Micah Parsons
Micah Parsons Pinterest

The Dallas Cowboys are facing a crisis just weeks before the start of the 2025 NFL season. Linebacker Micah Parsons, one of the league's top defenders, remains at odds with the franchise over contract negotiations, and a blockbuster trade may be looming. The Green Bay Packers are now being linked as a possible destination, intensifying speculation.

'Absolutely not': Jerry Jones' stunning admission fuels doubts

Parsons has attended Cowboys training camp but hasn't participated in team drills. He is reportedly demanding a contract worth more than £24.2 million ($31 million) annually, making him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.

When asked whether he expects Parsons to play in Week 1, Jones replied: 'No, absolutely not... A big part of that is his decision. How would I know that?'

In a separate interview with the New York Post, Jones suggested he believed there was a 'handshake agreement' in place, a reference to an old-school negotiating tactic that may no longer resonate in modern sports management.

Packers linked to Parsons in potential blockbuster trade

According to Yardbarker, the Green Bay Packers are viewed as a top trade candidate for Parsons, should Dallas decide to move him. The team reportedly has both the salary cap room and draft assets to make a strong offer.

CBS Sports analyst Garrett Podell speculated that a potential trade could involve two first-round picks and wide receiver Romeo Doubs.

With agent David Mulugheta representing both Parsons and several Packers players, including quarterback Jordan Love, Green Bay may hold a unique negotiating advantage. The move could echo their £11.7 million ($14.9 million) signing of Reggie White in 1993, a deal that helped lead them to a Super Bowl win.

Dallas facing risk of collapse if stalemate continues

Despite the growing urgency, Blogging the Boys reports that the Cowboys have not contacted Parsons' agent in over a week. Internally, frustration is mounting.

Parsons was responsible for 14.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss in 2024, contributions that analysts estimate to be worth £19.1 million ($24.5 million) in performance value, using current salary-cap models from OverTheCap.com.

Should Parsons escalate his holdout, he could face daily fines of £39,000 ($50,000). But for Dallas, the long-term cost of losing his talent and leadership may be even higher.

Fan base divided as team morale takes a hit

Cowboys fans are beginning to turn anxious, and vocal. One supporter posted on X: 'Pay the man or trade him. This limbo is hurting the team.' Another commented: 'This is starting to feel like the DeMarcus Ware situation all over again.'

According to The Athletic, team sources have described the mood in the locker room as 'unsettled'. One insider explained: 'We're preparing like he'll be there, but no one's confident. It's tense.'

The drama is casting a long shadow over the Cowboys' Week 1 clash with Philadelphia on 04/09/2025.

Countdown to kick-off: Will the Cowboys or Packers blink first?

Whether Parsons plays or is traded, the clock is ticking. Dallas risk alienating their franchise star and weakening a defence that many analysts considered Super Bowl-ready.

Meanwhile, the Packers are reportedly watching closely, potentially preparing to strike if talks in Dallas continue to stall.

For now, the NFL world waits. And so does Micah Parsons.

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