Micah Parsons Trade Reportedly Was Explored by Patriots, Bills, More NFL Teams

After Micah Parsons reached his breaking point in contract talks with the Dallas Cowboys, there was no shortage of trade suitors for the four-time Pro Bowler before he wound up being dealt to the Green Bay Packers.

Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts were among the teams that called the Cowboys in the week before the Packers deal came together.

There were some teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, that didn't engage in "substantive" talks for Parsons primarily because they felt the "timing, the haul, and the money were simply too much," per Russini.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier this week that the Philadelphia Eagles attempted to make an offer for Parsons, but it was rebuffed by the Cowboys because they didn't want to send him to a division rival.

According to Russini, the Eagles and Packers were the two teams Parsons singled out as landing spots if the Cowboys were going to trade him.

Once it became clear that Parsons was on the market, all 31 teams should have been calling the Cowboys with their best offer. Even if it didn't make financial sense for teams like the Chiefs, 49ers or Cincinnati Bengals due to their cap situations, you at least entertain finding a way to make it work because it's so rare for a 26-year-old superstar at a premium position to become available.

The Patriots, for example, could have made the money work easily because they have an NFL-high $53.5 million in cap space available right now. Giving up two first-round picks when you're still very early in a rebuild would sting, but pairing Parsons with a promising young star at quarterback in Drake Maye is a great starting foundation.

Instead, the Cowboys went with Green Bay's offer in part because Jerry Jones was enamored with Kenny Clark on top of the two first-round picks they got back in the deal.

This whole situation remains baffling because the Cowboys are usually in the business of paying star players, but Jones decided to go in a different direction.

Parsons could make his Packers debut on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. He is officially listed as questionable after being a limited practice participant all week due to a back injury.