Micah Parsons Trade Scenarios: Potential Landing Spots and Trade Value

The athlete, Micah Parsons, is currently 26 years of age. A strong case could be made that he stands out as the premier defensive player in professional football. Considering his age advantage of three years compared to Myles Garrett and four years relative to T.J. Watt, he could be deemed the most beneficial asset, even if another player is thought of as number one.

A trade involving Parsons isn’t guaranteed just because he apparently requested such a move on a recent Friday. Reports indicate the Dallas Cowboys don’t have inclinations to trade him, as stated by Dianna Russini of The Athletic. However, the absence of an extended contract has led Parsons to express a desire to leave. Should this disagreement prolong and Dallas reconsider trading Parsons, numerous teams would likely explore the costs associated with acquiring this exceptional pass rusher. Upon being traded, he would then be poised to obtain a contract from his new team exceeding Watt’s current $41 million yearly rate.

The most probable scenario suggests that the Cowboys will eventually yield and compensate their key player, a pattern they commonly follow. Nevertheless, what would a Parsons trade potentially entail? Furthermore, which teams might be willing to undertake the significant expense of securing him?

Within the context of Dallas trades, this development might even overshadow a theoretical transfer of Luka Dončić to the Lakers in terms of news magnitude.

What circumstances would surround a theoretical Micah Parsons trade?

The closest scenario for comparison to a Parsons trade occurred in 2018, immediately before the season began.

The Oakland Raiders traded Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears. Mack’s age at the time of the trade was 27. He previously won Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 (an award Parsons has yet to achieve) and earned first-team All-Pro honors twice during his four seasons with the Raiders (a feat Parsons also replicated). Upon his acquisition, the Bears extended his contract, setting a record at the time for defensive players.

In the Raiders-Bears transaction, Chicago offered their first-round selections in the 2019 and 2020 drafts, along with a third-round pick in 2020 and a sixth-round pick in 2019, in exchange for Mack, a second-round pick in 2020, and a conditional fifth-round pick. Given the parallel stages in their careers and comparable ages, this trade serves as a basis for comparison. Securing Parsons would minimally involve two first-round picks accompanied by further selections.

The acquiring team would likely need to present Parsons with a deal surpassing the value of any contract previously given to a non-quarterback in the league. Consequently, despite universal admiration for Parsons across all teams, many may lack the ability or intent to meet his financial demands.

Which teams would realistically consider trading for Parsons?

The team perhaps positioned most suitably to seek Parsons might be the very one that divested his equivalent seven years ago.

Las Vegas Raiders: Presently, the Raiders have the most accessible salary cap room in the NFL for 2026 (large contracts often have limited impacts on the salary cap initially), per Spotrac. They anticipate remaining $114 million below the cap. Managing payments to both Maxx Crosby and Parsons would present a challenge, yet the resulting pass-rushing tandem would prove formidable. Before complications arose leading to Wilkins’ departure, they intended to compensate both Crosby and Christian Wilkins. The Raiders might also pursue a significant transaction, especially considering their recent appointment of head coach Pete Carroll, who will be 74 years old in September, coupled with trading for 34-year-old quarterback Geno Smith, and their selection of running back Ashton Jeanty as the sixth overall draft pick. These actions signal an eagerness to achieve immediate victories.

Tennessee Titans: The Titans also have close to $100 million reserved in anticipated cap room for the subsequent season, standing second highest within the NFL. This aligns with their quarterback, Cam Ward, being under a rookie contract, and a deficiency of prominent stars incurring extensive payments. Would a team engaged in reconstruction, expected to draft high in 2026, and possibly 2027, elect to surrender multiple draft picks for one individual?

Los Angeles Rams: The Rams will remain attentive to engaging in a notable transaction. They show willingness to forfeit selections, can justify their standing as contenders after winning the NFC West and almost defeating the Eagles during playoffs, and possess the fourth-largest projected cap allocation for next year. Moreover, the Rams hold an additional first-round pick for the coming year, the result of an insightful trade on draft day with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this year.

Washington Commanders: The Commanders also invite consideration as a potential destination due to Washington head coach Dan Quinn’s background of working with Parsons while serving as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. Furthermore, the Commanders hold the fifth-most accessible cap room for the approaching season with their quarterback, Jayden Daniels, under his rookie arrangement, and have initiated several actions intending to win in the present timeframe, such as acquiring offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and receiver Deebo Samuel. The challenge exists, however, in Dallas likely refusing to trade Parsons to a divisional competitor.

Should the Cowboys, at some stage, engage with Parsons’ trade request, several teams will evaluate the implications concerning the salary cap when proposing an extension to Parsons and assessing whether they can manage surrendering the required selections. The Raiders and Rams will likely emerge as the popular choices to acquire Parsons, while other teams may compete. Should such a deal materialize, it would become one of the most talked about events in the history of the National Football League.