Jerry Jones says he contacted Jets about Micah Parsons trade but New York lacked 'resources'
Cowboys owner admits Quinnen Williams was a prerequisite in talks; Parsons instead was dealt to the Packers and has made an immediate impact
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he spoke with the New York Jets about a possible trade for Micah Parsons but that the Jets did not have the “resources” to complete a deal that would have met the Cowboys’ needs.
Jones made the disclosure during a guest appearance on ESPN New York with NFL reporter Gary Myers, confirming that a necessary component for any trade was acquiring a “really significant dominant inside defensive player” to help address the run game. When asked whether the Cowboys had sought Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams as part of a swap, Jones replied in the affirmative.
Parsons, a two-time All-Pro edge rusher, ultimately was traded to the Green Bay Packers this offseason after a contract dispute in Dallas. The Cowboys received two first-round picks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark in the deal. Media reports, including ones from Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, had previously indicated the Cowboys were unable to gain traction with AFC teams as they shopped Parsons.
Since joining Green Bay, Parsons has produced an immediate on-field impact. In the Packers’ 27-18 win over the Washington Commanders on Sept. 11, 2025, Parsons registered a team-high eight pressures in 37 pass-rushes, added three quarterback hits, two tackles and half a sack, and helped limit Washington to 230 yards of total offense. Across two games with Green Bay, Parsons has totaled 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hits.
Jones framed the Cowboys’ requirements for any trade proposal as specific and nonnegotiable, saying the team’s priority was to bolster its interior defensive line to better stop the run, an area he said had lagged over the previous four seasons. That emphasis, Jones said, made a player of Williams’ caliber a prerequisite for discussions.
The trade that sent Parsons to Green Bay kept the movement within the NFC, and Packers fans greeted the new addition enthusiastically after the Lambeau Field victory, with some chanting “Thank you, Jerry!” as Parsons drew positive attention for his play.
The sequence of events underscores the complexities of high-profile roster moves involving elite pass rushers and the leverage teams seek in return. Cowboys executives pursued options they believed would immediately fortify the run defense, while Green Bay secured Parsons and a return package for Dallas that included draft capital and an established defensive tackle.
Jones’ comments provide additional detail on the teams and player targets involved in trade conversations this offseason, and they add clarity to why the Cowboys declined to accept offers that did not include the type of interior defensive help they deemed necessary. Parsons’ early production in Green Bay has drawn attention leaguewide and highlighted the short-term impact of the transaction for the Packers.