The Dallas Cowboys are in a contract standoff with arguably their best player, former Penn State star Micah Parsons. He is looking for a new deal from the team that drafted him, and as of now, Dallas has shown no indication that they're looking to give it to him.
While the Cowboys are notorious for elongating contract negotiations, see Dak Prescott last Summer and Ceedee Lamb before that, this standoff has gotten personal, given how much noise we have heard from both the Cowboys and Parsons' representation.
It's in Dallas' best interest to try and come to an understanding with Parsons, as they are looking to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2024 season and contend with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders for the NFC East crown. But if the Cowboys can't get their star pass-rusher to agree to a new contract, it may be in their best interest to find a deal that not only recoups value for one of the best defensive ends in the league but also maintains their competitiveness.
Parsons to the Bills in a Win-Now Trade for Both Sides
Steve Samra of on3.com recently proposed three trade options for the Cowboys to move Parsons, but the Buffalo Bills were the only AFC team to make the list. If Dallas does eventually decide to trade their Penn State product, it would most likely be to the opposing conference, where they wouldn't risk facing his wrath once a year.
Buffalo Bills receive:
Micah Parsons
Dallas Cowboys receive:
Ed Oliver, two first-round picks
In this hypothetical trade, the Cowboys would be getting back Ed Oliver, Buffalo's former first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. While he's not the sack artist that Parsons is, Oliver is still a prolific pass rusher with a pressure rate that always ends up near the top-10.
Considering Buffalo is typically a playoff team, the two first-round picks they receive back in the trade will be late in the first round, but that could also be ammunition for the Cowboys to trade up in future drafts, potentially for a rookie quarterback if the Dak Prescott era fizzles out.
All-in-all, it's in Dallas' best interest to try and work things out with Parsons. You don't let a generational home-grown talent walk out the door. But if Jerry Jones does decide that he's done with the contract dispute, the Cowboys would get quite the haul for their Penn State legend.