The Dallas Cowboys have no interest in trading Micah Parsons… But at the same time, contract talks have not progressed, and the All-Pro defender continues his hold-in just weeks before the start of the season. While the Pittsburgh Steelers feel like the last team that needs edge rusher help right now, Parsons is the type of player who would make this team truly threatening.

Rumors are swirling that the Green Bay Packers have ‘a very serious trade offer on the table’ with the Cowboys for Parsons, and we know the price is going to be steep to lure him away from Dallas. Though Parsons’ formal trade request may have been nothing more than a ploy to get his deal (a la Myles Garrett), he’s vocally disgruntled with the organization.

In the odd chance these relationships can’t be tarnished, the Steelers must be ready to pounce with an offer the Cowboys couldn’t refuse.

This intriguing Pittsburgh Steelers trade offer has Micah Parsons leaving the Dallas Cowboys

If the Pittsburgh Steelers have any hope of pulling off the biggest trade in franchise history, it’s going to cost them more than they’ve ever given up for a single player… and it should. Parsons is 26 years old and is one of the best non-quarterbacks in the entire NFL.

In this hypothetical trade, the Steelers would surrender edge rusher Alex Highsmith, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2026 third-round pick for Micah Parsons. While this offer seems rich, it would take a deal of this magnitude to pluck the potential Hall of Famer away from Dallas’ grasp.

There are whispers that teams are willing to give up multiple first-round picks if the Cowboys made Parsons available for trade. With the Steelers needing to find a franchise quarterback of the future, this isn’t something they would consider. However, adding Highsmith to the mix could be enough to sweeten the deal while including just one first-rounder in the trade.

In this trade, the Cowboys would be getting a quality edge rusher on an affordable contract with three years left on his deal, while also putting elite draft capital in their pocket.

Meanwhile, the Steelers would greatly increase their chances of competing for postseason success in 2025—which seems to be the ultimate goal—while giving themselves a foundational, cornerstone piece they can build their team around for years to come.

Parting with so much draft capital would be a hard pill to swallow, but it’s not as bad as it sounds. The second-round pick included in this hypothetical deal is from the 2027 NFL Draft, which means they would only need to surrender a first and third-round pick next April.

The Steelers are on track to have 12 draft choices in the 2026 NFL Draft, including a first, second, three third-rounders, two fourth-rounders, and two fifth-rounders. Losing next year’s first-round pick may hurt their chances of moving up for a quarterback, but it sounds like assistant general manager Andy Weidl is not sold on that draft philosophy.

Financially, Parsons would want a massive signing bonus up front in a trade-and-extend deal. The Steelers could figure out a way to make the finances work while pushing a bulk of Parsons’ money into the future. Having two record-breaking edge rusher contracts in the same offseason would be uncharted territory for Pittsburgh’s front office, but then again, so is making a pair of blockbuster trades for players like DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey.

The addition of Parsons would likely enable Pittsburgh’s defense to become the top unit in the league. This would be enough to make a deep playoff push while still having a hope of a future with Parsons leading the defense.

The Cowboys are highly unlikely to trade one of their best players of this generation, but with an offer they couldn’t refuse, perhaps the Pittsburgh Steelers could poach him away if Dallas made the All-Pro available for trade.