Final Review of Parsons / Williams Trade

[Kwyn]

Yep. He's not even a top 10 edge rusher in the league this year.

To all you guys crying about how we gave up a HOFer EDGE for QW...

To be fair, you'd need to compare him the real HOFer out this generations edge rushers, Myles Garrett:

Garrett
Sacks - 11
Forced Fumbles - 1
TFLs - 17

Parsons
Sacks - 6.5
Forced Fumbles - 0
TFLs - 7

Parsons can't even carry Garrett's jock strap. But seriously, we're not even talking run-stop here. I'm just talk situational pass rusher stats, and that's all Parsons is elite at, right? Anyone with a differing opinion based in reality? Parsons wansn't even the best edge in the NFC East when he was here (not counting run stopping, because then the gap is even bigger).

That'd be big Brian Burns:
Brian Burns
Sacks - 11
Forced Fumbles - 2
TFLs - 15

But Parsons isn't even as good as his own team mate Rashan Gary.
Rashan Gary
Sacks - 11
Forced Fumbles - 2
TFLs - 15

I mean, maybe he's Aden Hutchinson level, but Aden's coming off season eding surgery, bruh.
Aden Hutchinson
Sacks - 7
Forced Fumbles - 4
TFLs - 7

Parson's ain't going to the HOF. He's a flash in the pan rusher, that's already been exposed. He's only 1/2 a player, and you don't belong in the HOF if you don't play run defense. Dude hasn't even forced a fumble this year, has he?

Hmm, Rashan Gary having a career season? You don’t say.

 

[stilltheguru]

Hmm, Rashan Gary having a career season? You don’t say.

In 2022 in 9 games he had 6 sacks 7 tfl. 2025 9 games 7.5 sacks 7 tfl. 1.5 sacks are really a game changer

 

[boysfanindc]

Well said. Clark has had a small decline, not a sharp one. Q is not declining at all.

Yeah Clark is in a new D and putting up his normal numbers. Don't see much of a decline if any. He played his best game against the Cards.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

One made the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons including his rookie year. He is now into his fifth season.

The other didn't make his first Pro Bowl until his fourth season. He is now into his seventh season.

Parsons has missed a total of four games in his first four seasons. Williams other missed 15 games in his first four seasons so I don't understand you implying that Parsons is the fragile one.

Williams is off to the worse start in his career. He has one sack and 3 QBHits. I fully understand that most comparisons are skewed by the fact that Parsons is a LB/DE and Williams is a DT. However, his productivity this season for the Jets is far below his career average, suggesting that he is becoming less effective.

However, there should be no doubt as to which player impacts a game more. Certainly Parsons makes the teammates around him better, whether by inspiration or the amount of attention he demands from opponents. He is a catalyst, creating more opportunity for his teammates to make big plays like sacks, INT's and fumble recoveries,

It's no coincidence that the Cowboys were very poor in the takeaway department prior to the drafting of Micah. During his time here, the Cowboys ranked 2nd in takeaways. They have now returned to the same ineptitude prior to Parsons arrival.

The Jets have been average to poor in takeaways during the time Williams was there. Although he played well, he did not provide the type of spark that makes a defense dangerous.

DTs tend to wear out quicker than DEs and LBs, on average.

We know that Jerry traded Parsons in the middle of a childish tantrum but why would the Jets trade Williams? Why would they prefer the draft picks considering how difficult it is to find good DTs?

If Williams was not considered part of the Jets future, then why would the Cowboys consider him so?

We know where the team is most likely heading this season, so why the trade now? This trade had more to do with marketing and publicity than it had to do with the Cowboys attempting to solve their defensive issues.

Jerry's decisions are based more around selling tickets than building a competitive defense capable of taking a team deep into the playoffs. This trade has the same description as it's creator's GM talents......superficial.

One made the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons including his rookie year. He is now into his fifth season.

The other didn't make his first Pro Bowl until his fourth season. He is now into his seventh season.

Parsons has missed a total of four games in his first four seasons. Williams other missed 15 games in his first four seasons so I don't understand you implying that Parsons is the fragile one.

Williams is off to the worse start in his career. He has one sack and 3 QBHits. I fully understand that most comparisons are skewed by the fact that Parsons is a LB/DE and Williams is a DT. However, his productivity this season for the Jets is far below his career average, suggesting that he is becoming less effective.

However, there should be no doubt as to which player impacts a game more. Certainly Parsons makes the teammates around him better, whether by inspiration or the amount of attention he demands from opponents. He is a catalyst, creating more opportunity for his teammates to make big plays like sacks, INT's and fumble recoveries,

It's no coincidence that the Cowboys were very poor in the takeaway department prior to the drafting of Micah. During his time here, the Cowboys ranked 2nd in takeaways. They have now returned to the same ineptitude prior to Parsons arrival.

The Jets have been average to poor in takeaways during the time Williams was there. Although he played well, he did not provide the type of spark that makes a defense dangerous.

DTs tend to wear out quicker than DEs and LBs, on average.

We know that Jerry traded Parsons in the middle of a childish tantrum but why would the Jets trade Williams? Why would they prefer the draft picks considering how difficult it is to find good DTs?

If Williams was not considered part of the Jets future, then why would the Cowboys consider him so?

We know where the team is most likely heading this season, so why the trade now? This trade had more to do with marketing and publicity than it had to do with the Cowboys attempting to solve their defensive issues.

Jerry's decisions are based more around selling tickets than building a competitive defense capable of taking a team deep into the playoffs. This trade has the same description as it's creator's GM talents......superficial.

For the record I’m not arguing Micah or Quinnen are on the downside. I’m just pointing out that it’s hypocritical to see one is on the downside and the other isn’t despite one being a year and a half older.

His production being down is a reflection of the team he’s on. Sauce and Garrett Wilson fall into the same category. And Cowboys aren’t much better but a change of scenery is sometimes needed.

Max Crosby stats are down too….as is Micah’s….thats the thing about gauging stats in the middle of the season as opposed to the end of the year.

As far as takeaways goes….GB is second to last in takeaways. Cowboys aren’t much better 3rd to last. Cowboys have generated more takeaways this year….but Micah was the source of ours? Or is this the downside you were talking about?

Jets traded Sauce and Quinnen for the rebuild. They don’t have a quarterback so they are attempting to collect picks to get one. Has nothing to do with Quinnen or Sauce. Ask yourself why when they were on the market everyone wanted them and called offering multiple first rounders for them? How many teams call us about Mazi?

Jerry made the trade now for next season. And I will give him his dude. This unit uses this year and the offseason to get better they may have something as opposed to waiting until months from now. We also have 2 first rounders to add to this team. The timing was perfect.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Yeah Clark is in a new D and putting up his normal numbers. Don't see much of a decline if any. He played his best game against the Cards.

I want to see how they use this talent in the interior.

 

[Robster8989]

I find the thread title amusing.
"Final Review".
Lol,
We won't know the final review of these trades for many years.
We have to see where these picks land, and who gets selected, and how they perform in the NFL.

Overall, I do not love either trade.
I think it was typical Jerry mismanagement of assets as a GM.
He got personal with Micah, then was forced to ship him off at a bad time.
Mind you, I actually think trading Micah was the right move, but it needed to be done at the draft. We would have received a much higher price with a lot of competition. I also find it interesting what Roseman was willing to offer (a lot more than we received from the Packers). Jerry got personal on this, and in the immortal words of Bob Sugar, it ain't show friends, it's show business".

On Q, I think we slightly overpaid, especially not knowing where that 27 pick will come in. What if one of those 27 picks is top 5? Then it's a bad trade. If the picks are 24th and 27th, not so bad a trade.

I personally believe Jerry got mad about Micah and shipped him off for less than we should have received, then got all butt hurt about the way the season was going (in large part because Jerry felt it made him look bad, and Micah look good), so he did the Q trade to silence the critics and get back into the spotlight (where he loves to be). Both were emotional decisions, and sometimes you don't think things through clearly when you're emotional. An NFL GM should not make emotional trades.

One of the main reasons we are in this talent deficit has been Jerry's unwillingness to be active in Free Agency. I understand, in FA, you are signing guys at the top of their value, so I get that. I commend the team for the way is seeks out and gets low cost FAs off the heap (Kearse and Hooker, for example), but by basically not participating in the A level free agency for many years, combined with some bad draft picks (which all teams have BTW), we have a major talent deficit.

Combine this fact with the way the Cowboys are run (you know the story of the Emperor has no Clothes?). Jerry is the Emperor, surrounded by "Yes" men who tell him how brilliant he is. Any other GM in the league would have been fired decades ago for the futility of the team under his tenure. But Jerry is immune from that as the owner.

All that being said, I am still a Cowboy fan, and I am excited. I'm a glass half full type of person, and I think Q is a great player, and I am just hoping that maybe Jerry has seen the light. Maybe his taking the Micah thing so personal it will compel him to do what is needed this coming off season, We can open up a lot of cap, enough to to sign some really solid FAs at positions of need. I believe we could build a team capable if competing next season and beyond. The question is , will we?

 

[charron]

I'm still waiting for the final final review.

 

[StarW]

Very strong post.
Good job.
Expect those pressure DE fanatics to try a rebuttal or 3.

I loved Parsons when we were up 2 scores and he got to cut loose, but he hasn't become a complete in in 4 years, now in is 5th. He's soft against the run or at best average at best. That's not HOF to me. I wouldn't be surprised if we've already seen his best football.

 

[StarW]

On IG I'm seeing more pressure propaganda being spread. Wouldn't suprise me if that Stat influences awards in the future. That's the world today. Actual results don't matter

Technically, Parsons recorded pressures against Philly and gets the pressure credits - even when Hurts stepped up in the pocket and moved the chains or got 6-7 yards.

 

[StarW]

Hmm, Rashan Gary having a career season? You don’t say.

Man, I wish we had that guy

 

[MyFairLady]

For me it is more about philosophy. Trading away Parsons for draft picks tells me that you have your sights set on fielding a contender in 3-4 years. Whatever that looks like is yet to be determined. Trading away Parsons for a couple of solid DTs is basically just solving one problem by creating another so I am pretty much indifferent.

 

[DUO_CORE]

The Packers have yet to experience the "dissapearing Parson's act". Give it 3 weeks and report back.

 

[75boyz]

On IG I'm seeing more pressure propaganda being spread. Wouldn't suprise me if that Stat influences awards in the future. That's the world today. Actual results don't matter

I hear ya bro.
Me and Thunderpimp had a long discussion on it where we both agreed that the ultimate outcome of a pressure's "impact" should probably be included for it to be a favorably graded metric.

The prime example is our GB tie where Micah had a thousand pressures against us while we dropped 40 on them.
Absolutely irrelevant stat.

If the pressure don't create a turnover or negative it does not matter.

He can beat his man 10 times in a row within 2.5 seconds BUT if my QB is getting rid of the ball before he gets there AND making positive yardage, it absolutely does not matter.

It's another form of garbage stats.

 

[rojan]

We receive
Quinnen Williams
Kenny Clark
Green Bay 2026 1st - 680 pts (proj)
Green Bay 2027 1st - 680 pts (proj)


We give
Micah Parsons
Mazi Smith
Cowboys 2026 2nd - 460 pts (proj)
Cowboys 2027 1st - 1200 pts (proj)

Technically, the 2027 first in the worst of our pick and the GB pick, but without a major shift, it will be GBs

rooting this year

Root for the Packers to lose as many as possible, miss the playoffs this year.

Once the playoffs start, root for the Packers to lose their first game.

Root for the Cowboys but every loss may improve our first round pick this year

The Packers draft value should be 800 as of today. That would result in a net loss of 60 points, or a mid 4th.

 

[Relayer]

That and Parsons is not a true DE. Great at putting on blinders and getting after the QB, doesn't worry about rhe run game. His career will be like a RB, lots of bang, for a short time. I'd use him at LB and have him play all over the field, DE included....on passing downs, certainly not on running downs. He's gone, so good riddance....if Jerry had signed him, they'd be criticizing the move. Let it go

The best move would have been to sign him after year 3 for $10M/yr less.

 

[Relayer]

The fact they drafted EZ indicates they had trading him in mind. Just a matter of when.

Micah wanted out of Dallas, so they shipped his sleepy arse out..

Might have had more to do with Tank walking.

 

[Relayer]

I hear ya bro.
Me and Thunderpimp had a long discussion on it where we both agreed that the ultimate outcome of a pressure's "impact" should probably be included for it to be a favorably graded metric.

The prime example is our GB tie where Micah had a thousand pressures against us while we dropped 40 on them.
Absolutely irrelevant stat.

If the pressure don't create a turnover or negative it does not matter.

He can beat his man 10 times in a row within 2.5 seconds BUT if my QB is getting rid of the ball before he gets there AND making positive yardage, it absolutely does not matter.

It's another form of garbage stats.

It's not a garbage stat. The secondary not being able to cover for 2.5 seconds is the issue. Micah was doing his job. You can't expect him to cover as well.

 

[Relayer]

I'll just throw this out there.

Micah Parsons the last three games
Tackles - 6
Tackles for a Loss - 2
Sacks - 1
QB Pressures - 1

I'm not sure why they rate QB pressures like they do. In the last game, I didn't watch all of it because it stunk, play after play I saw him either force the QB off his spot or get double teamed. He was forcing the play almost every snap.

 

[stilltheguru]

I hear ya bro.
Me and Thunderpimp had a long discussion on it where we both agreed that the ultimate outcome of a pressure's "impact" should probably be included for it to be a favorably graded metric.

The prime example is our GB tie where Micah had a thousand pressures against us while we dropped 40 on them.
Absolutely irrelevant stat.

If the pressure don't create a turnover or negative it does not matter.

He can beat his man 10 times in a row within 2.5 seconds BUT if my QB is getting rid of the ball before he gets there AND making positive yardage, it absolutely does not matter.

It's another form of garbage stats.

Look at how many pressure comments there are it's the new craze

 

[plasticman]

For the record I’m not arguing Micah or Quinnen are on the downside. I’m just pointing out that it’s hypocritical to see one is on the downside and the other isn’t despite one being a year and a half older.

His production being down is a reflection of the team he’s on. Sauce and Garrett Wilson fall into the same category. And Cowboys aren’t much better but a change of scenery is sometimes needed.

Max Crosby stats are down too….as is Micah’s….thats the thing about gauging stats in the middle of the season as opposed to the end of the year.

As far as takeaways goes….GB is second to last in takeaways. Cowboys aren’t much better 3rd to last. Cowboys have generated more takeaways this year….but Micah was the source of ours? Or is this the downside you were talking about?

Jets traded Sauce and Quinnen for the rebuild. They don’t have a quarterback so they are attempting to collect picks to get one. Has nothing to do with Quinnen or Sauce. Ask yourself why when they were on the market everyone wanted them and called offering multiple first rounders for them? How many teams call us about Mazi?

Jerry made the trade now for next season. And I will give him his dude. This unit uses this year and the offseason to get better they may have something as opposed to waiting until months from now. We also have 2 first rounders to add to this team. The timing was perfect.

The significant difference isn't really their ages as much as it is the two seasons difference in the lengths of their careers in additions to the positions they play.

Because the Jets are rebuilding. In a rebuild, you trade away valuable assets for high draft picks. That is why the Jets traded Q. It's really simple if you think about it.

The Jets are a good 2-4 years away. Q will be 30 in 3 years, so why would they keep him?

You are wrong about Q. He definitely and beyond any doubt provided the spark that makes a D dangerous. Unfortunately, it takes more than one player to form a dangerous D. He had nothing left around him.

You're making the mistake of only evaluating one season. In 2023, the Jets had the #3 D in the NFL, and Q was the primary reason. After 2023, they let a pile of D players walk.

In 2023, the Jets were 8th in INTs and 7th in sacks.

Plastic, I always like your stuff, do you have someone else posting on your account here?

As simple as it seems to most, it just doesn't make sense to me that you want a better team so you trade off your best players in the hope of drafting players that may eventually become your.....best players.

Unless.....

Your best players today are too old to be a relevant part of the team's future.

Jerry isn't building for the future. He is building for next season with trades that indicate this is not a long-term strategy but a "future is now" strategy.

Jerry is, once again, attempting to buy a championship by sacrificing the future past 2026. In 2027 Quinnen Williams will be playing in his 9th season, Clark in his 12th. It would be Micah's 7th season.

If Jerry has kept these draft picks then he would have had four 1st round picks over the next two drafts.

Those player's rookie contracts would have ended between 2029 and 2030. Instead, we get an older, less lasting and far more expensive option.