Draft.