Steelers Stand to Benefit from Cowboys’ Shocking Micah Parsons Trade
When the Pittsburgh Steelers were negotiating with superstar pass rusher TJ Watt, another superstar pass rusher was also hoping for a new deal with his team. That would be Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons, but on Thursday afternoon, Jerry Jones sent Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in a move that absolutely shocked the NFL.
The Cowboys received defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two future first-round picks, while the Packers immediately locked Parsons up with a massive $47 million per year deal. For perspective, Watt’s contract averages $41 million annually, while Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett comes in at $40 million per season. The move reset the market for elite pass rushers and left fans across the league stunned by the Cowboys’ decision to move on from their young defensive cornerstone.
The ripple effect of the Parsons blockbuster deal quickly made its way back to Pittsburgh. Just months earlier, the Steelers had traded wide receiver George Pickens to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick, while sending back a 2027 fifth-round selection.
At the time, some Steelers fans questioned whether the return for Pickens was enough. However, with Parsons now out of Dallas, the Cowboys’ outlook has changed drastically. Without their most dominant defensive player, Dallas could be heading for a steep decline, which would make those future draft picks acquired by Pittsburgh even more valuable.
Though the Cowboys still have Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Pickens, along with some remaining talent on defense, the situation is far from stable. With a brand new head coach in place, things could quickly unravel if the team fails to find its rhythm. If that happens, it would be a major win for the Steelers, who are in position to benefit from Dallas’ potential struggles.
For Steelers fans, this development creates a potential long-term win. Not only did Pittsburgh move on from a player in Pickens who had shown flashes but also frustrations, they now hold draft capital tied to a team that could be entering a downward spiral.
If Dallas struggles without Parsons leading their defense, that 2026 third-rounder could turn into a much stronger asset than originally projected. For a team like the Steelers that thrives on building through the draft and maintaining roster depth, the fallout from this shocking NFL trade may have indirectly strengthened their long-term outlook in ways no one saw coming.
Steelers Will Be Keeping Tabs On The Dallas Cowboys
If the Cowboys collapse in 2025, it would be a huge win for Pittsburgh. Even a small jump in draft position could be the difference between landing a generational talent or a player who’s out of the league in a few years.
That gap in the third round could matter more than it seems. The Steelers have a history of finding impact players in the middle rounds, and Dallas’ struggles without Parsons could make that pick even more valuable. Nothing is certain until the season plays out, but if the Cowboys stumble, the Steelers’ return from the Pickens trade could end up looking far better than anyone expected.
At least for now, this can very well be called a direct win for the Steelers. Even the smallest victory in the NFL can have lasting impacts for a franchise.
Former 3rd Round Pick Named Chiefs’ ‘Most Surprising’ Roster Cut
The Kansas City Chiefs had to make the tough decision to whittle their roster down to 53 players earlier this week, and not all the cuts that occurred were clear and foreseeable to keen-eyed observers.
Breaking from standard practice, the team is currently only carrying 3 safeties on their active roster; 2024 fourth round pick, Jaden Hicks; 2022 second rounder, Bryan Cook; and 2023 fourth rounder, Chamarri Conner, with Mike Edwards the odd-man-out in the position group
And Jesse Newell of The Athletic believed that this was fairly unexpected and called it the Chiefs’ biggest surprise cutdown.
Mike Edwards Cut From Chiefs Roster ‘Suprising’
Newell believed that the coaching staff’s previously stated admiration for Edwards, along with his connection to the senior defensive assistant through his college days, makes him a borderline shocking omission from the final roster.
“Edwards, a seventh-year safety, has a lot of supporters in the Chiefs’ offices.” Newell wrote on Sunday, “That includes defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo — he has shared his admiration for Edwards’ ball-hawking abilities — and also senior defensive assistant Matt House, who was Edwards’ defensive coordinator at the University of Kentucky. Knowing all that, it was surprising the Chiefs cut the 29-year-old Edwards.
The Athletic’s Chiefs writer expressed that one of the core reasons behind this comes their belief in and desire to build up younger, versatile talents in the unit.
“That doesn’t mean Edwards won’t eventually be back on Kansas City’s practice squad, but the move still seems to signal the Chiefs have confidence in some younger players at safety, including cornerback/safety hybrids Chamarri Conner and Chris Roland-Wallace.”
What Do The Chiefs Look Like At Safety?
Bryan Cook is already a fairly established starter, whilst Jaden Hicks will look to take over the second safety position vacated by Justin Reid, who left for the New Orleans Saints in free agency back in March.
And whilst Kansas City are in a unique spot in that they only have three listed safeties on the roster, they do another player in nickel back, Chris Roland Wallace, who can cover at the position.
The team also have, in emergency situations, All-Pro Trent McDuffie, who is also capable at playing some snaps in that same role; a role that many thought he could ultimately end up playing in the pros when he came out of Washington in 2022.
Edwards is certainly a competent, experienced player at the position, and back in 2023 he started five games for the team and played a role in all 17.
But now entering his age-29 season, Edwards is not getting any younger, and it is not shocking that the Chiefs’ defensive coaches, who have cultivated an excellent secondary year-in, year-out, out of mid-round picks on rookie contracts, have gone with their rising talents over veteran entering his seventh year in the NFL.
