Should the Rams trade for Micah Parsons?
The Los Angeles Rams are entering a season in which they will be looking to capitalize one more time with Matthew Stafford leading the offense. While they simultaneously have one foot in the future, that doesn’t mean they would be dissuaded from making a move if it meant getting over the hump and putting them in position to win a Super Bowl.
That type of move became possible on Friday when linebacker and edge rusher Micah Parsons requested a trade from the Dallas Cowboys. Parsons and the Cowboys have been in a contract dispute this summer. The two were close back in the spring, but have since been grown apart when Parson’s agent got involved. Last week, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was quoted saying, “Just because we sign him, doesn’t mean we’re going to have him.” The quote was taken as a dig on Parsons who got hurt last year.
Micah Parsons requests a trade. https://t.co/BbXTAEaBEF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 1, 2025
It’s very possible that Parsons and the Cowboys come together. Contract negotiations can get messy with players holding out and then requesting a trade before a deal gets done. It’s all meant to put pressure on the team to get a deal done. At the same time, this is a relationship that may be past reconciliation. Things have been said by ownership and the front office that may make it difficult for Parsons to want to play in Dallas going forward.
In the past, general manager Les Snead hasn’t been afraid to take a swing and make the big move. The Rams are generally in a different spot than they have been when Snead made moves for Jalen Ramsey and others.
At the same time, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Snead make the call. Parsons is a Defensive Player of the Year caliber of player and the franchise player worth making this type of trade for. He’s a two-time first-team All Pro and has 13 or more sacks in each of the last three seasons.
This is exactly why the Rams made the trade in April for the extra first round pick. It’s an asset that gives them flexibility. While it has been assumed that they use the extra first round pick to make a move for a rookie quarterback, it also doesn’t have to be used for that purpose. The Rams could also use that pick to make a trade for a player that puts them in position to win. No player in the 2026 draft is more valuable than Micah Parsons.
A player of Parson’s caliber doesn’t come around very often and the price for a franchise caliber player can be astronomical. Ideally, the Rams would be able to move Byron Young and a first round pick plus some rather than multiple first rounds picks in addition to more.
There’s also the aspect of Parsons wanting a new contract. Parson’s is currently counting for $24 million against the cap in 2025 and is in the final year of his deal. If the Rams were to trade for Parsons, they would need to make some space as they would take on the entirety of the $24 million.
As one of the top edge rushers in the NFL and just 26 years old, Parsons is likely going to want $40 million per season to align with Myles Garrett and TJ Watt. The Rams could structure the deal to line up with Verse and when his contract will come up. They currently have $73 million in cap space next offseason and a clean slate in 2027 with a projected $189 million to work with.
When it comes to these types of moves, Snead and the Rams can never be counted out. While they are a few years removed from “F Them Picks”, it should be assumed that they would at least make a call on Parsons.