Top NFL Trade Packages for Micah Parsons After Cowboys Star Requests Move

Less than a full day after Washington Commanders wideout Terry McLaurin made waves with a trade request, Dallas Cowboys star pass-rusher Micah Parsons took over the headlines with his own.

Parsons broke the news himself on social media Friday afternoon with a post that began "Thank you Dallas."

While Parsons stated he has submitted his trade request to Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones "personally," Dallas is reportedly planning on keeping the four-time Pro Bowler.

This doesn't mean that other teams won't try to pry Parsons away from Dallas. It would likely take a monumental offer to do so, and teams would have to be willing to pay the 26-year-old a historically high contract.

With this in mind, let's examine the five best (and realistic) trade packages that could result in Parsons having a new home for the 2025 season.

New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Patriots QB Drake Maye

Patriots Get: Edge Micah Parsons

Cowboys Get: 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 2nd-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, 2027 3rd-round pick

There's no getting around the fact that acquiring Parsons would be prohibitively expensive for many teams. As Bleacher Report's Brandon Thorn pointed out, there aren't many historical comparisons for how a Parsons trade might look. The 2018 Khalil Mack trade is probably the closest.

That trade, for the record, saw the Chicago Bears send 2019 and 2020 first-round picks, along with a 2019 sixth-rounder and a 2020 third-rounder to the Las Vegas Raiders for Mack, a 2020 second-round pick and a conditional 2020 fifth-round pick.

There are only a few reasons why a Parsons trade might not sneak into high-end quarterback territory—a deal that would likely cost three first-round picks or more. Parsons is coming off an injury-hampered season, he's set to be a free agent next year, and he's going to require a contract that outpaces the $41 million-per-year extension that T.J. Watt just signed.

Therefore, we might as well start the hypothetical bidding with the league-leader in cap space. The New England Patriots have $60 million in space available and a rebuilding roster centered around a second-year quarterback. They could afford to pay Parsons, and doing so would make sense.

New England has its quarterback in Drake Maye. Adding Parsons would give the Patriots a true centerpiece on the other side of the ball while significantly boosting a pass rush that generated a mere 28 sacks in 2024. Partnering Parsons with offseason additions Milton Williams, Harold Landry III and Carlton Davis would allow the Patriots to take a massive step forward defensively.

The cost in draft capital would be high, but with the most important piece of the puzzle in place—a quarterback—New England could afford to take a massive swing.

Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Lions edge Aidan Hutchinson

Lions Get: Edge Micah Parsons, 2026 5th-round pick

Cowboys Get: 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 2nd-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, 2026 3rd-round pick, Edge Marcus Davenport

The Cowboys don't appear eager to trade Parsons at all, and they probably have even less interest in trading him within the conference. However, the Detroit Lions should be very interested in trying to swing a deal.

The Lions will be legitimate Super Bowl contenders this season if they can experience better injury fortune than they had a year ago. However, they still need a high-end edge-rusher to complement Aidan Hutchinson and build a complete roster.

Now, the presence of Hutchinson, who is coming off a season-ending leg fracture, could complicate a Parsons pursuit. The soon-to-be 25-year-old (on August 9) is extension-eligible and, like Parsons, can make a case for topping Watt's contract.

Could the Lions justify paying two young pass-rushers in excess of $40 million annually? Maybe not, and Cincinnati Bengals edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson remains a more realistic trade target for Detroit. However, Cincinnati also serves as an example of a team investing heavily in one position.

The Bengals gave receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, respectively, extensions worth $40.3 million and $28.8 million per year this offseason. The Lions could justify paying Hutchinson and Parsons if it meant an open Super Bowl for the next four or five seasons.

To do it, Detroit might have to convince Hutchinson to take a bit less than Parsons and find a creative way to structure the two deals. With $51.1 million in cap space, though, the Lions could at least lay the groundwork for those contracts.

To help facilitate a trade, the Lions could send pass-rusher Marcus Davenport to the Cowboys to help restock their edge rotation.

Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Emilee Chinn, File

Bengals edge Trey Hendrickson

Bengals Get: Edge Micah Parsons

Cowboys Get: 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 2nd-round pick, 2026 3rd-round pick, 2026 3rd-round pick, edge Trey Hendrickson

Cincinnati's decision to extend both Chase and Higgins goes against the way the franchise has traditionally operated. The Bengals have earned a reputation as a frugal franchise, unwilling to invest heavily in all but a few players at a time.

Things are different in 2025, though, with Chase, Higgins and quarterback Joe Burrow all under contract long-term.

Of course, Cincinnati hasn't extended its spending spree to star pass-rusher and reigning sacks leader Trey Hendrickson. He's entering the final year of his contract and hasn't been satisfied with the Bengals' recent offers. Though he ended his offseason holdout and reported to camp, the 30-year-old isn't guaranteed to play out his deal.

"There are plans on not having to play on the current deal," Hendrickson said on Friday, per ESPN's Ben Baby. "That's something we have a common goal to get to."

A Hendrickson-for-Parsons swap could be a creative solution for both Cincinnati and Dallas. The Cowboys wouldn't have to pay Hendrickson as much as Parsons is worth because of age—though, they'd also be looking at fewer seasons with an established sack artist in the lineup. However, Hendrickson would most likely keep producing at a high level through the remainder of Dak Prescott's prime.

The Bengals don't want to commit to a 30-year-old defender long-term on a top-of-the-market deal, but they might feel differently about committing to a 26-year-old perennial Pro Bowler. Spending big to acquire a star and then locking him up isn't the sort of move the Bengals typically make. If these really aren't the "same old Bengals," though, it's a move they should.

Adding Parsons to a core that includes Burrow, Chase and Higgins would help ensure Cincinnati is a perennial threat. Pairing Parsons with rookie first-round pick  Shemar Stewart would also help ensure the Bengals have a quality pass rush for the foreseeable future.

Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Stephen Brashear

Packers WR Romeo Doubs

Packers Get: Edge Micah Parsons

Cowboys Get: 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 2nd-round pick, 2026 1st-round pick, one of Green Bay's receivers

The Green Bay Packers are trying to keep pace with the Lions in the NFC North while looking to be more than just a talented playoff team with a young quarterback. Green Bay also happens to be one of the youngest teams in the NFL and should have a wide Super Bowl window if it can get over the proverbial hump.

Adding Parsons to the league's sixth-ranked scoring defense would certainly help the Packers get where they're looking to go. While Green Bay's defense recorded a respectable 45 sacks in 2024, Rashan Gary was the only player to record more than five quarterback takedowns.

Unsurprisingly, Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine listed edge-rusher as Green Bay's top remaining need after the draft.

Now, GM Brian Gutekunst has traditionally preferred to draft and develop talent over paying to acquire it, though he's taken a different approach over the last couple of offseasons—signing the likes of Xavier McKinney, Josh Jacobs, Nate Hobbs and Aaron Banks. With $31.3 million in cap space, he might consider making a play for Parsons.

If so, Gutekunst could consider including one of Green Bay's young receivers as part of the deal. The Packers drafted Matthew Golden and Savion Williams in Rounds 1 and 3, respectively. Even with Christian Watson (ACL) injured, they may not have enough roster spots to keep everyone in a receiver room that also includes Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Malik Heath and Mecole Hardman.

Moving an impending 2026 free agent like Watson, Dobbs or Wicks (restricted) might make sense for Green Bay. The Cowboys, who recently traded for George Pickens to improve their receiver depth, could be interested in auditioning another pass-catcher.

Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Gregory Bull

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh

Chargers Get: Edge Micah Parsons, 2027 4th-round pick

Cowboys Get: 2026 1st-round pick, 2026 2nd-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, 2027 5th-round pick, RB Najee Harris

The Los Angeles Chargers, presumably, are looking to continue trending upward under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. L.A. saw a six-win improvement last season while fielding the league's No. 1 scoring defense.

This offseason, Los Angeles bolstered its offense by adding players like Najee Harris,  Omarion Hampton and  Tre Harris.

Hampton, a first-round running back out of North Carolina, is expected to lead Los Angeles' rushing attack. That doesn't necessarily make Harris expendable. The former Pittsburgh Steelers standout still has "no timeline" for returning from an eye injury either, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper.

However, including Harris might be an acceptable sweetener for a Cowboys team hoping it can find a viable starting back between Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Deuce Vaughn and rookie fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue.

Parsons, meanwhile, would help L.A.'s already impressive defense be even better, potentially for longer. While the Chargers still have a high-profile pass-rusher in Khalil Mack, he's 34 and set to play on a one-year deal.

With $32 million in cap space, the Chargers could afford to make Parsons their long-term defensive star.

*Cap and contract information via Spotrac.