NFL Insiders Reportedly 'Not as Down' on Cowboys After Micah Parsons Trade to Packers

Even though the general consensus is the Micah Parsons trade is a disaster for the Dallas Cowboys, there is a feeling within the NFL that it's not as bad as fans and analysts seem to think.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, people in the league are "not as down" on the deal that sent Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.

Dallas received two first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark from the Packers in exchange for Parsons.

The reasoning from those within the NFL, according to Fowler, is that the Cowboys have been a "sneaky good drafting team" for several years and they have a deep group of young edge-rushers already on the roster.

It was also pointed out by Fowler that the offense is still deep with talent, led by Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.

Dallas has used top-60 picks on Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland and Donovan Ezeiruaku since 2022. Ezeiruaku has no track record since he's a rookie, so there will be a lot thrown on his plate out of the gate.

Kneeland and Williams have one combined start between them in a total of three seasons. Williams has 15 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in 32 career games.

None of these players on their own should be expected to replicate what Parsons did for the Cowboys, but maybe defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus can turn it into a Moneyball situation and recreate him in the aggregate.

The problem is the Cowboys could have had those three players continue their development playing with Parsons, which would make life much easier for them because of how much attention the 26-year-old commands from opposing teams.

Parsons averaged 28 quarterback hits, 16 tackles for loss and 13 sacks per season from 2021 to '24.

That young trio of linemen will get a chance to show how much they have grown in their first game of the season against arguably the best offensive line in the NFL.

Dallas will open the 2025 regular season on Thursday night against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.