Looking at 6 mock trade offers for Micah Parsons: Dallas Cowboys make unconventional deal and receive $98 million player

Micah Parsons' trade request has NFL fan bases salivating at the prospect of adding one of the most talented players the game has seen in years wearing their team's uniform.

While the Dallas Cowboys are unlikely to deal the star defender, here at A to Z Sports, we wondered what a Parsons trade could look like going into the 2025 NFL season. Six writers put on the GM hat of the team they cover and sent in their best offers. Now it's up to me to decide which is the best.

Before we begin, one thing to note: Every offer includes at minimum two first-round draft picks and a player with starting experience, which I thought was very telling of Parsons' caliber. He's so costly that teams might be forced to offer players to lower the draft capital they'd have to give up. Let's dive in.

Ravens offer an EDGE replacement and picks

• Cowboys get: EDGE Odafe Oweh, 2026 first-round draft selection, 2026 third-round draft selection, 2027 second-round selection
• Ravens get: EDGE Micah Parsons

Baltimore is not traditionally a hyper-aggressive organization to make splash trades. But when the right player becomes available, they're certainly willing to play ball. The Ravens proved as much with their acquisition of LB Roquan Smith. This is, admittedly, a little different ballgame.

Baltimore can offer a former 1st-round pick who has finally started playing like one in Odafe Oweh to go along with three top-100 draft selections, although the Ravens would need to spread these picks out to help appease Eric DeCosta's never-ending itch to draft in surplus. The Ravens have made 20 draft selections in the last two seasons, so they're a little more willing than normal to part with marquee assets, and Parsons would obviously secure a premium contract in place of Oweh, who is playing this year on his fifth-year option. - Kyle Crabbs

The Packers come in with multiple first-round picks

• Cowboys get: 2026 first-round selection, 2027 first-round selection, EDGE Kingsley Enagbare
• Packers get: EDGE Micah Parsons

The Packers may be conservative in making moves with a combination of high draft picks and high salary, but Brian Gutekunst has already shown a willingness to pull the trigger for elite, young players. Back in 2018, he had a similar offer on the table to the Raiders compared to what the Chicago Bears ultimately paid.

Parsons is the same transformative type of talent at a premium position, so Green Bay could send the top picks plus an edge defender back to the Cowboys to make the deal more enticing to Dallas. A group of Parsons, Rashan Gary, and Lukas Van Ness would have the potential to be the best in the entire NFL. - Wendell Ferreira

Steelers offer Alex Highsmith

• Cowboys get: 2026 first-round selection, 2027 first-round selection, EDGE Alex Highsmith
• Steelers get: EDGE Micah Parsons, 2026 fourth-round selection

The Steelers and Micah Parsons have a bit of a history. Parsons has been open about playing for Pittsburgh if he were ever to leave for Dallas, and well, we might be at that point. The Pennsylvania native has requested a trade, and there is a world where the Steelers can swing it. For one, they have cap space, and that’s before a restructure or two and potential offloading of Alex Highsmith to Dallas in a trade. So the financials can be worked out.

The Steelers are armed with the most draft capital they have had in years in 2026. Oh, and Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta… He has a long history of dealing with Omar Khan and the Steelers. The Steelers brand is being renewed in front of our eyes, and a trade of this caliber would solidify that. - Rob Gregson

Bears throw in $98M defender

• Cowboys get: 2026 first-round selection, 2026 third-round selection, EDGE Montez Sweat
• Bears get: EDGE Micah Parsons, 2026 fourth-round selection

Landing Micah Parsons in Chicago isn’t going to be an easy move for general manager Ryan Poles. The Bears will have to cough up some serious draft capital, plus make sure they have the space to give Parsons a top-of-the-market extension. Realistically, I don’t see a world in which Parsons and Montez Sweat play on the same defense, given Sweat's price tag. This proposal will reunite Matt Eberflus with his “Tez-Factor” in Dallas while the Bears get a younger and more explosive weapon off the edge. The bonus is that Chicago is able to keep its first-round pick in 2027 as well to further build the roster.- Kole Noble

Colts offer Kwity Paye

• Cowboys get: 2026 first-round selection, 2027 first-round selection, 2027 third-round selection (conditional), EDGE Kwity Paye
• Colts get: EDGE Micah Parsons

The Colts were one of the most serious suitors that emerged when another star edge rusher this offseason demanded a trade. That player is edge Trey Hendrickson, who the Bengals were never going to trade away. The Colts being a serious suitor, though, tells me they would have been willing to pull the trigger on handing Hendrickson the massive extension he wants if a trade were finalized. If they were willing to do that for Hendrickson, who is already 30 years old, why wouldn't they also be interested in going all in on Micah Parsons, who is still only 26?

The Colts would want to include an edge rusher in the offer to try to lower the amount of draft capital a deal like this requires. So, the Colts offer Kwity Paye, their next two first-round picks, and a 2027 third-round pick that would be returned to the Colts if Parsons, for some reason, didn't sign an extension with the team. I'm sure the Cowboys would prefer Laiatu Latu, but I doubt the Colts' new ownership would want to make a deal like this any riskier than it would have to be. Especially since it would be the Irsay sisters' first major outside move since their father's passing. - Destin Adams

Commanders attempt to get Parsons

• Cowboys get: 2026 first-round selection, 2027 first-round selection, 2027 third-round selection (conditional), EDGE Dorance Armstrong
• Packers get: EDGE Micah Parsons

Reports are that it would likely take two first-round picks, and the Commanders can add a 2027 third-round pick and DE Dorance Armstrong to send to Dallas, as well. Armstrong played and produced for the Cowboys before he signed with the Commanders in 2024. His cap hit is only $10.1 million this season and would save the Commanders $7.18 million with a post-June 1 trade, according to Spotrac. - Josh Taylor

The decision. . .

I must start with the most boring of disclaimers here: I wouldn't do any of these deals, and I don't think the Cowboys would, either. Parsons is on his way to all-time greatness, and though all of these offers include multiple first-round draft picks, most of them are coming from good teams that are likely to be picking very high. None of the offers beats the alternative of handing Parsons a blank check and apologizing for a mishandled negotiation.

But there's no fun in that. So I'll pick one winner... and it's the Chicago Bears!

It's an unconventional offer, being that it includes one first-round draft pick, but including Montez Sweat—who is already signed to a $98 million contract through 2027—was a surprise factor that makes this the most attractive deal. Additionally, even with Ben Johnson taking over as head coach, there's a good chance the Bears are picking in the top 15 next spring.

Again, I don't think the Cowboys do this. I wouldn't. But if I had to pick an offer, it's Chicago's. Shoutout to the Indianapolis Colts, who were the runner-up for this one.