One of the NFL’s most shocking trades took place this summer.
On August 28, the Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones sent shockwaves around the league after trading four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.
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The Packers were handed a superstar in Parsons when the trade was completed in AugustCredit: Getty
In return, the Cowboys received former Jets’ three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks.
Parsons penned a four-year, $188 million contract that includes $120 million fully guaranteed.
This made him the highest-paid non-NFL quarterback in NFL history.
Fast forward nearly three months, and the Packers and Parsons are on course to make the playoffs as they sit second in the NFC North with an 8-3 record
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Meanwhile, the Cowboys are still in the fight for an NFC playoff berth, thanks to two huge recent victories, which include a 21-point comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles and their Thanksgiving win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, things could have been very different.
Jerry Jones claims he offered the Jets, Parsons for Quinnen Williams
Parsons could have been on the dismal 2-9 Jets if what Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Friday was true.
Jones claimed that before he sent a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick and DT Mazi Smith in exchange for Quinnen Williams to the Jets, he offered Parsons first.
“I thought that much of Williams,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.
Jones also said the deal fell apart because the Jets didn’t have the salary cap space necessary to pay Parsons.
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Jerry Jones faced intense criticism for his handling of the Parsons situationCredit: Getty
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Parsons did not want to leave the Cowboys, but was not going to accept a contract he did not deem appropriateCredit: Getty
Micah Parsons trade timeline
What led to Parsons’ exit from the Cowboys
Before the 2024 season: Parsons’ agent reaches out for a contract extension, but the Cowboys defer discussions March 2025: Parsons and Jerry Jones meet to discuss team leadership, but talks of contract begin but are unresolved due to the absence of the linesman agentJuly 2025: Contract negotiations are underway but a deal is not close to being agreed.Aug 1, 2025: Parsons requests trade via social media Aug 2, 2025: Jerry Jones dismisses notion Cowboys will trade ParsonsAug 21, 2025: Parsons removes Dallas Cowboys from his social media bioAug 28, 2025: Cowboys trade Parsons to the Packers Jones trade proposal rubbished by Jets insiders
When Jones’ comments surfaced on social, many were sceptical, especially as Jets insider Connor Hughes said no offer was made.
“Zero doubt that Jerry said this. However, this was never actually offered to the Jets, I’m told,” Hughes wrote on X.
“There was a conversation between owners. It was a brief one. A Cowboys source told me the Jets weren’t ever going to the monetary value needed to extend Parsons (discussed this Week 2).
“Talks ended. A land where Jerry trades Micah AND a 1 for Quinnen is amazing tho.”
If this isn’t true, why would Jones say this?
Maybe it’s because of how good Williams has been for the Cowboys.
Maybe it’s just Jerry being Jerry.
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Williams has shone brightly for the Cowboys, and the comparison to Parsons has begunCredit: Getty
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Parsons is accused of forcing his way out of Dallas despite the ample time given to the Cowboys to offer him a better dealCredit: GETTY
Williams has 21 quarterback pressures in his three games with the Cowboys. He had 19 in eight games this season with the Jets, according to Pro Football Focus.
“Micah is very impactful, but we really hadn’t won with Micah,” Jones said Friday.
“Not because of Micah. We just hadn’t won because (the opponent) was able to work around us having Micah. They ran right at him, or they basically threw the ball quicker.
“Those are simplistic things. And there was no question that if we could replace him with four or five top players, (George) Pickens-type players … that was all in the thinking with Micah Parsons.”
Parsons won’t mind those comments too much as he continues to enjoy a stellar season with his new team.
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He is third in the NFL in sacks with 12.5, and for the fifth consecutive season, he’s in the running for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
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