There is a historical precedent for trading away one of the NFL’s very best young players — emphasis on “historical” because it happened such a long time ago.
The irony of that precedent being set by the team that might be ready to do it again in the Dallas Cowboys shouldn’t be lost on anyone.
After edge rusher Micah Parsons requested a trade, the Cowboys might consider they’ve done this before as a franchise when considering what they might get back in exchange for arguably the NFL’s singularly dominant defensive player in his prime.
What they might get back is the future of their franchise.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox proposed a trade that sends Parsons to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for Arizona’s 2026 and 2027 first round picks, 2026 second round pick, 2026 third round pick and 2021 first round pick Zaven Collins.
Knox isn’t far off from what should make a deal work — just add Arizona’s 2028 first round pick.
It would be a deal equivalent to perhaps the most famous trade in NFL history — and the largest trade in NFL history — when the Cowboys sent running back Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings in October 1989.
It was a trade that eventually encompassed 18 players and 3 teams when the San Diego Chargers were added to the mix.
It also brought the Cowboys a trio of players who would be foundational to winning 3 Super Bowls in the 1990s with running back and eventual NFL career leading rusher Emmitt Smith, defensive back Darren Woodson and defensive tackle Russell Maryland.
“There are a few reasons why Arizona would be wise to make a run at Parsons. For one, (Walter) Nolen is dealing with a calf injury and may not be ready for Week 1,” Knox wrote on August 5. “Secondly, head coach Jonathan Gannon is entering his third season with a 12-22 record and really needs to start racking up some wins … Now, Parsons is likely to demand a contract extension worth more than the $41 million-per-year deal T.J. Watt recently signed … With $37.9 million in cap space available, though, the Cardinals could probably make it work.”
If the Cowboys can’t get a Herschel Walker Haul back for Parsons, they shouldn’t consider the deal.
That starts with getting the 3 first round picks, from the Cardinals or whatever team is game.
Walker Trade Devastated Vikings for Years
Maybe one of the keys to pulling off the Parsons trade is making sure whatever general manager on the other side isn’t much of a history buff. That’s because the trade set the Vikings back for years.
The trade was completed after Week 5 of the regular season, with the Cowboys off to a 0-5 start on the way to a 1-15 finish under first year head coach Jimmy Johnson.
The Vikings, who were 3-2 at the time, thought Walker was the final piece on a Super Bowl team. Instead, they went 10-6 and missed the playoffs.
Minnesota went 6-10 in 1990 and 8-8 in 1991 before Walker left for the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency before the 1992 season. Once Walker left town, the Vikings’ luck started to change and they made the playoffs 8 of the next 9 seasons.
