Dallas Cowboys fans are understandably crushed after their superstar edge rusher got shipped off to a conference rival earlier this week. Micah Parsons was the heart and soul of this defense. Without him, the unit looks like one of the worst in the NFL.
It's hard to imagine Dallas coming out on top in this deal. The first-round draft picks are nice, but this team is on a win-now timeline with a 32-year-old quarterback getting paid at the top of the market.
If they want to avoid plummeting toward the bottom of the league, they can't start the season with the roster in its current state. These moves could help the Cowboys remain competitive in 2025 and beyond.
3 moves Cowboys should make after Micah Parsons trade
1. Sign Za'Darius Smith
Obviously, Za'Darius Smith would be a massive downgrade from Parsons. But he would take the pressure off of some of the Cowboys' young edge players coming into the season. Without Parsons in the building, Marshawn Kneeland and Donovan Ezeiruaku will need to perform at a high level to help Dallas win games.
If they aren't ready to step into those roles, Smith could give them a year to develop.
2. Trade for a run-stopping edge defender
The Cowboys had one of the worst run defenses in the league last season, and it might be even worse after this trade. They gave up 4.8 yards per carry in 2024, which ranked among the five worst teams in the NFL.
Now, Kneeland and Dante Fowler Jr. are set to start on the edge. You can't rely on either of those players to be a force against the run. Osa Odighizuwa and Kenny Clark form a nice duo on the inside, but neither of them is a run stuffer.
This run defense could get ugly if Dallas doesn't bring someone else in. A trade for Arizona Cardinals edge Zaven Collins could make sense, as Collins recently lost his starting spot. While he isn't a dominant pass rusher, Collins posted an impressive PFF run defense grade of 84.3 last season. He could be available for a late-round pick.
3. Sign Trey Hendrickson next offseason
This defense needs a star on the edge, and there's no guarantee that they'll find one in the draft. Trey Hendrickson is set to hit free agency in 2026 after he and the Bengals failed to agree on a long-term extension.
Hendrickson has been one of the most productive pass rushers in the league in recent years. He led the NFL in sacks in 2024 with 17.5. If Jerry Jones wants to make a splash move to recover from the Parsons trade, Hendrickson is his best bet.
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