Cowboys' incompetence with Micah Parsons is Jets' chance at blockbuster trade

The New York Jets have undergone a lot of changes this offseason, but that may not be the worst thing for a team that won just five games a season ago. Under the new leadership tandem of Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey, the team finally appears to be heading in the right direction.

Much of their success will be predicated on how quarterback Justin Fields performs this year. But the strength of the team, the defensive line (albeit thinner than recent years), will need to bring it each and every week if the team wants to be competitive during the 2025 NFL season.

While the unit already boasts players like Quinnen Williams, Will McDonald, and Jermaine Johnson, the Jets could capitalize on the Dallas Cowboys' incompetence with a surprise trade for disgruntled superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons.

Jets could make surprise blockbluster trade with Cowboys for Micah Parsons

Parsons is in the midst of a brutal standoff with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. The price for his extension continues to go up as other teams around the league finalize contracts with their edge rushers, and his average annual salary could be in the ballpark of $45 million per year.

Fortunately for the Jets, Jones seems unwilling to budge, and they have the eighth-most cap space remaining in the league this season, according to Spotrac. They also have the sixth, seventh, and tenth-most over the next three years, which means the Jets would have enough space to extend the Cowboys' star.

Offensive lines would get headaches trying to keep Parsons and McDonald away from the quarterback, especially with a force like Williams on the interior. This gamble could be well worth it because it is unknown exactly how Johnson will return from his Achilles injury.

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Johnson is arguably better than McDonald when healthy, but he is only under contract through 2026. McDonald, however, is likely to have his team option picked up and should remain with the Jets through at least 2027.

Micheal Clemons is an uninspiring rotational edge defender, and Tyler Baron is an exciting but unproven commodity. However, the Jets could have a chance to land one of the NFL's premier defenders. They also own their first and second-round picks in each of the next three years, which could be important in a potential trade.

Mougey making a bold move like this in his first offseason is not incredibly likely. However, he does come from the Denver Broncos' front office tree, and they made blockbuster additions like Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson during his tenure.

Parsons to New York is likely a pipe dream, but it is an exciting proposition to think about adding him to an already lethal defensive front for the Jets.

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