Cowboys’ shocking Parsons trade sends ripple effects Rams can’t afford to ignore

For the first time in a long while, the latest NFL blockbuster trade does not involve the Los Angeles Rams or GM Les Snead. This isn’t another tale of the Rams sacrificing future draft picks to land an elite win-now playmaker. And like him or not, Micah Parsons has certainly been just that.

The relationship between the Dallas Cowboys and Parsons had already eroded when LA faced them in a joint practice and then again in the first preseason game. Even earlier this month, whispers around the league tied the two sides together, with trade rumors linking the Cowboys star to a possible move.

It made sense that a team with a young, talented group of pass rushers could benefit from an All-Pro presence like Parsons. Reports suggested he had plenty of conversations with Rams players when the two teams met. But the chaotic turn of events didn’t line up. Parsons didn’t participate, the Cowboys refused to field trade offers, and no contract negotiations ever took place.

Dallas Cowboys trade Micah Parsons to the Packers

Everything changed when rumors surfaced that the impasse had broken and Cowboys ownership was now willing to listen to offers for the 26-year-old star. Listening to offers doesn’t usually trigger an immediate trade, but Dallas had reached its breaking point, and the Green Bay Packers were clearly willing to dangle enough value to make it happen.

In the end, Green Bay surrendered two Round 1 picks, veteran DL Kenny Clark, and a sizable chunk of freed-up salary cap space. In return, they landed a two-time All-Pro and delivered one of the biggest shocks to the entire NFL.

The immediate reaction will be to elevate the Packers to instant Super Bowl contenders, label the Parsons-less Cowboys as bottom-feeders, and declare a seismic shift across the NFL landscape. And maybe it all comes to pass. But Snead is a seasoned pro in these matters, and he never threw his hat into the ring of bidders.

Realistically, the immediate impact for both teams is a weakened start to the season. While Kenny Clark has been preparing all along, his preparation was to open the year as a starter for the Cheeseheads, not the Cowboys. Even with a week to get ready, it will take several games with his new teammates to build the coordination and chemistry needed to make a significant impact.

It’s an even gloomier outlook for the Packers' defense to start the year. Parsons may be an elite player, but he sat out several months of football activities to force a trade. His return won’t be to the defense he knew inside and out, but rather to an entirely new system. That learning curve will take weeks as well.

The Packers should become more intriguing by Week 7, when they travel to face Arizona. By then, Parsons will likely be finding his stride, and the Cardinals may feel the full weight of his presence. Two weeks later, Dallas hosts the same opponent. While losing Parsons may hurt, don’t expect that team to simply roll over.

If Green Bay truly improves from this move, they could threaten to unseat the Lions from the NFC North throne. That may not directly impact the Rams yet, but playoff seeding could be altered as the season unfolds. A Packers win over Detroit, for instance, could work in LA’s favor down the stretch.

More importantly, Green Bay’s roster is loaded with young defenders who will only benefit from the team’s willingness to cut a massive check for Parsons. In the not-so-distant future, they’ll be expected to carry that standard themselves.

The immediate impact may be limited, but the ripple effects of this blockbuster deal will reshape the NFC for years to come. It’s not as though the Rams couldn’t have entered the bidding — they simply chose not to. In the end, Snead and McVay are trusting their own group of young edge rushers to get the job done.

As always, thanks for reading.

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