When it comes to draft compensation for players, there are often times when one side benefits over the other in terms of said picks received. There are many who believe the Green Bay Packers got away light, despite giving up two first-round picks to land Micah Parsons.
More news: Ravens’ John Harbaugh Issues Powerful NFL Warning
Considering the Packers continually make the playoffs and have winning records, they usually pick somewhere at the No. 20 spot and beyond that, meaning their first round picks are not as “valuable” as having top 10 selections.
Despite picking late in the first round, first-round picks are where the top players from college are selected, meaning every pick in that first round has the potential to be the next great player.
More news: Video of Micah Parsons Celebrating Blockbuster Packers Trade Goes Viral
That said, the Packers did give up their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to the Dallas Cowboys to land Parsons. Now, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has spoken out about giving up said picks.
#Packers GM Brian Gutekunst met with reporters and addressed giving up two first-rounders: “You guys know how we feel about picks here and how important they are to our football team. So, to make this move, you can understand what we think about the player.”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2025
In a comment from Gutekunst, shared by Ian Rapoport, the Packers general manager commented on what it means to have landed Parsons. He also states the importance of giving up two first-round picks to land such a player.
“You guys know how we feel about picks here and how important they are to our football team. So, to make this move, you can understand what we think about the player.”
Gutekunst is right about one thing: giving up two first-round picks is huge, especially with how successful the Packers have been about picking talented players and turning their team into a contender.
Still, landing Parsons will go down as one of the biggest trades ever, and the Packers have a perennial pass rusher that will completely change the dynamic of their defense from day one. Now, Green Bay could be seen as a huge Super Bowl favorite.
Though the Packers landed Parsons, they also do not have first-round picks for the next two drafts. That said, the Cowboys presumably could have gotten much more.
Time will tell if this trade pans out well for the Packers in 2025, but if Parsons continues double-digit sacks, Green Bay will be a big problem this season.
For more on the Packers and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
The post Packers GM Speaks Out About Giving Up Draft Haul for Micah Parsons appeared first on Newsweek.
