Ladies and gentlemen, it has happened.
On Thursday, the Green Bay Packers acquired three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys in a blockbuster deal that sent two first-round picks and Kenny Clark to Dallas. Parsons agreed to a four-year, $188 million contract with Green Bay. This record-breaking deal includes $120 million fully guaranteed at signing, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
ESPN Sources: Cowboys are trading three-time All-Pro LB Micah Packers to the Green Bay Packers.
Parsons and the Packers already have reached agreement on a four-year, $188 million contract. @DavidMulugheta of @Athletesfirst had a hand in the trade and ultimately negotiating the… pic.twitter.com/Hznxabll0P
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 28, 2025
Kenny Clark likely still has good football ahead of him. Still, moving a defensive tackle about to turn 30, coming off a down year, along with two first-rounders that will probably land late in the draft, is an easy call when the return is a player like Micah Parsons.
Parsons is only the second player ever to record at least 12.5 sacks in each of his first four NFL seasons. The first? NFL and Packers Hall of Famer Reggie White, “The Minister of Defense.” Parsons arrives in Green Bay to work under Jeff Hafley, one of the brightest defensive minds in the league.
Parsons has all the tools and will likely be Jeff Hafley’s X-factor on Green Bay’s defense. Make no mistake – the Packers are paying him big-time bucks to do what he does best: rush the passer. However, don’t be surprised if Hafley finds ways to use Parsons all over the defense.
He has played 389 coverage snaps in his NFL career and has never recorded a coverage grade below 68.0. Last year, he posted a 76.9 coverage grade and allowed 33 catches on 48 targets. So, while he’s primarily known as a pass rusher, he has the versatility to enable Hafley to design some creative looks with Parsons dropping back.
Now that we’ve covered Parsons’ off-ball versatility, let’s get to what really made the Packers trade two first-round picks and give him the largest contract ever for a non-quarterback in NFL history.
His ability to rush the passer and look like a complete freak while doing it.
There’s no other way to put it: Parsons is a generational pass rusher. He’s logged at least 70 pressures in each of the last three seasons and has never posted a pass-rush grade below 91.5. That’s simply insane.
Micah Parsons better get ready for that "random drug test" pic.twitter.com/anVhPjJre1
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) September 11, 2023
Parsons’ influence stretches well beyond his own production. He’s the number one player offenses must account for, which will create more openings for Rashan Gary. Last season, Gary was chipped on 14.89% of plays, ranking 10th among all edge rushers. With Parsons now attacking from the opposite side, that number should drop considerably in 2025.
The Green Bay Packers got another demon. I can't believe we got Micah fricken Parsons. Thank you to Gutey #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/PdbBhGf1id
— Big B (@bigpackers4x) August 28, 2025
Green Bay has made the kind of move a franchise makes when it believes the time to win is now. They have Parsons locked in for the next four years – all of them in his prime. The only edge rushers you could argue are better are Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson, though there’s a strong case that Parsons is the best pass rusher in the NFL right now.
Parsons is also unquestionably one of the most complete and best all-around players in the entire league. Add in the creative looks Jeff Hafley can design with him and Edgerrin Cooper, and you’ve got a true defensive arsenal. Whether rushing the passer or dropping back in coverage, these two have the potential to become one of the most dynamic duos in the NFL – both young, talented, versatile, and capable of doing everything at a high level.
August 28, 2025, is a date Packers fans will remember for years to come. Moves like this change franchises and reshape careers. Down the line, it could also create a major hurdle for the Detroit Lions as they negotiate Aidan Hutchinson’s new deal. Green Bay is now the favorite to win the division, but it’s clear its sights are set much higher than that.