Did Dallas Get Fleeced? Parsons Trade to Packers & Clark Return

So the question has emerged among BetOnline customers – did Dallas-Fort Worth fans get fleeced again in a high-profile trade?

Of course, the question makes the assumption that the Dallas Mavericks drastically got the short end of the stick in dealing away Luka Doncic. Now, dealing away Micah Parsons, who was a genuine difference-maker on the Dallas Cowboys’ defense, is seen by many as waving the white flag.

It may also provide some additional fuel for all of those people who don’t feel Jerry Jones should be the general manager of an NFL team.

Being unable to make a deal on an extension of Parsons’ contract, the Cowboys traded him to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a package that includes first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027, along with three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

Jones and his son Stephen rationalized that the team would somehow be better not only for now, but the future, as a result of this deal. Jerry said the Cowboys struggled to stop the run last season and believes Clark will help.

It is true that Dallas allowed opposing teams to run for 4.8 yards per carry. But Clark wasn’t as effective a run-stopper as Jones may have implied. According to Pro Football Focus, which operates as kind of an analytics “bible” for a lot of people, he was ranked 43rd among interior defensive linemen with regard to defending the run last season.

Did the Cowboys look at that? Or that Clark is about to be 30 years old? I would assume they did.

A year ago, Clark signed a three-year, $64 million contract extension with the Packers. Parsons has just signed a four-year, $188 million extension with Green Bay.

Jones says he offered Parsons the richest deal for any non-quarterback in NFL history back in April, and that ultimately he was roundly and rudely rejected by Parsons’ agent. And during this past training camp, Parsons demanded a trade. He did not participate in practices or games. All of this did not leave Dallas in a very favorable bargaining position.

Jones left open the possibility that his team could take the draft picks and make a deal for player(s). But for now, what they have is one player (Clark) who can possibly help them. No, this isn’t comparable to the Herschel Walker trade that built Dallas’ three-time Super Bowl dynasty.

Consider that Parsons is genuinely an impact player

He’s the kind other teams have to devise their offensive game plans to account for. His presence can constitute the difference between a good defense and a great defense.

And so what can he do for Green Bay, which finished 11-6 last year and made the playoffs as a wild card? Well, the Packers ranked fifth in the league in yards allowed and sixth best in points allowed in the 2024 season. So it is reasonable to expect that they could once again be among the NFL’s best stop units.

Parsons, in his new position, has been elevated to +400 at BetOnline to win Defensive Player of the Year. That makes him the favorite. And in case you’re wondering, Kenny Clark is 200-1.

The Cowboys are now priced at -145 to fall below 7.5 wins (+115 on the over). And they are +700 to win the NFC East. The Packers are now the favorites to win the NFC North at +1590. And the over/under on wins in the regular season is 10.5 (under -125, over -105).