One week before the kickoff of the 2025 NFL season, Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys officially pulled the trigger on a blockbuster move, trading superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers after a long contract dispute throughout the offseason.
It’s hard to believe Dallas actually decided to part ways with Parsons, one of the best players in the NFL, but the organization did secure two first-round picks in return for the three-time All-Pro. Here’s a look at the Cowboys’ draft capital for the next two seasons.
A Look at the Cowboys’ Draft Capital After Micah Parsons Trade
Parsons had been in a contract dispute with the Cowboys throughout training camp and the preseason, seeking a deal that would make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Jones was unwilling to meet those demands for reasons that remain difficult to understand, ultimately leading Parsons to request a trade. On Thursday, Jones granted that request, sending him to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for two first-round picks and veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
Full trade, per sources:
🏈Cowboys get DT Kenny Clark and two first-round picks
🏈Packers get Micah Parsons. https://t.co/wf08foG94N pic.twitter.com/Ited61UBvO
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 28, 2025
It’s a blockbuster move, and while much of the public believes Dallas made the wrong decision, the franchise is now loaded with draft capital. That flexibility should give the Cowboys an opportunity to infuse the roster with talent over the next two seasons.
In the 2026 NFL Draft, Dallas will own two first-round picks, its own and Green Bay’s, along with a second, a fourth, a fifth, and two sixths.
Thanks to the Parsons deal, the Cowboys will again have two first-rounders in the 2027 NFL Draft, plus a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh. Altogether, that gives Dallas 15 draft picks over the next two years.
It’s a lot of draft capital, and while there’s no guarantee they’ll find another player of Parsons’ caliber with one of those selections, it does put Dallas in a strong position to maneuver up or down the draft board in pursuit of high-impact players over the next few seasons.
Who Could Dallas Select in the 2026 NFL Draft to Replace Parsons?
While Parsons’ absence will certainly be felt in Dallas after posting 52.5 sacks in his first four seasons, the silver lining is that the 2026 NFL Draft class is shaping up to be deep at edge rusher.
startin’ off 🔥
📺: #WASvsDAL on FOX
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LvklCbYJ1e pic.twitter.com/IyL63dfkW7— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) January 5, 2025
In PFSN’s latest 2026 mock draft, six pass rushers were projected to go in the first round: Clemson’s TJ Parker, Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., Alabama’s LT Overton, Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton, and Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei.
None of these players is likely to be the player that Parsons is, but they could provide the Cowboys with younger and, most importantly for Jones, more cost-effective options at the position.
You can’t pay that kind of money, no matter how good they are! What about the other guys on Defense who are better at defense than you might think! Pay them too? Mica settled for 12 million less a year!! I didn’t see all what his contract is worth but 12 million divided by 4 is $3 million a year! So, Jerry’s contract was $200 Million for 4 years and the ageant just saw $$$ signs thinking he’s going to make it happen!! Well guess what! With that plus what Jerry now has two 1 st round draft picks and saving $200 million for 4 years he can forty fy his o line, edge blockers DE and still have a good 👍🏼 $$ saved without making 52 players mad and plus the salary of the teams practice squad players! I would have held out for 2 or more 2 nd or 3 td rpund picks for 26 & maybe 27 plus 1 or 2 more players!
A Jimmy Johnson deal would have been nice! But, let’s see how the 2026 th 1 st round pick goes! Or trade capital for the first pick goes to?? Then we will know if it was a fair or a trade value that was the best move for the Cowboys solince Jimmy Johnson did!