Micah Parsons Reveals Just How Close He Was to Becoming an Eagle Before Joining Packers
Micah Parsons is making headlines again - and not just for what he’s done on the field. The Green Bay Packers’ star pass-rusher, who finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2025, pulled back the curtain on one of the biggest “what ifs” of last offseason during a Super Bowl week media appearance. Speaking at a Bleacher Report Gridiron event, Parsons shared that he was this close to landing with the Philadelphia Eagles before ultimately being traded to Green Bay.
“It was very close,” Parsons said. “Eagles, before the Jaelan Phillips, before all them, it was me.
I was really about to come, but there was one person that I had to play with that, if he was gone, I did not want be there. That was Jalen Carter.”
That’s right - the deal almost happened. But for Parsons, it wasn’t just about the team or the market.
It came down to one player: standout defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Parsons made it clear that his desire to line up next to Carter was a non-negotiable.
Once it looked like Carter might not be part of the picture in Philly, Parsons pulled back.
“They wanted a D-tackle,” Parsons continued. “They wanted to trade me plus some picks. I don’t really care about the picks, but I’m coming to play next to J.C.”
And that right there tells you everything you need to know about how Parsons approaches the game. He’s not just looking for a paycheck or a spotlight - he wants to be surrounded by elite talent, especially in the trenches. That’s how you build a dominant defense, and Parsons knows it.
Now, while the Cowboys technically could have traded Parsons to any team, there was a catch. No club was going to give up a haul for him unless he was willing to sign a long-term deal.
So when Parsons made it clear he wouldn’t commit to Philly without Carter in the mix, that effectively shut the door on the Eagles’ pursuit. And so, the Packers swooped in.
The trade between Dallas and Green Bay wasn’t just blockbuster in terms of names - it was layered with future implications. One of the more fascinating wrinkles is the so-called “poison pill” baked into the deal.
If the Packers trade Parsons to an NFC East team before the start of the 2027 league year, they’re on the hook to send their 2028 first-round pick to Dallas. That’s a steep price, and it’s designed to keep Parsons from returning to the division anytime soon.
It’s worth noting that Green Bay already gave up their 2026 and 2027 first-rounders as part of the deal to get Parsons in the first place. That’s a massive investment - three first-round picks in total if that poison pill ever activates - which shows just how much the Packers believe in his ability to transform their defense.
And it wasn’t just picks. The Packers also sent veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark to Dallas in the trade.
While Clark may not be Jalen Carter, he’s still a reliable starter in the middle of the line. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has gone on record saying Clark was a major reason the deal got done - a stabilizing force to help offset the loss of Parsons.
Interestingly, Clark’s contract includes a similar poison pill. If Dallas trades him to an NFC North team this offseason, Green Bay gets the Cowboys’ 2028 first-rounder in return.
But don’t expect that clause to come into play. Clark carries a hefty cap hit, and if he’s not in Dallas next season, it’s far more likely he’ll be released rather than moved in a trade.
Cutting him would free up $21.5 million in cap space - a tempting move for a team that’s always juggling financial flexibility with roster needs.
So, while Parsons is now firmly entrenched in Green Bay - and clearly thriving - it’s wild to think how close he came to donning midnight green. One player made all the difference. And in a league where elite pass-rushers are game-changers, Parsons made sure he’d be lining up next to someone who could help him wreak havoc.
Packers fans can breathe easy knowing they won the sweepstakes. But for Eagles fans, this one might sting for a while.