Micah Parsons wants out of the Lone Star State.
With just over a month to go before the NFL regular season kicks off, the Dallas Cowboys edge rusher officially requested a trade on August 1.
Parsons has been eyeing a new contract all offseason long, something that has proven to be elusive to this point. There have been bizarre twists and turns that all ultimately led to this point. It seems unlikely that the Cowboys would deal their shining star, especially since the team has seen this story before.
Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are the most recent examples of Cowboys that wanted new contracts, but eventually signed in the final days before the season started.
Time will tell if Parsons joins them.
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If Parsons is moved, there isn’t a football team in the world that wouldn’t want him on their squad. However, we can only assume that Jerry Jones would make sure he didn’t land with a competitor in the NFC – sorry, Commanders – or their in-state neighbors, the Houston Texans.
Outside of that, there are certainly better fits than others. Here are the NFL teams that could, in theory, become Parsons’ future employer.
Micah Parsons landing spots
Dallas Cowboys
Sometimes you realize the best place to be is exactly where you are. Remaining with the Cowboys seems to be the likeliest outcome despite Parsons’ request – which comes off as a leverage play at best. Now that the pressure is applied, Dallas will almost certainly get to work and try to hammer out a deal.
We’ve seen this movie before with Prescott and Lamb, who each inked contract extensions in the final weeks before the 2024 regular season. Don’t be surprised if Parsons is the third installment in the series.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are leaning into their defensive identity under Jim Harbaugh. They have around $31.4 million in cap space to work with and don’t have to worry about a contract for Justin Herbert anytime soon. Parsons could fill the void left by Joey Bosa and take this unit to another level.
The AFC West is an arms race. Acquiring Parsons would be a way for the Chargers to ensure they don’t fall behind.
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore watched as Pittsburgh went all-in on 2025, but the Ravens remain the team to beat. Making a big swing for a game-changer on defense is the kind of move that just might take them over the top. The Ravens have plenty of draft picks to deal and could also subtract from their current roster to sweeten the pot.
For a team that has consistently fallen short in the postseason, someone of Parsons caliber is exactly what the doctor ordered in a loaded AFC.
Las Vegas Raiders
Similar to the Chargers, the Raiders are also trying to keep pace in the AFC West. They leaned into building a more competitive roster in 2025 by acquiring Geno Smith and hiring Pete Carroll – an indication that this rebuild won’t last long.
After briefly making Maxx Crosby the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history earlier in the offseason, it may not make sense to double down on the edge. However, the Raiders have the available space and can craft a nightmare pass rush for opposing quarterbacks. That sounds awfully enticing.
New York Jets
The Jets are always hunting for stars. However, Parsons isn’t in the twilight of his career like the others they have pursued in recent memory. Armed with a new regime, the Jets have the cap space, draft picks and potential players that could entice the Cowboys to make a deal.
It’s important to remember that, in this case, neither Aaron Glenn or Darren Mougey are tied to most of the players on the current roster. Dealing away players becomes much easier in that case as they look to build the roster in their vision. Glenn could find his Aidan Hutchinson in the form of Parsons, while the Cowboys could be enticed by the possibility of a high draft pick if Justin Fields flames out in New York. There might just be enough risk/reward on both sides to make it work.
