The Minnesota Vikings could put on an absolute defensive clinic with a trade for Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons, whose request sparked speculation about possible landing spots, with The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen touting his fit with the purple and gold.
Parsons aired his grievances with the Cowboys in a lengthy social media post, and even thanked Dallas for his tenure.
“Micah Parsons to the Vikings would be cinema,” Nguyen posted on X on August 1.
This Heavy Sports Vikings trade pitch follows a similar framework to what the Chicago Bears sent to the Las Vegas Raiders for Khalil Mack, a deal which has regained relevance thanks to Parsons’ request.
Vikings get:
- Micah Parsons
- 2026 second-round pick
- 2026 seventh-round pick
Cowboys get:
- 2026 first-round pick
- 2027 first-round pick
- 2026 third-round pick
- 2026 sixth-round pick
The Vikings have a pair of Pro Bowlers in Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard.
“Parsons would be a fascinating chess piece in the Brian Flores defense in Minnesota,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio wrote on August 1. “Parsons is one of the best defensive players in football. He’s on the front end of his prime. Even if the Cowboys aren’t inclined to trade him, teams should be calling.”
The No. 12 overall pick of the 2021 draft, who turned 26 in May, Parsons had a career-low 12.0 sacks in 2024.
Parsons would join a Vikings team that finished fifth in the league last season in a trade.
Vikings Trade for Cowboys DE Micah Parsons Viewed as Unlikely
GettyMicah Parsons #11 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
AtoZ Sports’ Tyler Forness called Parsons a “perfect asset” for the Vikings’ defense in a potential trade. Flores could take advantage of the Cowboys star’s ability to move around the defensive alignment, much like he does with Vikings safety Josh Metellus.
The Vikings could include 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner in the deal, adding the more proven and versatile Parsons in a potential trade.
There is a significant caveat, though.
Parsons’ gripe is over his contract. He is on his $24 million fifth-year option of a four-year, $17.1 million rookie scale contract. Moreover, Florio speculated that Parsons could seek “$45 million per year.”
The Vikings will be $60 million over the threshold in 2026, per Over The Cap. Teams often create more room, but that is a steep deficit for the Vikings to overcome in a trade for Parsons.
“Parsons is incredibly cost-prohibitive both short and long-term for where the Vikings are at,” AtoZ Sports’ Tyler Forness wrote on August 1. “It would be really cool to see Parsons play for Flores, but it’s not in the cards for the Vikings. The cost is too much both financially and in draft picks as well. It would be great to see, but other teams make more sense.”
Vikings May Not Get Chance to Acquire Micah Parsons
GettyMinnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores on the field after facing the Houston Texans.
Whether or not the Vikings would deplete their future draft capital or surrender players in a trade with the Cowboys for Parsons may be a moot point.
“The Dallas Cowboys have no intention of trading Micah Parsons, per sources,” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported on X on August 1. “Still, teams around the league are planning to reach out to check on his availability today.”
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer echoed Russini on the Cowboys’ stance.
ESPN’s Todd Archer noted on August 1 that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones “has never lost a star player he wanted to keep,” though Parsons is testing that in unprecedented ways.
Still, there is a long way to go from where things stand to Parsons being made available for a trade and the Vikings deciding to disrupt their chemistry and risk future financial flexibility to win the sweepstakes for the four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro.
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