Speaking on BBC 5 Live, presenter Mark Chapman said the Parsons deal was “one of the most astonishing trades” in recent years.
“Micah Parsons was the guy the Cowboys were building their defence around, he’s a generational talent,” said NFL pundit Phoebe Schecter.
“It truly is mind-blowing that you’d trade him away a week before the season. That’s the soap opera that Jerry Jones continues to create.”
A new Netflix documentary showcases Jones, the Cowboys’ controversial and charismatic owner, who masterminded three Super Bowl wins in the 1990s but has overseen 30 years of underachievement since.
In the past four seasons, for example, Dallas have managed just one play-off win, despite having one of the NFL’s most devastating pass rushers. Since the Cowboys drafted Parsons in 2021, only four players have registered more sacks than him (52.5).
The defensive end had 12 from just 13 games last season, including 4.5 from the Cowboys’ two games against Briton Efe Obada’s former team, the Washington Commanders.
“Micah Parsons is a game-wrecker,” said Obada, who is currently without a team. “I’ve seen him do it first hand, he wrecked our games last season, even though all week we prepared for [facing] him.
“The fear he sends to offensive coordinators is insane. Just pay your guys, I don’t understand it. It’s like trading [Patrick] Mahomes. Green Bay got a great one.”
Dallas have also sent Parsons to another team in the NFC Conference, one which has been gradually improving since Jordan Love replaced Aaron Rodgers as the Packers’ starting quarterback in 2023.
“If you were looking at a weakness for the Packers, it was on defence,” said BBC broadcaster Anthony Wootton. “Suddenly you’ve strengthened one of the teams in your conference, which is ridiculous.
“Micah Parsons is a guy that offensive coordinators have to scheme against, that quarterbacks have to keep an eye on, because he is other-worldly. He has elevated the Packers to the next level.”
Schecter added: “Green Bay already had a top-10 defence, they’ve got a great young quarterback talent and [head coach] Matt LaFleur is an incredibly smart football IQ guy. They’ve also brought in a guard [Aaron Banks] to help protect Jordan Love and have Josh Jacobs to run the ball.”
