When news broke that the Dallas Cowboys traded EDGE Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, it sent shockwaves through the NFL.
Parsons has established himself as arguably the best pass rusher in football, a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ defense and face of the franchise.
While the deal returned two 1st round picks and veteran DT Kenny Clark, the value feels underwhelming for a player of Parsons’ caliber.
Clark has had a strong career, but at nearly 30 years old and coming off the worst season of his career, he doesn’t exactly fit the timeline of a team that wants to remain competitive now.
To make matters worse, the first-rounders in the deal are essentially late picks, closer to second-round value, since Green Bay is now even more of a contender with Parsons on their roster.
Instead of Clark and two late picks, the Cowboys could have prioritized younger, impact players to better balance the loss of Parsons.
Here are three players who would have made more sense as part of the return package.
LB Edgerrin Cooper
If there was one young defender the Cowboys should have pushed for in this deal, it’s LB Edgerrin Cooper. The second-year player out of Texas A&M has already shown flashes of becoming a future star.
With rare speed, physicality, and an ability to cover sideline-to-sideline, Cooper could have stepped in immediately to help stabilize the middle of the defense.
Dallas is currently thin at linebacker, with DeMarvion Overshown sidelined by injury. Cooper would have given the Cowboys a young, athletic presence to bridge the gap until Overshown returns.
Once healthy, the pairing of Cooper and Overshown could have formed one of the league’s most dynamic young linebacker duos, giving the Cowboys stability and explosiveness for years to come.
Trading away Parsons left Dallas vulnerable in multiple spots defensively, and a young, high-upside player like Cooper would have softened the blow significantly more than an aging veteran like Clark.
DE Rashan Gary
If you’re giving up one of the league’s premier pass rushers, the logical move is to get another pass rusher in return. That’s why Rashan Gary should have been a centerpiece of the trade.
At just 27 years old, Gary has already developed into one of the NFL’s better edge defenders, with the versatility to line up across the defensive front.
He plays with power, speed, and relentlessness, traits that would have helped Dallas establish it’s physical identity.
The Cowboys’ pass rush has been their calling card in recent seasons, and Parsons was at the heart of that success.
Pairing Gary with veteran Dante Fowler Jr. and young players like Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland, and Donovan Ezeiruaku would have ensured Dallas still had a formidable defensive front, while also securing a long-term replacement for Parsons.
Kenny Clark might be a solid interior run-stopper, but losing Parsons’ sack production without adding an edge defender like Gary makes the trade even harder to swallow.
WR Matthew Golden
If the Cowboys weren’t going to get equal defensive value in the deal, they could have at least bolstered their offense with a young playmaker like WR Matthew Golden.
The rookie wideout brings speed, separation ability, and reliable hands, traits the Dallas offense sorely needs behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
Golden could have stepped in as an immediate contributor, potentially developing into the perfect complement to the Cowboys’ top duo.
By adding an offensive weapon like Golden, the Cowboys could have shifted their team-building philosophy.
If the defense was destined to take a step back without Parsons, surrounding Dak Prescott with more talent might have been the next-best solution.
Instead, the return package leaves Dallas vulnerable on both sides of the ball, a defense that lost its star and an offense that remains thin at receiver.
Final Thoughts
The Cowboys made a franchise-altering decision by trading away Micah Parsons.
While Kenny Clark and two late first-round picks look decent on paper, the reality is the Cowboys weakened both their short-term competitiveness and long-term outlook.
Players like Edgerrin Cooper, Rashan Gary, or Matthew Golden would have been far more impactful pieces to build around.
By not prioritizing younger, ascending players in return, Dallas may have missed its chance to turn an unfortunate trade into a stepping stone for the future.
I will assume you didn’t know, but Clark played with a foot fracture the entirety of last year. He is an absolute WARRIOR (unlike that player laying on the trainer’s table DURING A GAME feigning a back issue) and will definitely upgrade their run defense which has been an obvious problem. He has missed only 8 games in his nine-year career. He will pair up great with fellow UCLA product Osa O.
Hindsight is 20/20. IMO, senseless to think GB would give up Gary. They needed a DT more than LB or WR. As far as the picks, who knows where GB will be in the queue. They got blown out by Philly in the PS, with Love throwing 3 INTs. Love regressed last year. But many of the “know it all” sport MSM zealously and prematurely jumped on a 30th or worse pick. We’ll see.
Circling the 28th of September.
I agree!! At worst the picks will be in the mid 20s, and that’s as far down as they’ll go!!
None of these players would’ve been better than Kenny Clark!! We’re good at receiver and LB, and we actually have a good group of edge rushers too!! We needed a run stopping DT more than anything, and that’s why trading for Kenny Clark was the best option!! Kenny Clark is a pro bowl caliber DT, and just because he regressed last year, it doesn’t mean he’s not any good!! The only reason he wasn’t that good last year is because he played all season with a fractured foot!! He’s healthy now, so there’s no reason to think he won’t be anything less than the player he was the year before!!
To be clear, I would have loved to have gotten Edgerrin Cooper…. I really wanted him in the draft!! And I think we should’ve tried to get him added to the package that we got for Parsons, but if it was an either/or situation, then Clark was the better option because we already have a really good group of LBs, and a coach that knows how to get the best out of his LBs, so we’re just fine at LB, but we wasn’t really good at stopping the run, so a DT was the best way to go!! And from what I’ve been hearing, Jerry wouldn’t even listen to teams that offering the picks and a good run stopping DT, so it sounds like getting a DT out of the trade was a must for us!! So even though I think we could’ve gotten more in the trade, I believe that we made a good trade!! The way Parsons has been acting lately, we’re lucky to have gotten two 1st round picks and Clark for him!! So I’m satisfied with what we got!! And I’m sure I’m one of the very few, but I actually think we won the trade!!
Completely wrong. First they are first round picks and everyone whining about them beung late is ridiculous if nothing else they gain a 5th year on anyone they draft. And every singke year someone gives uo future picks to jump back into the late first. Also they got what they needed the most Top DT. And his is still a pro bowl player. He played 200 less snaps and dealt with a foot injury lasy year after game two. Micha missed 4 games himself. So don’t talk about injuries. We don’t need unproven players at positions we don’t need either. This team will have a better D than last year.
Sorry Mario, me thinks you’re writing for clicks….not serious analysis. The comments above me are 100% dead on, and if you profess to be a better GM than the Cowboys organization, I’ve got a bridge in the Mojave for ssle
Look, the Cowboys could have asked for anyone they wanted – doesn’t mean the Packers were going to acquiesce. They want to win now and were also in any Parsons trade going to be out their top pick in each of the next two drafts – losing major medium term pieces to get Parsons (on top of the picks and new contract) would have undercut the gain.
Clark shouldn’t be mistaken as a key piece to this deal. Yes, he’s older and probably gone after this year, but that’s precisely why the Packers didn’t mind including him in the trade.
I thought the exact same thing. Cooper and Golden both.