In a stunning blockbuster deal that shook the NFL world, the Dallas Cowboys traded star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. The package, as reported by NFL insiders Adam Schefter, Tom Pelissero, and Jane Slater, includes two first-round draft picks and three-time Pro Bowler defensive lineman Kenny Clark heading to Dallas.
Parsons, entering his prime at 26, immediately signed a record-breaking four-year, $188 million extension with Green Bay, featuring $136 million guaranteed and $120 million fully locked in at signing-making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history at $47 million per year.
Micah Parsons’ agent David Mulugheta shuts down Jerry Jones’ claim about contract insult in Cowboys.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed the details, noting agent David Mulugheta‘s pivotal role in orchestrating the trade and negotiations. Parsons himself posted on X shortly after: “New chapter. Grateful for Dallas. #GoPackGo,” reflecting a mix of closure and excitement. This move ends a contentious saga that began with Parsons’ public trade request on August 1, amid stalled contract talks with owner Jerry Jones.
The trade highlights a stark contrast to how Dallas handled recent extensions for quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Prescott inked a four-year, $240 million deal in March 2025, while Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million pact in July 2024. What set them apart? Both Prescott and Lamb reported to training camp and participated fully, even amid holdouts, showing commitment to the team. Lamb skipped OTAs and minicamp but joined for preseason, allowing negotiations to progress without total disruption.
Parsons’ controversial stance and agent spat trigger Dallas departure
Parsons, however, took a harder line: He skipped voluntary workouts, held out of training camp, and even appeared sleeping in the sidelines in the last preseason game, escalating tensions. Schefter reported on August 27 that “Dallas appears willing to listen to trade offers for the first time,” directly linking Parsons’ absence to the shift. Pelissero added that Jones’ direct talks with Parsons-bypassing his agent-further soured relations, unlike the agent-led processes for Prescott and Lamb.
A key flashpoint was when Jerry Jones sent a money proposal directly to Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, outlining terms that would have made Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback. According to Jones in an August 21 interview on Michael Irvin’s podcast, the two sides had agreed on length, guarantees, and money, but Mulugheta rejected it outright, reportedly telling the Cowboys to “stick it up our ass.”
Jones claimed, “When we wanted to send the details to the agent, the agent told us to stick it up our ass,” emphasizing his frustration with Mulugheta’s interference. Mulugheta denied the vulgar phrase, telling ESPN’s Ryan Clark, “I’ve never used that phrase in my life,” calling Jones’ account “all lies, all bull crap.” This public spat underscored the breakdown, with Jones accusing the agent of sabotaging talks and Parsons insisting on Mulugheta’s involvement.
Micah Parsons wanted out, Cowboys pulled the trigger
Parsons’ tenure in Dallas was nothing short of phenomenal on the field. Drafted 12th overall in 2021 from Penn State, he exploded as a rookie with 13.5 sacks, earning Pro Bowl honors and Defensive Rookie of the Year. Over four seasons, he amassed 52.5 sacks, 256 tackles, nine forced fumbles, nine passes defensed, and four fumble recoveries-making him a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro.
In 2024, despite playing only 13 games due to injury, he notched 12 sacks and 43 tackles, positioning him as a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate. His versatility-lining up as edge or linebacker-made him indispensable, helping the Cowboys’ defense rank top-five in sacks three straight years.
Parsons’ off-field focus pushes him out of Dallas
Yet, off the field, Parsons’ personality became a growing liability. He prioritized his podcast, The Edge with Micah Parsons, which launched in 2023 and quickly gained 500,000 subscribers, often using it to vent frustrations or opine on league-wide issues like officiating or rival players. Social media amplified this: Parsons frequently tweeted about non-football topics, from politics to pop culture, drawing criticism for distracting from team focus.
In a July 2025 interview with The Athletic, teammates anonymously expressed annoyance, saying, “Micah’s talent is unreal, but his mouth and the podcast take away from the grind.” His outspokenness, including jabs at Jones during contract stalls, painted him as a diva in a locker room valuing unity. Ultimately, Dallas-a franchise with unmatched exposure and fame, valued at $13 billion and playing in the media-saturated NFC East-couldn’t tolerate the drama.
Parsons’ insistence that his agent, Mulugheta, handle all talks clashed with Jones’ hands-on style, leading to a standoff. His controversial persona, blending elite play with self-promotion, alienated the front office. As Slater reported, “The holdout and public spats sealed it-Dallas saw him as more headache than asset.” Trading to a quieter market like Green Bay, with its storied but less flashy history, gives Parsons a fresh start. For the Cowboys, it’s draft capital to rebuild, but it underscores how ego and attitude can derail even a superstar’s legacy in America’s Team.
