The Los Angeles Rams could turn one of the league’s most promising young defenses into a bona fide championship-level threat with a trade for Micah Parsons, and he and franchise legend Aaron Donald are both on board.
Moreover, Donald even teased potentially coming out of retirement to join a Rams defense that includes Parsons.
It all started with a fan edit of the Dallas Cowboys star in a Rams jersey.
“If @_micahparsons11 go to the rams I might have to call @210ths and get in football shape [laughing emojis]” Donald posted in the comment section on August 5. “Wit that Dline would be unreal [facepalm and fire emojis].”
“@aarondonald99 man!!! Dont tell me info like that!!” Parsons said in response to Donald, tagging his agent, David Mulugheta.
Before his trade request, Parsons praised Rams head coach Sean McVay and outside linebacker Jared Verse. Donald has not played for the Rams since retiring following the 2023 season, but he has remained in shape, even though he suggests he has another level.
Rams Trade Pitch Lands Micah Parsons Amid Aaron Donald Teaser
GettyFormer Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald visits on the field before a game against the Miami Dolphins.
The Rams have a pair of first-round picks in the 2026 draft, and they can use one of them in a trade package for Parsons while keeping another for a shot at a quarterback. LA owns the Atlanta Falcons’ 2026 first, which projects to come in at a better spot than their own.
That, plus a future first, mid-round picks, and current Rams starting OLB Byron Young, could be an appealing package to send to the Cowboys.
Rams get:
- Micah Parsons
Cowboys get:
- Byron Young
- 2026 first-round pick (via ATL)
- 2027 first-round pick
- 2026 third-round pick
- 2026 sixth-round pick
The Cowboys would get draft capital and a pass rusher who had 7.5 sacks in 2024.
For the Rams, this trade would not only add Parsons, whose 12.0 sacks in 2024 were a career low, but it could also entice Rams icon Donald to suit up again and wreak havoc along a front that already includes Verse and defensive linemen Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner.
Cowboys Standing Firm on Micah Parsons Trade
GettyMicah Parsons #11 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rams interest aside, Parsons made waves by requesting a trade from the Cowboys amid a standoff about his contract. He is in the final year of a four-year, $17.1 million rookie scale contract and has been extension-eligible since last offseason.
However, there are doubts that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will acquiesce to Parsons’ trade request.
Jones said trading Parsons is not a consideration, calling the demand part of negotiations.
“Signing Parsons today costs at least $41 million per year,” The Athletic’s Jacob Robinson wrote on August 6. “A resolution seems unlikely any time soon, as Jones has refused to speak with Parsons’ agent, thus halting negotiations. Yup, they’re not even talking. Meanwhile, the price — whether it’s practice time, wins or money — only goes up.”
Over The Cap projects the Rams have over $73 million on space for 2026, which should be more than enough to fit Parsons in, even when factoring in a potential extension for Pro Bowl wide receiver Puka Nacua. What Donald would cost in such a scenario is unclear.
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