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Packers land Parsons in blockbuster deal

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons walks onto the field after the team's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 16 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Micah Parsons is headed to the Green Bay Packers after a blockbuster trade on Thursday, leaving the Dallas Cowboys following a lengthy contract dispute.

The Packers gave up first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 along with three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to get the two-time All-Pro edge rusher, who agreed to a contract extension with Green Bay.

A person with knowledge of the details said Parsons and the Packers agreed on a record-setting $188 million, four-year contract that includes $136 million guaranteed. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the terms weren’t announced.

Parsons becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

“I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control,” Parsons wrote in a statement he posted on X. “My heart has always been here, and still is. Through it all, I never made any demands. I never asked for anything more than fairness. I only asked that the person I trust to negotiate my contract be part of the process.”

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declined to discuss Parsons’ deal with agent David Mulugheta. Instead, Jones spoke directly to Parsons and insisted they had agreed on the parameters of a new contract.

“We did think it was in the best interest of our organization not only for the future but for this season as well,” Jones said. “We gained a Pro Bowl player in an area we had big concerns in, on the inside of our defense.”

Jones added: “I really like Micah. … He’s a great player. There’s no question I could’ve signed him in April. We all know to have agreements, all parties have to agree. I did make Micah an offer. It wasn’t acceptable and I honor the fact that it wasn’t done the way he wanted to do it through an agent. There’s not an ounce of vindictiveness. There’s no bad feelings on my part.”

The Packers and Cowboys face off in Week 4 in Dallas.

The 26-year-old Parsons has 52 1/2 sacks, recording at least 12 in each of his four seasons while making the Pro Bowl each year.

Parsons provides a huge boost for a franchise that has reached the playoffs five of the past six years but hasn’t made it to the NFL championship game since Aaron Rodgers led them to their fourth Super Bowl title 15 years ago.

Parsons bolsters a defense that was inconsistent at getting to opposing quarterbacks last season, when the Packers went 11-7 and lost to Philadelphia in the NFC wild-card round. The Packers had 45 sacks last season to tie for eighth place in the NFL, but more than half of those sacks came in just four games.

In seven of their 17 games, the Packers had no more than one sack.

Green Bay ranked 16th in pressure rate, which calculates the number of hurries, knockdowns and sacks for each team divided by an opponent’s drop-back attempts.

Now, the Packers add one of the game’s elite pass rushers while the Cowboys lose their best player because of a power struggle with Jones.

Starting at $3.50/week.

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