When Micah Parsons publicly requested a trade this Friday, the rumor mill started up immediately. Every team would love to have an edge rusher who’s a four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. But, there are few who have the cap flexibility and assets to land Parsons. NFL.com’s Lead Draft Writer Eric Edholm believes the Buccaneers could be a top landing spot.
Adding Micah Parsons ‘Could Put the Bucs Over the Top’
Shortly after Parsons posted his trade request on social media, Edholm put together a list of seven potential landing spots, including the Buccaneers. While the Bucs offense garners most of the praise, their defense will likely play an even larger role during a playoff run.
“Adding Parsons is the kind of move that can put a team like the Bucs over the top,” Edholm wrote.
While Tampa Bay added veteran edge rusher Haason Reddick this offseason, Micah Parsons would represent an immense upgrade at the position. Parsons is one of only seven players to record at least 50 sacks over their first four seasons, according to StatMuse. Of the six other players, four are already in the Hall of Fame and J.J. Watt will likely be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2028.
Edholm added that Micah Parsons would “instantly add some real juice to a pass rush that went stale too often last season.”
As of now, Micah Parsons sits at $24,007,000 for this season, according to Spotrac. But, he will likely be looking to jump near the top of the market, which would put his salary near $40 million per year.
While that sounds like a huge investment, it could be the perfect time for the Bucs to take a swing this big. Edholm noted that the Bucs “might be closer to title contention than some realize.”
“As long as the odds would be to land Parsons, the seismic effect might be even greater,” Edholm wrote.
Potential Trade Could Surpass Bears’ Trade for Khalil Mack in 2018
Unfortunately for the Buccaneers, Jerry Jones has a track record of signing his stars. Even when he waits until the last minute.
But, let’s assume that Parsons doesn’t back down and Dallas decides they want a return for their best player.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided some context for what a trade could look like, comparing it to the Bears–Raiders trade in 2018. While Micah Parsons isn’t an exact replica of Khalil Mack, it’s likely that the Cowboys would want an even better package.
Here are the details from the 2018 trade of 27-year-old Khalil Mack from the Oakland Raiders to the Chicago Bears:
- Bears receive: Khalil Mack, 2020 2nd Round Pick (TE Cole Kmet), 2020 5th Round Pick (LT Arlington Hambright)
- Raiders receive: 2019 1st Round Pick (RB Josh Jacobs), 2019 6th Round Pick (Traded to Jets), 2020 1st Round Pick (CB Damon Arnette), 2020 3rd Round Pick (WR Bryan Edwards)
“Now the 26-year-old Parsons — who is one of only two players in NFL history to register a dozen-plus sacks in each of his first four NFL seasons, along with Reggie White — has now requested a trade,” Schefter wrote.
As NFL.com Senior News Writer Kevin Patra wrote on Friday, the above package would likely be “the bare-minimum framework that it would take to pry Parsons out of Dallas.”
“In reality, a deal probably starts with the equivalent of three first-rounders or a combo of first-rounders and quality players in return,” Patra wrote.
Unfortunately, it would likely take “nuclear measures” from Micah Parsons in order for a trade to materialize, according to Patra. Parsons would need to sit out a good chunk of the season, despite massive fines and lost game checks.
“However, the Cowboys could use the franchise tag in 2026,” Patra noted. “The dance would begin again.”
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