The Dallas Cowboys are in an all-too familiar spot: battling the raging disappointment of an early playoff exit … and tasked with wondering when, or if, their fortunes will change.
For the third straight year, Dallas went 12-5. It’s won just one postseason game in that time. It hasn’t been to the NFC Championship game or won the Super Bowl in 28 years.
The solution? For some, it’s trading perhaps the Cowboys’ best player – outside linebacker Micah Parsons.
The idea of trading Parsons became a talking point multiple times this week, including on Dallas’ 105.3 The Fan. And some observers hit the gas on the idea after Micah’s brother oddly injected himself into the picture.
Parsons has emerged as one of the NFL’s most disruptive defenders, making the Pro Bowl and earning All-Pro honors for the third consecutive seasons.
The 24-year-old Parsons recorded 14 sacks, 18 tackles for loss and 33 quarterback hits this past season. He’s logged 13 and 13.5 sacks in the previous two years, respectively, giving him 40.5 over the past three seasons, fourth-most in the NFL.
Parsons is a foundational piece for the Cowboys’ defense and a paramount reason for coordinator Dan Quinn’s unit ranking No. 5 in both points and yards allowed.
So, trading Parsons?
Dallas allowed 48 points in its playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, during which Parsons made only two tackles and one quarterback hit.
But Parsons’ overall value – be it his production or the attention he draws – is too strong, both now and moving forward, for the Cowboys to even consider such a move.
To date, the public discussions of trading Parsons have been baseless – though his brother, Terrence, hinted it was possible.
“I can’t wait because y’all are really clueless out here,” Terrence Parsons on his X account. “The greatest crimes to this man is being done by his own organization… Y’all gonna miss him when he goneeeeeeeee.”
“Crimes”? Wow.
Terrence also recently took shots at Quinn, at Mike McCarthy and at Dak Prescott.
Nonetheless, there is no reason to think Dallas will be moving Parsons anytime soon. Parsons is the sort of special talent that teams try to acquire, not try to dump.
Nor does he want out, as he made clear while trying to clean up the mess made by his brother.
Wrote Micah on Sunday night: “I love my team, my brothers on my team and the city of Dallas and I’m more committed than ever to bring a championship to the greatest fan base on earth.”
So, no. The Cowboys aren’t giving up on Micah Parsons. However, Terrence Parsons may be available for trade on the cheap.