Packers have another reason to celebrate Micah Parsons trade after surprising Cowboys intel comes to light

The Micah Parsons trade will have repercussions for years to come. A week before the start of the regular season, the Green Bay Packers acquired him from the Dallas Cowboys in a package that included two first-round picks. But the deal nearly was way different.

According to ESPN's NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys considered asking for Pro Bowl edge defender Rashan Gary as part of the deal. However, Dallas' front office felt like the interior of the defensive line was a bigger need, ultimately deciding for defensive tackle Kenny Clark instead.

"Staying on Green Bay, I'm told pass rusher Rashan Gary -- who produced 1.5 sacks Sunday against Detroit -- was a part of Dallas' internal trade discussion on the Micah Parsons deal. The Cowboys were looking to add a premier defensive player, and Gary's name came up in the building before the move. The Cowboys ultimately wanted Kenny Clark, focused on defensive tackle play and run-stopping, but Gary as a Cowboy was at least a notion kicked around at The Star. Despite losing Clark, Green Bay now has a vicious three-man pass rush with Parsons, Gary and Lukas Van Ness, who can play inside or outside." — Jeremy Fowler.

Ideal outcome for the Packers

Even though it was hard to lose a locker room leader like Kenny Clark, that was a much better deal for the Packers after all. First, because Gary is two years younger and is still playing at his best level, while Clark had shown some signs of regression in 2024.

Beyond that, there would have been complicated financial considerations to moving on from Gary. He would have left $8.52 million in dead money now and $25.74 million in 2026, just opening $19.53 million of cap space over two years. And it's a player who's under contract through 2027.

With Clark, the Packers will have $18.1 million in dead money in 2025 and $17 million in 2026, clearing up $2.3 million now and $14.4 million next year in cap space, plus $27.1 million in 2027.

The big differences, though, are age, recent production, and positional value.

The potential lack of options along the interior of the defensive line could be a concern, but the group showed against the Detroit Lions that it is promising with Devonte Wyatt, Colby Wooden, and Karl Brooks—moreover, the package with three defensive ends on the field at the same time was highly successful.

After all, the Packers have one extra reason to celebrate the Micah Parsons' trade.