How Jerry Jones' Micah Parsons gamble is paying off for the Cowboys

Sami Haider

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How Jerry Jones' Micah Parsons gamble is paying off for the Cowboys image

Jerry Jones faced immense backlash for trading Micah Parsons to Green Bay before the season. The reason? Maybe it was a calculated move from the front office, but the majority of the folks think Jones traded the league's most destructive edge rusher because of some pennies.  

But months later, with the Cowboys sitting at 4-5-1, that controversial blockbuster trade suddenly started making sense on paper, though it’s clear the Cowboys aren’t close to being a Super Bowl contender. 

But they're back on track for sure because their ongoing rebuild has a direction. And it all traces back to that August trade everyone hated.

How the Cowboys won by losing Micah Parsons

Shipping Parsons to the Packers, the Cowboys received Kenny Clark and two first-round picks (2026 and 2027) from Green Bay, while Parsons signed a four-year, $188 million extension with Green Bay to make him the highest paid non-QB in NFL history.

Quite frankly, the players Dallas got didn’t seem very good. Clark was decent but getting older. The draft picks were risky and not guaranteed to help. At the same time, Parsons was just 26 and playing his best football.

Fast forward to November. The Cowboys used one of those draft picks to acquire Quinnen Williams from New York Jets just before the trade deadline. The three-time Pro Bowler made his debut Monday night against Las Vegas Raiders and put on a show that even overshadowed his previous match performance with the Jets. 

Williams recorded a sack on Geno Smith early in the second quarter. After his signature sack dance, the ESPN camera panned to Jones in the owner’s suite, showing the 83-year-old owner smiling like a child. That grin on his face has since turned viral.

The 27-year-old now lines up with Clark and Osa Odighizuwa, giving Dallas a strong trio up front. He was drafted third overall by the Jets in 2019 and is signed through 2027. The Cowboys also added linebacker Logan Wilson from Cincinnati Bengals. The D is getting younger, hungrier, and cheaper.

Then there's George Pickens. He's been everything Dallas needed opposite CeeDee Lamb to reach the pinnacle of the NFL. Pickens is currently leading the Cowboys in receiving yards (908), targets (83), and is tied with Jake Ferguson for the most touchdowns (7) this season.

Former Cowboys star Dez Bryant believes that, regardless of the outcome, Pickens should stay in Dallas and create his own legacy. He tweeted that Pickens' "legacy will be worth more than being the highest-paid wide receiver" if he stays with Dallas. He urged the young receiver to take a pay cut to remain with the franchise.

Sure, they need edge help. Parsons was the best for sure. That production doesn't get replaced overnight. But the direction they're heading suggests they don't need to panic. 

They've got another first-rounder coming in the 2026 NFL draft with plenty of strong edge options. The front office just has to sit tight, take their pick, and keep Pickens around by paying him healthy money if possible.

Jones changed the entire outlook by trading Parsons. Moving him instead of signing him to a new deal saved the Cowboys nearly $70 million over the next three years. The Cowboys used that money to extend DaRon Bland and Tyler Smith. They're building something sustainable.

It's too early to declare Jones a genius. Even with one of the best attacks in the league, their defense is still terrible. But after seeing them win against the Raiders dominantly, it is safe to say that the reset is working.

And that trade everyone hated halfway through the season? It might be the smartest gamble Jerry's made in years.

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Staff Writer