Destiny is beautiful sometimes. The Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys agreed to a monster trade last week that sent edge defender Micah Parsons to Green Bay for a package with two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Curiously, a smaller veteran move earlier in the offseason ended up incentivizing both sides to pull off the Parsons trade.
According to ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, the Packers were the runner-ups to sign edge defender Dante Fowler in free agency. However, he signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Cowboys.
The third overall pick in 2015 by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Fowler has already played for the Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, Cowboys, and Washington Commanders. After a season in Washington, he returns to Dallas, where he played from 2022 to 2023.
Fowler had a strong year with the Commanders, finishing with 10.5 sacks and 44 pressures, the second-best season of his NFL career.
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Why Fowler signing with Dallas helped the Packers after all
Part of the Cowboys’ willingness to move on from Parsons was the understanding that the franchise could somewhat replicate his production. And obviously, having a competent veteran like Fowler helps. The Cowboys also added veteran James Houston and second-round rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku. The other defensive end on the roster is former second-rounder Sam Williams.
Meanwhile, the Packers had failed to add a veteran edge. The team had interest in several options —former Indianapolis Colts pass rusher Dayo Odeyingbo was one of them, but he signed with the Chicago Bears.
Green Bay drafted Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver on Day 3, but those minor moves didn’t preclude them from trading for Parsons. A veteran (and potentially expensive) signing could have hindered the plans to acquire a bigger fish.
After all, Fowler is a Cowboy. Parsons is a Packer, and Green Bay fans cannot complain about this outcome.
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This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Sep 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.