The Dallas Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers on August 28. The move shook up the NFL heading into the 2025 season. The impact of this trade is still being felt as Week 4 brings the Cowboys and Packers back together on Sunday Night Football. Dallas is 1-2 after losing 31-14 to Chicago. Green Bay is 2-1, coming off a close 13-10 loss to Cleveland.
This game is about Parsons returning to Dallas. The Cowboys picked him 12th overall in the 2021 draft. In four seasons, he recorded 52.5 sacks. Parsons admits that facing his former teammate Dak Prescott will be tough. He said, “It’s going to be painful.” The trade will link the two teams for years, and people will talk about it for a long time.
In Green Bay, Parsons has been a fan favorite. He has 1.5 sacks, four hits, and nine hurries through three games. He has played 128 snaps, mostly as a pass-rush specialist. Only 27 snaps were on run plays. Parsons has faced a lot of double teams, but he is still performing at a high level. His playing time is slowly increasing as he gets closer to full strength.
Parsons said it’s not a big deal that the Cowboys won’t honor him this week. He acknowledged there might be some hard feelings, but he doesn’t see it as disrespectful. His legacy in Dallas will always be complicated. He won’t be remembered the same way as Reggie White in Philadelphia. Parsons now faces pressure to help the Packers reach a Super Bowl. His performance is tied to the team’s long-term success, not just his individual stats.
The Packers are seeing clear benefits from the trade. They lead the NFL in scoring defense and rank third in total defense. Parsons makes everyone around him better. Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Devonte Wyatt, Edgerrin Cooper, and Quay Walker are all performing at a high level. The defense allows just 64.3 rushing yards per game. With Parsons, Green Bay has an elite defense that can stay strong if players stay healthy.
The Packers do have some concerns. Their offensive line struggled against Cleveland. Jordan Love has had trouble under pressure, completing 10 of 27 passes for 103 yards and taking five sacks. Injuries to tackles and guards make upgrades difficult. Parsons’ $186 million, four-year contract also limits cap space and draft picks in future seasons.
The Cowboys also see pros and cons. They gained future draft picks and avoided a huge contract, which helps their cap situation. They are in a rebuild after finishing 7-10 last season. Kenny Clark, part of the trade, has been solid with a sack and eight hurries. But without Parsons, Dallas’ defense is struggling. They allow over 30 points per game and rank last in pass defense. The Cowboys have only three sacks and have forced just one turnover. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is already under pressure.
Long-term, it’s too early to judge the trade completely. In the short term, Green Bay is winning. The Packers have an elite defense, and Parsons is expected to perform well on Sunday Night Football. A Packers win could strengthen their Super Bowl chances, while a Dallas win would be meaningful for the Cowboys, who have lost 10 of the last 11 meetings with Green Bay, including playoff games.