Why Packers Trade For Parsons Is A Steal

For all of the accolades Parsons has received in his career, it is surprising to some that he is only 26 years old. Though it may feel like he has been in the NFL for a decade, he is just entering his fifth year as a pro.

During his four years in Dallas, all he did was earn:

• Unanimous AP 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
• First-team All-Pro (2021, 2022)
• Second-team All-Pro (2023)
• Four-time Pro Bowl selection

At his best, Parsons is a generational pass rusher, one who evokes memories of a young Lawrence Taylor in the 1980s. Statistically, Parsons has surpassed the marks of Taylor in the same number of years in the league. Through his first four complete years in 1981 and 1983-1985 (his second year in 1982 was strike-shortened), Taylor registered 41 sacks from his outside linebacker spot in 64 games.

On the other hand, Parsons has accumulated 52.5 sacks in one fewer game (63). To be fair, Taylor became the most accomplished linebacker in recent memory during the middle seasons of his career, the stage that Parsons is now just entering. The next few seasons will decide if Parsons can enter the same conversation.

Packers’ Future 1st-Round Picks Look To Be Later Going Forward

The idea that the Packers have mortgaged their future by shipping two 1st-round picks, one next year and one in 2027, should not be as daunting to Green Bay fans as some would feel.

While few would argue that teams can be made or broken with the infusion of young talent, the NFL draft is not foolproof (see Ryan Leaf). Just because teams have picks does not guarantee instant success and playoff glory.

Take the Packers’ recent first-rounders into consideration. They arguably “hit” on Clark (2016), Jaire Alexander (2018), and Jordan Love (2020). However, the jury is still out on Quay Walker (2021) and Lukas Van Ness (2023), just to name two.

In other words, teams swing and miss on as many, if not more, top picks than they connect. Trading for a known commodity like Parsons is just like hitting a grand slam in the draft, allowing the Packers to insert a new acquisition immediately.

Also, Green Bay has reasonable hopes of generating extremely successful seasons in the near future. Should the Packers go on extensive January runs, their draft position, which is now owned by the Cowboys, becomes less attractive. Making the playoffs guarantees a team will draft no higher than 18th, and each victory in the postseason slides that team lower into the 20s or even 30s.

If Green Bay backs up the expectations set upon them, the Cowboys’ newly-found draft picks will not be much greater in value than early-2nd round selections.

End Of Packers Rant: The Future Is Now In Green Bay

Since Packers’ general manager Brian Gutekunst took over the wheeling and dealing in Green Bay in 2018, he has been known to stockpile picks and make his bones in the later rounds of the draft. He has been successful in molding a winning team during his tenure, one that has earned a postseason berth in five of the past six years, but the Packers have not participated in a Super Bowl in 15 seasons.

What occurred on Thursday, making a big-time splash in the trade market, was uncharacteristic for Gutekunst and something rarely seen in Green Bay. While routinely making the playoffs has been nice, this is the kind of deal that needed to be done to change things up and take the Packers to the next level. Obtaining a star who is on a current trajectory to Canton is the tsunami-type splash Packer fans have craved.