Eagles Made Strong Play for Micah Parsons Before Cowboys Traded Him to Packers

The Philadelphia Eagles made a bold attempt to acquire Dallas Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons this summer, but were shut down by their NFC East rivals who refused to trade within the division.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Eagles made a "strong play" for Parsons after the Cowboys began entertaining trade offers during his contract dispute. However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had no interest in sending the three-time All-Pro to Philadelphia, understanding the fan backlash would be severe.

The Trade That Actually Happened

Instead, Dallas traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers last week in a blockbuster deal. The Cowboys received two first-round picks (2026, 2027) plus Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark in return. Parsons immediately signed a four-year, $188 million extension with Green Bay, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Perfect Timing for Tonight

The irony is palpable: the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles host the Cowboys in tonight's season opener without having to face Parsons, who has recorded 52.5 sacks in just four NFL seasons. What could have been an even more heated rivalry matchup will instead feature a Cowboys defense missing its best player.

For Eagles fans, it's a win-win scenario. They avoided strengthening their defense while watching a division rival lose a generational talent. The Cowboys will get their revenge opportunity when they face Parsons and the Packers in Week 4.

The NFC East just got a lot more interesting.