The Dallas Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers primarily due to contentious and unsuccessful contract negotiations coupled with Parsons' formal trade request. The 2025 season was set to be the final year of Parsons' contract with Dallas, and the Cowboys and Parsons could not agree on an extension. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had discussions with Parsons about a contract offer without his agent present, which Parsons claimed left him unaware of the negotiations. Parsons publicly requested a trade in August 2025, and the Cowboys decided to trade him rather than meet his contract demands, which reportedly exceeded the Cowboys' offer in annual salary. In return for Parsons, the Cowboys received veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027 from the Packers. These picks are from Green Bay and will depend on their performance in those seasons. The trade freed salary cap space for Dallas, addressing financial considerations and roster resource allocation. From the Cowboys' perspective, the trade represented a strategic move to obtain draft capital and improve the run defense, although it was widely seen as a controversial decision given Parsons' elite talent and age. On the Packers' side, the trade was seen as a major acquisition that added a top-tier defensive talent to their lineup, enhancing their competitiveness in the NFC North and putting them in a stronger position to aim for a Super Bowl run. Parsons subsequently signed a record-breaking four-year, $188 million contract with the Packers, underscoring the value they placed on him. In summary, the trade was driven by the breakdown in contract talks, Parsons' desire to leave, and the Cowboys' decision to extract value through draft picks and a proven defensive player rather than paying Parsons a max-level salary in Dallas.