If the Los Angeles Rams want to make the biggest move of 2025 and trade for Micah Parsons, it could cost them an even bigger bounty than what they sacrificed to get Matthew Stafford. But is Parsons worth three first round picks?
Parsons is entering his fifth season with the Dallas Cowboys and has been demanding a new contract before suiting up for the 2025 season. The two-time All Pro defensive end has yet to practice in any training camp activities and has been in a stalemate with Jerry Jones and Dallas ownership. The latest surrounding the saga is that Parsons was seen laying on a training table during the team’s preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons.
A few weeks ago, Aaron Donald joked (maybe?) that he would have to suit up again if the Rams traded for Parsons. It’s not out of the realm for Los Angeles to make such a move as Les Snead has been one of the most aggressive in trading draft capital and/or players to field the best team possible.
What I would offer the Cowboys for Parsons
Between Stafford, Jalen Ramsey, and over a dozen other huge trades, that’s a lot of star power and significant deals acquired by Les Snead. I have to believe that Snead and Sean McVay are doing their due diligence to create a trade package for Micah Parsons without damaging their own future. So what would a trade package look like?
I came up with this idea:
Is that too much or just enough to make sure that the Rams win the sweepstakes and changes Jerry’s mind on dealing Parsons?
Explaining the trade
The Green Bay Packers were rumored to have already offered the Cowboys: two first round picks, a second round pick, and a defensive player. If the Rams are going to want to leapfrog the Packers as the frontrunner, they will probably need to offer three first rounders. It’s important though that the Rams hold onto one of their 2026 first rounders in order to select a franchise quarterback. With Matthew Stafford nearing the end of his career, they will need to have a succession plan in place. Keeping one of the 2026 draft picks gives LA the chance to select a quarterback in ‘26 Draft or to trade back and acquire one in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Byron Young heads back to the Cowboys to fill (some of) the vacancy of Micah Parsons. With Parsons and Verse coming off the edge for Los Angeles, there are not a lot of snaps for Young to see time and action.
It’s a hefty trade proposal, but in order to acquire such a player, you have to be willing to offer a deal a team can’t refuse. A lot of critics will point to “3 first round picks” and immediately say no way. However, late first round picks can sometimes be considered second rounders depending on the talent pool for a particular draft. Adding Parsons to the Los Angeles defensive front (and maybe Aaron Donald again…lol) would certainly vault the team as the NFC favorite for the 2025-2026 season.
Los Angeles also has $62 million in cap space (5th-most) heading into 2026 and in 2027 they will have $187.2 million (2nd-most). Fitting Parsons into their cap will be easy. The only trick will be trying to re-sign players like Kobie Turner, Puka Nacua, Jared Verse, and Braden Fiske when they become extension eligible. With the ability to back-load contracts and add void years, it is feasible for LA to make a Parsons trade work while retaining their own core.
Parsons is one-in-a-thousand
Parsons might be even more as an edge rusher than that:
- 2021: 13 sacks, 30 QB hits, All-Pro
- 2022: 13.5 sacks, 26 QB hits, All-Pro
- 2023: 14 sacks, 33 QB hits, second team All-Pro
- 2024: 12 sacks in 13 games, 23 QB hits, fourth straight Pro Bowl
Aaron Donald would be one of the few defensive players in history to have a career start as good as Parsons’ and he’s only 26 years old.
It’s important to remember that Khalil Mack was traded from the Oakland Raiders to the Chicago Bears in 2020 for the following: a 2019 first round pick, 2019 sixth round pick, 2020 first round pick, and a 2020 third round pick. The Bears did receive a 2020 second rounder in addition to Mack. This trade was five years ago and the market for edge rushers has continued to escalate.
The Rams have been competitive every year under Sean McVay save 2022 and they will want to make the most of this opportunity in 2025, possibly the final one with Stafford. What good are the picks if you can’t cash them in for winning games? Some teams prefer to use them on draft day, but Snead usually doesn’t wait that long.
Atlanta Falcons 2026 1st Round Pick (2025)
Kevin Dotson (2023)
Von Miller (2021)
Sony Michel (2021)
Matthew Stafford (2021)
Jalen Ramsey (2019)
Austin Corbett (2019)
Dante Fowler (2018)
Brandin Cooks (2018)
Marcus Peters (2018)
Aqib Talib (2018)
Sammy Watkins (2017)
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