It might not be quite the haul the Dallas Cowboys extracted from Minnesota for Herschel Walker, but the Texas team will hope that trading away their biggest name will set them on the road to Super Bowl success all the same.

That can be the only reason for the Cowboys to sensibly send Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, a team that has caused Jerry Jones and his franchise untold problems in recent years. While the disconnect between Parsons and Jones was obvious in recent weeks, few thought that it would result in the All-Prom edge rusher leaving Dallas, a team he dreamt of playing for and hoped to remain with for life.

But that is exactly what has happened, with Jones refusing to go back on a deal he thought he and Parsons had hammered out in a March meeting, and the defensive lynchpin — and agent David Mulugheta — clearly feeling they had no option but to follow through on the trade request lodged by Parsons last month.

The outcome of the impasse is that the Cowboys have traded Parsons to the Packers in exchange for first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027 and the services of three-time Pro Bowler Kenny Clark, in a deal first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Jane Slater.

The Cowboys subsequently announced the trade on their official website — something the Packers had yet to do at the time of writing — confirming that Parsons would sign a four-year, $188m extension that makes him the highest paid non-QB in NFL history. Cowboys insider Zach Wolchuk subsequently told The Pat McAfee Show that the deal Jones believed he had struck with Parsons was for five years and worth $202.5m — but confirmed that Mulugheta’s involvement, which Jones clearly hoped to avoid — through a large wrench into the negotiations.

“I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control,” the former Defensive Rookie of the Year claimed in a social media statement. “My heart has always been here, and it still is. Through it all, I never made any demands. I never asked for anything more than fairness. I only asked that the person I trust to negotiate my contract be part of the process.”

Parsons’ brother, Terrence, was amongst those who believed a deal would be struck to keep Micah in Dallas, as a series of social media posts betrayed his mixed emotions at hearing news of the trade — and laid a large part of the ‘blame’ at the feet of the agent.

“This isn’t even what Micah wanted is the sickening part of all this,” he wrote. “He just wanted respect in the negotiation process and Jerry wouldn’t give it.”

…followed by:

“I can’t be happier for Micah, man — he made history. Mixed emotions for me for sure, but 47 million is insane on 4 years, man. We celebrating for that.”

…and:

“Just remember Micah being traded wasnt about money, it was about ego that led to this LOL. Jerry was willing to give Micah whatever he wanted as long as it was him and Micah negotiating. That’s what led to this. Insanity. Who gets the last laugh?”

In his four years with the Cowboys, Parsons racked up 52.5 sacks in just 63 games, becoming only the second player in NFL history, after legendary Hall-of-Famer Reggie White, to record 12 or more sacks in each of their first four pro seasons. A perennial Pro Bowl lock, Parsons’ contribution to the Cowboys defense was massive, to the point that they sank from top of the defensive EPA per play rankings to the bottom whenever he missed a game.

While Clark’s arrival will provide a much-needed upgrade in the middle of the Cowboys’ defensive line, their ability to rush quarterbacks will now hang on the ability of Dante Fowler, Marshawn Kneeland, Sam Williams and rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku, as well as free agent addition James Houston, who showed signs of his old form during preseason.