As the standoff between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys continues, trade rumors are beginning to swirl around the disgruntled pass rusher.
Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Parsons is seeking a new contract that would make him the NFL’s first $200 million defensive player. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones rebuffed Parsons’ asking price last week in a fiery press conference on the first day of training camp. In the span of a few sentences, Jones erroneously cited the number of games Parsons missed due to injury last season, claiming it was six games when it was only four, and pronounced the star defensive end’s name incorrectly, appearing to refer to him as “Michael Parson.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the two sides remain far apart on a new contract.
“I would say right now, we’re nowhere on that deal,” Schefter said on his podcast on July 29. “I would say right now we are further away from a deal in late July, early August than we were in late March, early April. The two sides have gone backwards, not forwards. I don’t think they’re speaking very much these days, if at all.
“I don’t think Micah is real happy with them,” Schefter added. “I don’t think they’re really happy with him. I don’t think anybody is real happy with anybody. And I don’t think there’s a deal that’s being discussed right now, not to mention being close.”
While it’s unlikely Dallas will part with the 26-year-old All-Pro, one NFL analyst pitched a trade scenario that would send Parsons to the Los Angeles Chargers. And the deal isn’t as far-fetched as you might think.
What the Chargers Would Have To Give up for Parsons
Mario Rizzi, an NFL content creator behind The GOAT House, posed the compelling trade on his YouTube channel.
“Parsons isn’t happy. Tensions starting to fly a little bit, so you never know,” Rizzi said in a video titled “Blockbuster NFL Trades That Would Be Wild.” “You know there’s going to be teams lining up for Parsons, but the compensation is going to be tough. It’s going to take a lot.
“And when narrowing down landing spots, you’ve got to find teams that have a load of cap space, that have available spending money in the future to be able to give out this huge, huge extension. It has to be a fit, a need for right now [and] the future. The Chargers check all the boxes.”
Rizzi’s mock trade involves multiple first-round picks going to Dallas in exchange for the four-time Pro Bowler:
The Chargers receive:
- DE Micah Parsons
The Cowboys receive:
- 2026 1st Round Pick
- 2026 3rd Round Pick
- 2027 1st Round Pick
- 2028 5th Round Pick
It’s a hefty price for the Chargers, along with the massive deal needed to keep Parsons long-term. However, the compensation is in line with prior trades involving franchise defensive players. One example is current Chargers defensive end Khalil Mack. Rizzi mentioned the 2018 trade that sent Mack from the Raiders to the Bears as a reference, as it also involved two first-round picks plus extra draft capital.
Why The Deal Makes Sense
If Los Angeles acquires Parsons, he’d join a talented defense alongside fellow pass rushers like Mack and third-year linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu. Parsons would also fill the void left by longtime Charger Joey Bosa, who joined the Buffalo Bills this offseason.
Pressuring the quarterback is especially important for any team that plays Patrick Mahomes twice a year. The Chargers ranked 6th in sacks last season. Adding Parsons, who’s posted double-digit sacks every year of his career, could make their front seven one of the NFL’s best units.
Of course, trading away Parsons isn’t the ideal scenario for the Cowboys. Fans would presumably be irate, no matter what they receive in return. Jerry Jones has also insisted the goal is to re-sign the three-time All-Pro.
Yet, a new deal appears farther away now than it did mere weeks ago. If the two sides can’t put pen to paper soon, the animosity will continue to grow. Despite Jones’ intent to retain Parsons, Dallas could be strong-armed into cutting ties with one of the best defensive players in the NFL.
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