Packers Shock the NFL World

The Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings have a long rivalry. Currently, Minnesota’s record in the series is 60-66-3 and the Vikings had to fend off Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers for far too long. Now in the Jordan Love era, the roster around him might have to be a little better than under his Hall of Fame predecessors.
Packers Shock the NFL World

To achieve that, the Packers acquired one of the league’s best defenders: Micah Parsons. For some reason, the Dallas Cowboys made the superstar available, and then they traded the man within their conference to Green Bay. That deal, of course, has gotten all the attention with a week to go until the Cowboys open their season against the defending champs.
ESPN’s Todd Archer reported, “The Dallas Cowboys traded four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday. In exchange, the Cowboys received three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks (2026 and 2027).”
Strangely, that is less draft capital than the Raiders received for Khalil Mack last decade. He was the last all-world defender who landed in the NFC North via trade. The Packers part ways with a pair of first-rounders as well as long-time defender Kenny Clark, who haunted Garrett Bradbury for the past six seasons.

In addition to those three items, the Packers handed Parsons a new contract, and the numbers are mind-boggling.
Archer wrote, “Parsons agreed to a four-year, $188 million contract with the Packers that includes $120 million fully guaranteed at signing and $136 million in total guarantees, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, sources told ESPN.”
Highest-paid non-quarterback is technically right, but it’s an understatement. The defender makes $47 million per season, which is $6 million more than T.J. Watt, who ranks second. Just last offseason, the Vikings gave Justin Jefferson $35 million. That appears like a tiny salary now. Jerry Jones refused to pay him that kind of money and got into a strange feud, rather than keeping his standout defender in the building.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, Parsons is pretty good.
Entering the draft out of Penn State in 2021, Parsons was viewed as the premier linebacker prospect with some versatility as a pass-rusher. The Cowboys quickly realized that the man is virtually unblockable and that edge defenders are more valuable than linebackers.
In his four campaigns, Parsons has already collected a Rookie of the Year award, two first-team All-Pro teams (one second-team), four Pro Bowls, as well as 256 tackles, 52.5 sacks, and nine forced fumbles. The Packers lacked edge-rushing talent, with Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness not developing as Brian Gutekunst had expected when he spent first-round picks on them.

With Parsons in the mix, however, the Packers should have one of the better defenses in the league. Last year, they ranked fourth in defensive EPA/play, sixth in points allowed, and fifth in yards allowed.
The Vikings have spent a ton of resources this offseason to bolster their offensive line. Primarily going against Parsons are Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. It’s good news for the Vikings that they have a top tackle duo, and it surely will be fun to watch the three studs match up with each other.
There’s no doubt about it, the Packers just got a big-time boost. Long-term, it remains to be seen how the roster will evolve with Parsons and Jordan Love earning over $100 million per season.
The Vikings are scheduled to face the Packers in Week 12, and it turns out, the Adam Thielen trade was not the biggest one the NFC North has pulled off this week.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.