After weeks of speculation, the Green Bay Packers pulled off a Luka Doncic-like NFL blockbuster on Thursday, acquiring star pass-rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and first-round picks in 2026 and 2027.
Green Bay promptly locked Parsons up to a four-year, $188 million contract extension, putting an end to the public falling out the Penn State alum had with owner/general manager Jerry Jones, who ended up on Parsons’ bad side after trying to cut his agent David Mulugheta out of contract negotiations.
The consensus around the league was two-fold: Green Bay won the trade and Jones did more damage than good to his reputation as a negotiator.
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Many were applauding the Packers for adding arguably the top edge-rusher in the NFL in his prime who’s coming off a 70-pressure, 12-sack season, and bolstering a pass-rushing unit that had the eighth-most sacks in the NFL last season (45) that also has several other threats including Rashan Gary, Devonte Wyatt, and Kinglsey Enagbare.
And while many expect Green Bay to have one of, if not the top sack-producing front sevens in the NFL after adding Parsons, it could also lead to one prominent member of the organization leaving after next season.
The Athletic’s Jeff Howe recently suggested there’s already some head-coaching buzz around Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, and with the addition of Parsons, Green Bay’s defense may be so good in 2025 that it leads to Hafley landing a head-coaching job somewhere else the following season.
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“Let’s focus more on Parsons, who should be an absolute force for defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley,” Howe wrote. “Rival executives already loved the Packers’ front seven, in terms of high-end talent and depth, and Parsons will be a franchise cornerstone.
“To some around the league, Hafley has already turned himself into a bona fide head-coaching candidate, and this is the type of move that will raise his profile in a big way.”
In Hafley’s first season as DC, the Packers ranked sixth in total defense (315.6 yards allowed per game), seventh in rushing defense (994 yards allowed per game), and sixth in scoring defense (19.9 points allowed per game).
With several head coaches on the hot seat this season including Arizona’s Jonathan Gannon, Dallas’ Brian Schottenheimer, Indianapolis’ Shane Steichen, Miami’s Mike McDaniel, and New York’s (Giants) Brian Daboll, Hafley could generate a lot of interest next offseason.
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