The details of the league-breaking trade between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers are in. The Cowboys sent superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons away in exchange for Kenny Clark and two first-round picks.

Shortly after news of the trade broke, it was rumored that the Cowboys were getting picks and a defensive lineman in return. Fans were hoping for Rashan Gary. Instead, they got a banged-up defensive tackle rapidly approaching the end of his career.

It’s a brutal resolution to the drama that has surrounded the negotiations for months and the latest blow to a beat-down fanbase.

Micah Parsons trade return is underwhelming for the Cowboys

Kenny Clark used to be a dominant presence on the interior. He’s nearly reached double-digit sacks in multiple seasons. Now, he’s far from the star that Cowboys fans would want in a trade like this.

Clark had just one sack in 2024. With 25 tackles and 33 pressures, it was one of his worst seasons since being drafted by the Packers in the first round back in 2016. As he nears the age of 30, his career trajectory seems to be pointing straight down.

The Cowboys needed more of a presence on the interior of the defensive line heading into this offseason. They were weak up front in 2024 after Mazi Smith failed to take a significant step forward. The team struggled to stop the run and didn’t get much pressure from anyone other than Parsons and Osa Odighizuwa.

Clark isn’t the solution that was needed. At his best, he can be a gap-shooting player on the interior. He can produce some explosive plays, but he isn’t a force in the run game. Against top teams, he can still get pushed around by stronger offensive linemen. He hasn’t had a PFF run defense grade over 62 in over four seasons.

He’ll likely slot in next to Odighizuwa in the Cowboys’ starting lineup. But that still leaves the team without much of a chance at stopping the run. With young players manning the edge, there is a chance that this run defense is even worse than it was last year.

At the end of the day, there is no amount of return that could make a Parsons trade truly feel worth it. He was the identity of this defense, and the unit feels empty without it. Kenny Clark certainly isn’t coming close to filling the void he left.