The Dallas Cowboys aren't expressing any regret over trading Micah Parsons last year.
Dallas stunned the NFL world by sending Parsons to the Green Bay Packers amid a contract standoff before the 2025 season. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones defended the move Tuesday on SiriusXM's Mad Dog Sports Radio.
"We feel really good about it," Jones said. "Obviously, much respect for Micah and what he stands for and how he plays, and the caliber of player he is. But at the same time, we feel good about what we’ve added via that trade."
"Didn’t feel like we were one player away"
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Cowboys received defensive tackle Kenny Clark, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2027 first-round pick for Parsons, who notched 12.5 sacks in 14 games with the Packers. Dallas then moved defensive tackle Mazi Smith and two picks, including the higher of its two 2027 firsts, to the New York Jets for Quinnen Williams.
Jones feels the Parsons return is shaping up well after leveraging the extra draft capital to land a new All-Pro defensive lineman.
"You look at a guy like Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark," Jones said. "They're alpha players who are not only great players on the field, but they’re leaders in the meeting rooms, how about they go about their business in the offseason. Just bring great leadership to this team."
Jones is "fired up" about Donovan Ezeiruak after an encouraging rookie season and thinks first-round pick Caleb Downs will make everyone around him better. He believes "America's Team" has rebuilt a defense that allowed the NFL's third-most yards last season.
"I just feel very optimistic that we have the right pieces in place," Jones declared. "Ultimately, the decision we made was that one player is not worth four or five good ones, and we feel like that’s where we’re going to end up here in a good spot. We had that opportunity there. Didn’t feel like we were one player away last year, but I certainly feel like we’re putting the pieces together to give us an opportunity to go do what our fans deserve, what we want. Which is to go and try to win the big trophy."
