Parsons, a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All-Pro, requested a trade out of Dallas following months of stalled contract negotiations. In a detailed and emotional message posted to social media, he expressed frustration with the Cowboys’ lack of communication, stating:
“I stayed quiet but again after repeated shots at myself and all the narratives I have made a tough decision I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys,” he wrote. “My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally.”
Despite his desire to remain in Dallas, the front office’s silence has seemingly pushed him out the door, and now, the Raiders are being pegged as the likeliest team to swing a blockbuster deal.
CBS Sports Echoes Raiders as Logical Trade Destination
Supporting the betting market’s confidence, CBS Sports recently listed the Raiders as a top trade destination for Parsons. Their analysis pointed to Las Vegas’ cap flexibility ($37.801 million) in 2025 and an aggressive team-building approach.
“Pairing Parsons with Maxx Crosby, the player he is tied with for more quarterback pressures in the NFL since 2021, would give Las Vegas the most fearsome pass rush duo in the NFL,” Garrett Podell wrote. “The Raiders are also familiar with the price necessary to acquire a talent like Parsons given they traded away a similar one in Khalil Mack back in 2018.”
To add to this analysis, the Raiders, as of now, currently lead the NFL in projected salary cap in 2026, according to Over the Cap, at an astonishing $99.176 million. So giving Parsons an extension won’t be a problem.
Micah Parsons is Worth the Price
Bovada’s odds don’t come out of thin air. There’s a reason why the Raiders are at the top of the board. The Raiders understand, from the past mistake of trading Mack, that they want to be on the other end of acquiring an elite pass rusher.
Among players with 300+ snaps played since 2023, Parsons has finished first in pressures per game (6.06 in 2023, 5.38 in 2024) and is one of just four players since 1982 to record 10+ sacks in each of their first four NFL seasons.
Of course, trading for Parsons won’t come cheap. The Cowboys will likely ask for a package starting with multiple first-round picks, or a combination of premium picks and proven talent. But when it comes to acquiring a 26-year-old elite edge rusher, the price is justified.
