Schefter: What the Cowboys/Packer Parsons trade means a year later

[jazzcat22]

OK.

So as of right now.

Lets look at this.

With Parsons (2021-24): Best defense in the NFL by EPA/play when he was on the field
1.72 takeaways per game
3+ sacks in nearly half their games (48.5%)
Elite pressure that actually finished plays


Without Parsons (22 games since the trade):
32nd in EPA per drive
32nd in success rate
32nd in explosive plays allowed 0.64 takeaways per game
3+ sacks in only 31.8% of games 1 sack or fewer in over half their games (52.3%)


2026 so far (5 games):
5 total sacks
0 interceptions
Dead last against the run (168.4 ypg)
Worst opponent passer rating in the league (120.5)
Worst third-down defense in the league

Micah Parsons with the Packers

14 games (13 starts)
12.5 sacks (led the team, tied for 3rd in the NFL at the time of his injury)
41 tackles (19 solo)
12 tackles for loss
26 QB hits
2 forced fumbles
1 pass deflection

Come on Jazz, even you cant be this set in your ways.

Look at how BAD our D is without him. You think Lawrence is going to magically turn into that? lol. Come on dude.

Heis a rookie on a bad defense. Give him a few years. Not every player can combine and make a difference right away.

 

[jazzcat22]

What was our epa on defense in his playoff games? Let's see how you dodge and deflect.

 

[Kwyn]

Not about those moves. Just like to remind the people that you've been lying nonstop for Micah for going on 2 years. That's all. Being wrong about something is one thing. Lying is something totally different. So yea.....gotta keep reminding you.

Oh, I see.

You’re still butthurt about how every time you track me down to talk nonsense and I shut you down with actual football discussions you flip out start calling me names and then run off.

I really don’t even pay attention to you except when you do this.

And never forget. I know the real reason you are the way you are on various player discussions.

 

[stilltheguru]

Oh, I see.

You’re still butthurt about how every time you track me down to talk nonsense and I shut you down with actual football discussions you flip out start calling me names and then run off.

I really don’t even pay attention to you except when you do this.

And never forget. I know the real reason you are the way you are on various player discussions.

Making up me running away from you is cute copium. I've been on your head nonstop with no let up. Remember you're a flagrant liar. You understand me?

 

[Gangsta Spanksta]

So, in hindsight, you keep him and pay $45M?

In hindsight, we should've found another sucker and got a much better trade, but I wish we still had those two #1 picks we traded away. Parsons needed to go the moment he slept on tables, beyond that we didn't plan either way how to develop the defense with him or without.

 

[Kwyn]

OK.

So as of right now.

Lets look at this.

With Parsons (2021-24): Best defense in the NFL by EPA/play when he was on the field
1.72 takeaways per game
3+ sacks in nearly half their games (48.5%)
Elite pressure that actually finished plays


Without Parsons (22 games since the trade):
32nd in EPA per drive
32nd in success rate
32nd in explosive plays allowed 0.64 takeaways per game
3+ sacks in only 31.8% of games 1 sack or fewer in over half their games (52.3%)


2026 so far (5 games):
5 total sacks
0 interceptions
Dead last against the run (168.4 ypg)
Worst opponent passer rating in the league (120.5)
Worst third-down defense in the league

Micah Parsons with the Packers

14 games (13 starts)
12.5 sacks (led the team, tied for 3rd in the NFL at the time of his injury)
41 tackles (19 solo)
12 tackles for loss
26 QB hits
2 forced fumbles
1 pass deflection

Come on Jazz, even you cant be this set in your ways.

Look at how BAD our D is without him. You think Lawrence is going to magically turn into that? lol. Come on dude.

EPA? That sounds like propaganda. And all those other numbers? Nonsense that makes my head hurt.

I know what I saw on the field and he was a “turnstile” on defense. Nothing but a “traffic cone”.

Trust in Jerry.

 

[Kwyn]

Making up me running away from you is cute copium. I've been on your head nonstop with no let up. Remember you're a flagrant liar. You understand me?

Ok. Last time. You and I both know what you’re about.

 

[stilltheguru]

Ok. Last time. You and I both know what you’re about.

The micah fangirl that's a habitual liar. You got so triggered when I used your gif on you last time

I will forever remind you that you lie for another grown man.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Someone said in an earlier thread both teams lost. That seems accurate.

We've also gone from Dan Quinn to no one. That has to be a factor.

I mean I can’t say the Cowboys lost because if he would’ve been hurt we would’ve been even worse. At least we got Q and Malachi out of it.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Trust in Jerry.

Lol Jerry is the cause of all this. He's never cared about defense and is only now because he has no choice. He still doesn't know what he's doing. Should have tried to fix the defense when Micah was on his rookie contract but didn't care about that either. I agree Micah had to go when he laid on the table but that was in response to Jerry trying to negotiate in the media. Jerry was angry and so Jerry traded him. He had no plan whatsoever. And since the trade he's brought in one player after another and nothing has worked. Jerry is incompetent. He has no idea how to build a championship team.

 

[CWR]

I mean I can’t say the Cowboys lost because if he would’ve been hurt we would’ve been even worse. At least we got Q and Malachi out of it.

I don't regret the deal at all. If we extended him and he got injured like in GB, most of the board would be going on about how stupid his contract is.

That said we have only gotten worse and I cant ignore that. I do believe there are a ton of factors involved though, and its nowhere near all about the MP trade.

 

[stilltheguru]

Nobody ever answers my questions when it comes to micah. Funny how that is. Theyll respond to me nonstop until I ask a direct question. Then it's crickets

 

[dfense]

Did they factor in having to listen to his weekly podcasts?

 

[blueblood70]

This is a critical part of his impact we loss that gets overlooked. Teams were forced to account for him on every play. He opened opportunities for other players.

"S---, his presence," Packers All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney said at the time. "Just being Micah Parsons. When you get a guy like that, of that talent, you can put him out there and tell him to just stand there. And before the play is snapped, they're going to be looking for him because if you're not prepared for him, it's not going to be good for you."

Or as Packers coach Matt LaFleur said: "He definitely has an aura about him."

I'm still tired of having this conversation. Parsons did not want to be here. He changed the. Terms of the deal they were trying to workout between him and Jerry. To a point where his agent became a circus show. Everything he did to get his way out of here, he forced his way out of here. I would not want the guy back if I had to do it over. Yes, I have hindsight I would not. Change anything that happened because the man became a spectacle laying on tables. The fake back injury is one thing, but he took it to another level with the food and in practice, his body language, the things he said in social media. This was not a regular holdout. They pushed and pushed and they got what they asked for...

But it's ironic, though, that teams let guys like Hendrickson go. Many players have been traded like Garrett. And others. Way back, it was Khalil Mack. I mean, teams trade good pass rushers. Regardless of what you think, the Cowboys did not make a mistake. I did not want this particular player on my team. He is Robert Quinn. He is not even TJ Watt. I mean, I get it. That's why Jerry would have rather had Max Crosby. Because Max Crosby has more character. He has more drive. He plays inside. He plays outside. Right now, in this defense, the Cowboys need an outside linebacker, not a pass rush specialist..

And I'm not one that said we wouldn't miss him. But we did get better inside. Other teams have done it. They have allowed really good pass rushers go. So Dallas is not the only one. It's a business. Sometimes you lose players and in this case it was a tie. I don't care what people said. This was not a Cowboy's loss. This trade just became neutral. Both teams thought they needed something different. And they went ahead and got it..

But I'm gonna say it again, I do not want Parsons back on this team. If we had a do over, I just don't. I don't like him, the person, his personality. I'm sorry. We'll get another one like him. We had Demarcus Ware. We have other guys that can. Do this. Even tank, he's not. Parsons but you can get these guys. They're trying. They drafted Lawrence. They drafted Eazy. E. They will try to hit on a guy. Because even when you go out and get guys like the Giants did and now one of their players, they picked Kai. I can't remember his name now. He's regressed pretty fast...


But at $47 million, I am out on Parsons the person. I don't like him. I don't like what he's done since he's left here. I just don't like him and I did not want him on my team. This is kind of like Terrell Owens, right? You deal with them. For a while because of how great he is, but at some point you realize what he is in the locker room. And I'm telling you, he is also a team obliterator. The the things, the way he handles himself, I just don't like it..

So I'm standing by my original thought. He wanted out. He pushed out. He's out. This is not Jerry just giving up on the guy. They offered him a fair contract. He didn't want it. He led his agent whisper in his ear and create the drama that pushed him out. He is gone. Not because Jerry didn't want him here. He is gone because he wanted to be gone...

I don't want a guy who doesn't want to be here on my team, so if we had a time machine, I wouldn't change a damn thing..

 

[blueblood70]

Yes for GB.

They still don't understand this and it's kind of odd. I just had this same argument with this same guy on Twitter. I recognize him now... There's a good reason why a lot of us, if we had to do it over, would still make the trade. We don't like Parsons the person. We don't like what he is in the locker room, his character. We just don't like it. II. Just don't think him being here at 47 million we'd be in any better place. I know since he's left we're also not in a better place, but maybe they forgot that he was part of the Green Bay debacle in 2023 playoff game and that he was also part. Of the 4040 tie last year in which he did not come here and get revenge. He did not make a difference and he gave up 40 points. He's been on every bad loss for the Cowboys that we've ever had that fans hate. That means he's not a difference maker in that way. To deal with his character, that's what we did with Terrell Owens. I mean, I love TO, but at some point, after a couple of seasons, he wears on you and the team and the coaches and the locker room and you get rid of them. So why would you give the man $47 million when he wanted out? He created that. Extra drama. Not just holding out and faking a back injury. This man pushed it online, on social media, laying on tables, body language, eating, all of it. I don't want that guy on my team....

I really loved him as a pass rusher. Yes, I loved his talent. We missed that in some ways. But this team couldn't stop the run and they were giving up wide open plays all over the field in that 2023 playoff game and. The game we've dropped 40 points on him last year. Where was he? So yes. He is a difference maker in some ways, but not to the point where we wish he was back. The train of him did not create this mess. It was changing defensive coordinator so much and now changing the scheme of the defense. It has long. Lasting implications and it will get fixed...

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I don't regret the deal at all. If we extended him and he got injured like in GB, most of the board would be going on about how stupid his contract is.

That said we have only gotten worse and I cant ignore that. I do believe there are a ton of factors involved though, and its nowhere near all about the MP trade.

I agree but if we don’t trade him is he healthy right now? Tough to say but with his small frame seems like injuries were inevitable.

 

[DarkVader33]

Moving into the 3 4 defense would have impacted Micah more than ANYONE on this defense.

They traded him, then moved into a 3 4 which is he naturally fits better.

We’re on the same page there. If I had known we were switching, I would have preferred to keep him. However, Jerry still wouldn’t have added enough around him.

 

[Kwyn]

Lol Jerry is the cause of all this. He's never cared about defense and is only now because he has no choice. He still doesn't know what he's doing. Should have tried to fix the defense when Micah was on his rookie contract but didn't care about that either. I agree Micah had to go when he laid on the table but that was in response to Jerry trying to negotiate in the media. Jerry was angry and so Jerry traded him. He had no plan whatsoever. And since the trade he's brought in one player after another and nothing has worked. Jerry is incompetent. He has no idea how to build a championship team.

100%

 

[stilltheguru]

100%

Ducking dodging and running (accusing me of that is cute) A Kwyn special. Let me know when you want to be a man and stand up straight and answer direct questions. I know it'll be painful but growth is good

 

[ShiningStar]

I still think the trade was a good one; we weren't going anywhere with them. My issue from Day 1 is that Jerry thought he could use the capital from this trade to make this team a contender. Well.......

lets make this clear for the fans.

This was never the sentiment. Jerry wanted to sell the idea to the fans who guzzle it down. Jerry doesnt care if the team is a contender or pretender, MONEY BABY MONEY.