Jerry Jones made one of the more controversial moves in his time with the Dallas Cowboys when he traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for Kenny Clark and two first-round picks. "Controversial" is putting it lightly because of how many Cowboys fans vehemently disagree with this insane decision.
Nonetheless, it happened. The Cowboys are left to help pick up the giant piece of the puzzle. Getting Jadeveon Clowney helps, but the former overall No. 1 pick from 2014 wasn't what he once was. He shouldn't be viewed as the ultimate elixir.
Cowboys insider Bryan Broaddus previewed the Bears game with Voch Lombardi on theCrown Global Media YouTube page and said that he underestimated the new look pass rush in the post-Parsons era.
"I just wonder if the Cowboys overevaluated the edges," Broaddus said. "I misevaluated these edges at least in the first two weeks of the season...It just scares me a little bit that maybe Dallas doesn't have as good a pass rush as I wanted to believe."
Cowboys' EDGE room without Micah Parsons is average at best
This was the fear of every Cowboys fan. The Cowboys lost a generational talent. Parsons commanded double teams and chips, which created one-on-one matchups for Dallas' other pass rushers.
Broaddus added that Sam Williams getting into Russell Wilson's face in overtime to force a poor throw and an interception is what helped beat the New York Giants, but if the edge rushers can't sustain that consistency for much of the game, it's not going to be enough. Williams and Dante have been major disappointments through two games.
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The Bears have an improved offensive line, especially after Caleb Williams suffered 68 sacks in 2024, which was the third-most in NFL history. If the Cowboys' pass rush of this season went up against the Bears' OL from last season, they might have a chance to get home to Williams more often, but it's going to be difficult.
It's not going to be the same without Parsons, but it's going to take a team effort from Clowney, Marshawn Kneeland, Sam Williams, Dante Fowler, and James Houston, who should be playing over Williams, to help get it done on the edge.
The post-Parsons look is still a mystery. It's unfair to Kenny Clark, who's been exceptional since becoming a Cowboy, but his role isn't to replace Parsons. The front office clearly overvalued the leftover EDGEs behind Parsons, and it could upend the season.