Steelers, Cowboys Swap Defensive Player of the Year Candidates in Shocking Trade Pitch
This shocking trade pitch would see the Cowboys swap Micah Parsons with T.J. Watt from the Steelers
The Dallas Cowboys find themselves in a bit of an odd situation entering the 2025 campaign. Superstar linebacker Micah Parsons wants a massive new contract extension that he has not gotten yet, which led to him requesting a trade earlier this month. With no deal in sight, could that lead to the Pittsburgh Steelers swooping in and making one last major move this offseason?
The Steelers had their own contract dilemma earlier this offseason with T.J. Watt, but they ended up handing him a three-year, $123 million contract extension. While that deal seemingly ties his future to Pittsburgh, could the front office potentially move him in a blockbuster deal for Parsons? Let’s take at a shocking trade pitch that would see both of these perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidates find new homes.
Steelers’ Micah Parsons Trade Pitch
Steelers receive: Micah Parsons
Cowboys receive: T.J. Watt, 2026 first-round pick
Parsons is a rare breed in the NFL. From day one, he’s been one of the most dominant defensive players in the league for the Cowboys, which is why it’s such a surprise they have dilly-dallied with his contract situation. In four seasons, Parsons has earned four Pro Bowl selections, a spot on the All-Pro First Team twice, and the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, racking up 52.5 sacks along the way.
As he prepares to enter his age-26 season, there simply isn’t another player like Parsons in the league. Other guys like Watt, Myles Garrett, and Maxx Crosby are quarterback destroyers, but none of them are as young as Parsons. With all of those guys getting new contracts this offseason, that has put Dallas in an even more difficult situation when it comes to extending its homegrown superstar.
There aren’t many players that could come close to matching Parsons’ on-field production, but Watt is one of the few guys who is worth seriously considering making a move for. In eight seasons with the Steelers, Watt has earned seven Pro Bowl selections, four All-Pro First Team honors, and the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year Award. The only problem is that he’s already entering his age-31 season, which makes him less valuable than Parsons.
Pittsburgh stands out as a feasible landing spot for Parsons for a couple of reasons. Parsons was born and raised in the Pennsylvania area, and he has previously said he’d be interested in playing for the Steelers. Beyond that, the front office has been extremely aggressive this offseason, so if they unload Watt’s contract, they could conceivably afford to hand Parsons a massive new deal if the Cowboys were interested in this trade package.
Would Steelers, Cowboys Be Interested in This Micah Parsons, T.J. Watt Trade?

Considering the aforementioned difference in value between Parsons and Watt, the Steelers would have to throw in a sweetener to get this deal across the finish line, which is their 2026 first-round pick in this case. If things go according to plan for Pittsburgh, they’d be picking at the back of the first round in the 2026 NFL Draft, which would decrease the value of this pick. But still, first-round picks don’t exactly grow on trees.
If the Cowboys are actually entertaining Parsons’ trade request, it’s tough to believe they could find a better deal than this one. Watt is older, but his production is nearly identical to Parsons’, and he already has a contract in place. It’s tough to see the Steelers moving Watt at this stage of the game, but if there’s one guy who’d be an upgrade over him, it’s Parsons. There’s no doubt this is a crazy trade pitch, but with all this being said, it can’t be written off entirely just yet.