Linebacker Micah Parsons has requested a trade from the Cowboys. They’ll likely say no. But what if they say yes?
More accurately, what if another team makes them an offer they won’t refuse?
They’ll get calls. And the overriding question is whether a new team would give up a pair of first-round picks and pay Parsons the $45 million per year he likely wants in new-money average on a long-term deal.
So, who should be doing it?
The best candidates would be a contending team that hopes to go all in. Their first-round picks would likely be low. The impact Parsons makes could be significant.
The obvious candidates are the Bills and the Ravens. Both want to get past the Chiefs. Parsons could help make that happen.
The Broncos become an interesting option, too. Ownership has the money to make it happen. And getting Parsons would thrust Denver into the upper echelon of the AFC.
The Cowboys probably wouldn’t trade Parsons in the conference — and definitely not in the division. He’d be a major factor for the Lions, but they still have to pay Aidan Hutchinson. And Parsons would be a fascinating chess piece in the Brian Flores defense in Minnesota.
Parsons is one of the best defensive players in football. He’s on the front end of his prime. Even if the Cowboys aren’t inclined to trade him, teams should be calling.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton sounded optimistic that linebacker Dre Greenlaw avoided a serious injury when he left Thursday’s practice early and he was more certain about that on Friday.
Payton told reporters at a press conference that Greenlaw hurt his quad, but that it’s not related to his offseason injury and that the team is confident that the veteran will be back on the field practicing next week.
“He felt a tweak,” Payton said, via Denver Sports 104.3. “Fortunately, the scans were good. We’re gonna be smart with bringing him back, but we see him getting work and being part of next week. We’re fortunate there.”
Greenlaw was at practice, but not in uniform on Friday. It appears that we won’t have to wait long to see him back in that uniform at Broncos camp.
The Broncos announced a pair of roster moves on Thursday afternoon.
They have signed linebacker Garrett Nelson. Linebacker Johnny Walker was placed on injured reserve in a corresponding move.
Nelson spent time with the Dolphins and Bengals after going undrafted out of Nebraska in 2023. He had five tackles and a sack for the Dolphins in the preseason, but did not appear in any regular season games.
Nelson played for the San Antonio Brahmas in the UFL the last two seasons. He had 15 tackles in eight 2025 games.
Walker was signed as an undrafted free agent this offseason. He played his college ball at Missouri.
Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw left Thursday’s practice early after pulling up on a one-on-one drill against running back JK Dobbins.
Greenlaw, though, jogged to the locker room and coach Sean Payton didn’t seem concerned.
Greenlaw injured his quadriceps this offseason, but Payton said it was not an aggravation of that injury. Payton motioned to his hamstring, though he didn’t say what area of the leg Greenlaw tweaked.
“I think he’s fine,” Payton said, via video from Will Petersen of 104.3 The Fan. “In the one-on-one period, he felt it got tight. Different area [than the quad]. We’ll know more [later]. We’ll go ahead and have all the precautionary work done, but I think he’ll be fine.”
Greenlaw signed a three-year, $31.5 million contract with the Broncos in free agency after six seasons with the 49ers. He was limited to two games in 2024 after an Achilles tendon tear during Super Bowl LVIII to end the 2023 season.
Earlier this week, Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton signed a four-year extension, tying him not just to the team but also quarterback Bo Nix for several more seasons.
Sutton, 29, had one of the best seasons of his career in 2024 playing with Nix. The receiver said this week that he’s looking forward to continuing to build a partnership with the young QB.
“Bo is my guy,” Sutton said in his Tuesday press conference. “I think I’ve said that since we picked him up last year. Being able to have the conversations that I’ve had with him throughout the offseason and so far throughout training camp, the dude’s mindset, he was already light years ahead of where anybody expected a rookie quarterback to be last year. To have the conversations that we’re having together already, and the things that he sees and the things that are already possible through the first nine days of camp we’ve had so far, it’s promising.
“I look forward to continuing to watch him grow, continuing to watch his leadership grow, continuing to watch his development at the quarterback position grow. Bo’s a special guy on and off the field, and I tell him all the time even beyond football, he’s a special dude. The way that he thinks, the way that he carries himself, the way that he leads, he’s a special guy. So to be able to share the locker room with him and share the field with him, it’s a special thing. I just look forward to what’s ahead and us continuing to build what we can here.”
Sutton caught 81 passes for 1,081 yards with eight touchdowns with Nix as a rookie last season.
