Micah Parsons has requested a trade from the Dallas Cowboys, a situation that’s currently unfolding in Dallas. It remains uncertain what the team plans to do, or if they’ll grant his wish, but that doesn’t seem likely.
The better chance is for Parsons to get a long-term deal, and hopefully, if that happens, he’ll be happy to put on a Cowboys jersey again.
But if it doesn’t, the Cowboys will have some tough decisions to make now and in the future. Regardless of who they want in a trade or the number of picks, they’ll have to focus on what players they could draft next year to replace him.
NFL Mocks’ John Blair of FanSided recently proposed the idea of drafting T.J. Parker out of Clemson, adding that he’s the top-rated defensive player on his board.
“Clemson’s T.J. Parker enters the 2026 NFL Draft as my top-rated defensive end. His production last season was elite: 19.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and a school-record six forced fumbles. He was the only player in the country to rank in the top 10 nationally in all three categories. At 6-3, 265 pounds, Parker brings the full package with an explosive first step, the ability to bend off the edge, and power through contact.
“He is a top-10 talent and would be an ideal long-term replacement if Dallas lands a premium pick in a Parsons trade,” he wrote.
Parsons’ Deteriorating Relationship With the Cowboys
Parsons made his intentions known with the Dallas Cowboys last week, requesting a trade on Twitter/X. His comments were very telling, stating that he unfortunately doesn’t want to be part of the organization anymore.
“Unfortunately, I no longer want to be here,” Parsons wrote “Up to today the team has not had a single conversation with my agent about a contract … I stayed quiet but again after repeated shots at myself and all the narratives I have made a tough decision I longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys.
In typical Jerry Jones fashion, he didn’t sound like he was exactly worried about his star leaving. In fact, he somewhat doubled down on his bad takes, saying that he’s heard it all over the past 30 years.
“I’ve heard that so many times in my 30 years in the NFL, from not just players but agents,” Jones said, per Yahoo. “That is old stuff, 30 years of old stuff, some of these issues we’re hearing about: trading, hurt backs, all that kind of stuff.”
Replacement Options
Whatever happens with Parsons, the Dallas Cowboys will have to consider it, but Parker is an intriguing candidate for them to select.
CBS Sports recently named him the third-best edge in the 2026 NFL Draft class, and rightfully so. He’s coming off a season for Clemson where he posted 57 total tackles, 34 solo tackles, one pass deflection, 11.0 sacks, and six forced fumbles.
“T.J. Parker is the cleanest prospect on this list already. He’s got an ideal frame for the position that’s already filled out like an NFL veteran. He’s the kind of every-down edge defender who can provide plus play against both run and pass. The sophomore already displays strong hands and the wherewithal to use them to his advantage consistently,” Mike Renner wrote.
