Less than a week after Jerry Jones emphatically stated that he would not be trading disgruntled defensive superstar Micah Parsons, the longtime Dallas Cowboys owner flipped the script on Thursday, shipping the four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher to the Green Bay Packers.
Now, when real rumors started swirling that Dallas could actually move a generational talent like Parsons, who's already racked up 256 total tackles, 63 tackles for a loss, 112 QB hits, and 52.5 sacks in just four professional seasons, there was all sorts of speculation about what the Cowboys could get in return.
First-round draft picks obviously had to be included, and some believed Dallas could command three. Most assumed at least one other player would have to be involved as well. And with Parsons being Parsons, any players Dallas got in return would have to be able to come in and contribute immediately.
But as every Cowboys fan found out on Thursday, the return haul was underwhelming, as all the Packers had to give up was two first-round picks, one each in 2026 and 2027, and soon-to-be 30-year-old defensive tackle Kenny Clark. And apparently, Clark was an absolute must-have for Jones, at least that's how Packers GM Brian Gutekunst made it sound when speaking to the media on Friday.
Cowboys seemingly only wanted Kenny Clark in return for Micah Parsons
"What an exceptional player," Gutekunst said. "Exceptional person. Really hard to see him go, but there was really no way around it. That was the one thing that was going to be a part of this trade, no matter what for them."
There's really no other way to interpret that, right?
Clark, a first-round pick of the Packers back in 2016, has been a very good player for a very long time and has earned three trips to the Pro Bowl, the most recent coming just two seasons ago after tallying 44 total tackles and a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2023.
Oh wait, sacks don't matter because Jones brought him to bolster the Cowboys' run defense, which was apparently the whole point of the Parsons trade to begin with.
Look, Clark undoubtedly gives Dallas an upgrade at defensive tackle. But again, he's about to turn 30 in early October and is coming off the worst overall season of his career. Jones was still smart to get him, but one can't help but think the Cowboys couldn't have gotten even more.
With Parsons gone, the Dallas pass rush is obviously weaker. So, why not also demand a guy like Rashan Gary, who earned his first Pro Bowl selection last year? The Packers might have had a problem giving up both Clark and Gary, but even Lukas Van Ness would make this trade look at least a little better.
Sure, the 13th overall pick in 2023 has yet to live up to his draft status. But he had a strong training camp, looking better than he ever has, and was set to crack the starting lineup for Green Bay before Parsons arrived.
Lineback Edgerrin Cooper would've been another solid addition, but Jones also could've gone after some more offensive help. First-round rookie wideout Matthew Golden was likely never an option, but third-rounder Savion Williams might've been. Or even a guy like Dontayvion Wicks.
Again, Clark is a solid addition. But Jones could've demanded so much more.