NFL decision-makers choose winner of Micah Parsons trade between Cowboys, Packers

The most controversial transaction of the NFL offseason occurred when Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones sent star pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round draft picks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark in late August. 

As part of the trade, the Packers made Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history when they handed him a four-year, $188M contract that included $136M guaranteed. 

For a piece published on Friday, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reached out to "12 decision-makers around the league — general managers, team executives and coaches" to essentially find out which team those individuals believe won the Parsons trade. 

People around the NFL think Cowboys made a mistake

Ten of the decision-makers told Howe they would rather have Parsons and his massive contract than the extra two first-round draft choices. While none said they'd take just two first-round picks instead of Parsons, the other two evaluators admitted they felt the answer to the question is "dependent on the organization’s situation in relation to its roster construction." 

As shared by ESPN's Todd Archer, Jones has repeatedly said since the trade was finalized that he was eager to improve Dallas' run defense. Meanwhile, one unnamed executive told Howe that he would have at least considered making the trade if he were running "a team that is building (and only has an outside chance at making the) playoffs but not in the (Super Bowl) window yet." 

Should Cowboys have gotten more for Micah Parsons?

A September report revealed that the Philadelphia Eagles offered the Cowboys two first-round picks, a third-round choice and a fifth-round selection "among other things" for Parsons. Jones didn't want to send Parsons to a division rival, but Cowboys reporter Jon Machota of The Athletic suggested that Dallas should have asked for "a ton in return" from Green Bay. 

"The Cowboys did not get that type of haul," Machota wrote for a mailbag posted on Friday. "They got a solid return. They needed to get a great one. I also never would’ve traded Parsons to the Packers. I would’ve taken less to send him to a different team, most likely in the AFC. Jerry Jones continues to say that before the start of the season was the best time to trade Parsons. I absolutely think that ideal time would have been in March or April. I believe more teams would have been involved."

Specifically, the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs were previously mentioned as potential landing spots for Parsons. No such deal materialized, and Parsons will now be in the Packers' lineup when 2-1 Green Bay plays at the 1-2 Cowboys this coming Sunday night.