Packers' trade for Micah Parsons includes hidden detail that links back to what Green Bay once pulled off in the Brett Favre deal

The Green Bay Packers gave up two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark to acquire edge defender Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys back in August. Well, you have known that for quite some time. But ESPN's insider Adam Schefter reported another interesting detail about the deal more than two months later.

The trade has a poison pill to avoid the Packers trading Micah Parsons to the Philadelphia Eagles, who also tried to acquire him from the Cowboys. Curiously, it's a strategy that Green Bay used back in 2008, when it traded quarterback Brett Favre to the New York Jets.

Poison pill in the trade

If the Packers trade Micah Parsons to an NFC East team, they would have to send a 2028 first-round pick to the Cowboys as additional compensation.

Another curious detail is that the clause also applies to Kenny Clark. If the Cowboys trade the defensive tackle to an NFC North team, the Packers would receive the Cowboys' 2028 first. Those things will obviously not happen, but it's a smart way to preclude the divisional rivals from having a shot at the players in the near future.

The poison pill applies to 2025 and 2026 — after that, the Packers could trade Parsons to an NFC East team without harm.

With that provision in place, both the Packers and the Cowboys can't trade their 2028 first-round picks at the moment — the NFL system shows they are blocked due to a conditional trade.

Based on how the Micah Parsons' extension was made, any type of trade is unlikely anyway, but both sides wanted to make sure that division rivalry scenario wouldn't be a factor.

Packers model

The Packers used the same strategy back in 2008. At the time, Brett Favre wanted to be released to play for the Minnesota Vikings and face Green Bay twice a year. The Packers wanted compensation and to avoid that scenario, so they sent Favre to the New York Jets for a conditional fourth-round pick.

However, if the Jets traded Favre to an NFC North team, the Packers would receive three first-round picks.

Favre ended up on the Vikings a year later, though, because the Jets released him from his contract — at that point, the quarterback was free to sign with anyone.

This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Nov 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.