Whereas we digest the blockbuster commerce, listed below are our preliminary winners and losers.
Winner: Inexperienced Bay Packers | The Packers clearly received the higher finish of the deal. Any time a group can deal two (doubtless) late first-round picks and a defensive sort out who turns 30 in October for a participant of Parsons’ caliber, it will be negligence to not. Inexperienced Bay’s inside depth alongside the defensive position took a success, with undrafted free agent Nazir Stackhouse potentially in line for significant playing time following Clark’s departure, however these first’s might be hardly missed because the Packers play deep into January and, presumably, February.
Parsons fills an enormous want at edge-rusher. Final season, Inexperienced Bay ranked No. 26 in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate rankings, whereas Parsons completed the yr third amongst edge-rushers in pass-rush win price. The 2-time first-team All-Professional’s 52.5 sacks are additionally the sixth-most in a participant’s first 4 seasons in NFL historical past. (h/t Stathead)
Loser: Dallas Cowboys | It’ll be a protracted season for the Cowboys. Buying and selling Parsons makes the protection, which ranked No. 31 in factors allowed a season in the past, considerably worse. Marshawn Kneeland, a 2024 second-rounder, and veteran Dante Fowler are in line to begin alongside the sting following Parsons’ departure, and neither come near his enjoying stature.
Fowler, 31, is coming off a ten.5-sack season however solely has 55.5 in 9 seasons, whereas Kneeland remains to be in search of his first profession sack after showing in 11 video games final season.
Payton Turner, a 2021 New Orleans Saints first-round decide, signed in free company however was positioned on injured reserve to begin the season, that means he’ll miss a minimum of the primary 4 video games. And after producing simply 5 sacks in his first 4 seasons, it is unlikely he’ll transfer the needle a lot upon his return.
Third-year linebacker DeMarion Overshown was a productive pass-rusher final yr however is coming off a second season-ending torn ACL suffered in December and at present on the bodily unable to carry out checklist.
One week earlier than opening the season on Thursday in opposition to the defending-champion Philadelphia Eagles, the Cowboys could have already sealed their destiny.
Winner: Detroit Lions defensive finish Aidan Hutchinson | The fourth-year defensive finish was all the time going to make loads on his second contract, however Parsons’ mammoth extension units a large final analysis for Hutchinson to request in negotiations.
He had put himself in line to be the front-runner for Related Press Defensive Participant of the 12 months final season with 7.5 sacks in his first 5 video games earlier than fracturing his tibia and fibula in Week 6 in opposition to the Cowboys. Totally healed from that harm, Hutchinson is ready to choose up the place he left off, making it solely a matter of time earlier than the Lions supply him an extension, which simply received much more costly.
Loser: Detroit Lions | The Lions aren’t losers for his or her eventual Hutchinson payday. That is drawback to have. As an alternative, a extra professional concern is after they play the Packers to open the season in Week 1.
The pivotal NFC North battle received even harder for the defending division champs. In two career games in opposition to the Lions, Parsons has 12 tackles (two for loss), two sacks and three quarterback. Whereas he sat out all of Cowboys coaching camp with a again harm, we would not be shocked if his Packers contract additionally comes with magical therapeutic powers. Parsons has routinely gotten off to sizzling begins with 4 profession Week 1 sacks, and the Lions ought to anticipate him being able to set the tone for 2025 as effectively.
Winner: Cleveland Browns | It is not usually that the Browns do one thing proper, so let’s give credit score the place it is due. Earlier this offseason, Cleveland was in an identical place as Dallas after star defensive finish Myles Garrett requested a commerce. As an alternative of acquiescing to his demand, the Browns rectified the scenario and gave him a deal value $40M yearly, which on the time stood because the NFL’s largest non-quarterback contract. Lower than six months later, Garrett is the third highest-paid edge-rusher, additionally behind Pittsburgh Steelers exterior linebacker T.J. Watt.
The Browns received forward of the edge-rusher signing frenzy, and with the mud settled on the league’s low season spending spree, it is deal for Garrett has turn into a cut price.
Loser: Jerry Jones | It is poetic in a way. One commerce started the Cowboys dynasty, and one other put the ultimate nail in them presumably successful one other Tremendous Bowl with Jones as group proprietor.
In 1989, Jones traded operating again Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings for a draft-pick haul, a formative second within the group’s eventual Nineties dynasty. Over three many years later, the Parsons deal might set the Cowboys on a special observe. No franchise critical about contending trades its greatest participant. As an alternative, Jones successfully raised the white flag on Thursday.
It is by no means been extra clear that Dallas wants a contemporary perspective in its entrance workplace. So long as Jones stays as common supervisor, it is going to be unimaginable to take the Cowboys critically.
