Why Patriots didn't pursue trade for Packers' Micah Parsons

The New England Patriots needed an elite pass-rusher long before the Dallas Cowboys shockingly traded defensive star Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 28.

During a Tuesday appearance on Boston sports radio station WEEI, first-year Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel indicated his club never considered making a serious move for Parsons this summer. 

"That wasn’t something that we really invested a lot of time or resources in," Vrabel said about a potential trade for Parsons, per Lauren Campbell of MassLive. "I think when you just try to look at what we feel like is best for us right now, that wasn’t entertaining that specific transaction."

Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf drew attention in August by suggesting he might trade a first- or second-round pick for a top-tier player the team would need to sign long-term. Parsons was ultimately dealt for two first-round draft picks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark. 

Patriots reporter Chad Graff of The Athletic later shared that New England wasn't "likely to make a big trade before the season begins," in part because the club isn't yet close "to competing for a Super Bowl."

The Patriots missed the playoffs four times over the past five seasons, are coming off back-to-back 4-13 campaigns and don't yet know if Drake Maye is a legitimate franchise quarterback. Meanwhile, a Packers team that has Jordan Love as its QB1 participated in the last two postseasons. 

As part of landing Parsons, the Packers signed him to a four-year, $188M contract that included $136M guaranteed and made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

"...When we build this thing, and moving forward, we want to build it and make sure that we’re building through the draft," Vrabel added about his mindset during the interview, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "And then again, like I said, retaining the players that we feel like have developed and have earned contracts. And while Micah Parsons is a great player, just probably wasn’t the best fit or the right time, I think, for us." 

For a piece published on Wednesday, MassLive writers predicted that the 2025 Patriots will go 8-9, but two said New England would finish the upcoming season with a record of 9-8.

If such forecasts prove to be accurate, Vrabel and Wolf may ultimately regret not attempting to acquire Parsons.