The soap opera surrounding Micah Parsons’ potential resignation or trade came to an end Thursday afternoon. The Dallas Cowboys have officially traded the All-Pro edge rusher to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for two future first-round picks (2026 and 2027) and Pro Bowl nose tackle Kenny Clark.

To be frank, those future first-rounders–projected to fall in the 25–32 range–are closer in value to early second-round picks, considering the Packers are a consistent playoff-caliber team. On top of that, Parsons and his agent, David Mulugheta, have agreed to a massive four-year, $188 million extension with Green Bay, including $136 million guaranteed.

[The Dallas Cowboys are still a telenovela, even after the Parsons deal.]

Why This Trade Makes Sense for Jerry & Stephen Jones: The Salary Cap

According to Spotrac, the Cowboys have freed up $16 million in cap space for 2025 alone with this move. Overall, Dallas now holds $42 million in cap space—the second-most in the NFL behind only the New England Patriots ($52 million). Will this lead to another blockbuster move? Don’t count on it. This seems more like a long-term positioning play than a win-now gamble.

Now let’s talk about how Kenny Clark fits into the Cowboys’ defense—and honestly, he might be exactly what the doctor ordered. The former 2016 first-round pick out of UCLA will line up alongside another Bruin, 3-tech DT Osa Odighizuwa, forming what could be a very promising interior duo.

Three Reasons the Clark Trade Works for the Cowboys On the Field

Durability: Clark has been remarkably healthy throughout his career, providing consistency the Cowboys desperately need up front.

Scheme Fit: New defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus runs a scheme that thrives on disciplined gap control and interior pressure from a four-man front. Clark’s ability to anchor against the run while also collapsing the pocket makes him a perfect fit.

Veteran Presence: Clark, who turns 30 in October, brings a much-needed veteran presence to a young defensive tackle room—and he’s still under contract for two more seasons after previously re-signing with Green Bay.

Ultimately, although losing a generational talent like Parsons is painful, the Cowboys are evidently strategizing for the long term—just not in the manner we initially anticipated.

[For more on the Micah Parsons trade, check out today's episode of Chalk Talk Social.]