‘Poison Pill’ Blocks Micah Parsons Trade to Eagles
Micah Parsons, the standout pass rusher for the Green Bay Packers, is set to play against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. However, there’s a significant reason why Parsons will not be in an Eagles uniform anytime soon. This stems from a stipulation in the trade that brought him to Green Bay last summer.
‘Poison Pill’ Condition Prevents Micah Parsons Trade to Eagles
In a strategic move, the Cowboys included a “poison pill” clause in Parsons’ trade deal. This clause prevents Parsons from being traded to the Eagles, a team that expressed interest in acquiring him before he was dealt to Green Bay.
Details of the Trade and Its Conditions
According to sources, if the Packers were to trade Parsons to an NFC East team, they would owe the Cowboys their 2028 first-round draft pick. This same condition applies to Kenny Clark, another player involved in the trade. If Clark is sent to a team in the NFC North, Green Bay would owe the Packers a first-round pick in 2028.
- Trade Details:
- Parsons traded to Packers from Cowboys
- Kenny Clark also included in the trade
- Conditions:
- Poison pill prevents trades to NFC East until 2027
- 2028 first-round picks are off limits
The inclusion of the poison pill condition harks back to a similar strategy used by the Packers when they traded Brett Favre to the New York Jets in 2008. They had made the deal contingent upon significant draft compensation if Favre were to be traded within the division.
Implications for Both Teams
The Packers are currently enjoying a strong season, ranking fifth in the NFL for total defense. Parsons, who has recorded 6.5 sacks in eight games, is a key contributor to this success. The Eagles, the reigning Super Bowl champions, previously attempted to secure Parsons, but the Cowboys were unwilling to trade within their division.
As the Packers prepare for the game, Parsons will face off against the Eagles—his hometown team—under a cloud of trade restrictions that could last until after the 2026 season. The Packers have made it clear that they have no intentions of parting ways with him, making a return to Philadelphia unlikely for the foreseeable future.
