The Patriots head into training camp with a league-high cap space still to spend if they want to put their 2025 roster over the top. The belief has been that the team likely has interest in the ongoing situation between the Commanders and wide receiver Terry McLaurin, as he could be traded if a deal on an extension cannot be agreed upon.
However, there is another name to pay attention to that hasn't been getting as much traction in New England as perhaps it should.
Now that T.J. Watt is set to retire with the Steelers, that leaves Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons left to be extended. He is in a similar situation to Watt and Bengals' Trey Hendrickson, and it doesn't appear that the situation will be resolved anytime soon, despite Parsons already announcing that he will be attending training camp.
The negotiations don't appear to be going too well, as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stated he hasn't even spoken to Parsons' agents and even took a shot at the 26-year-old for dealing with an injury during the 2024 season.
#Cowboys owner Jerry Jones randomly takes a shot at Micah Parsons, saying even if they sign him, it doesn’t mean they’ll have him, because he was hurt for 6 games last year (fact check: he only missed 4).
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 21, 2025
He then also says they made Dak Prescott the richest player in football —… pic.twitter.com/g6T8FnEEOX
It's fair to assume that the forthcoming conversations regarding an extension won't be too friendly after such unnecessary comments were made, which creates an opportunity for the Patriots to potentially inquire about a trade.
A possible trade for Micah Parsons could still be on the table for the Patriots
Mike Vrabel made it clear that improving the Patriots roster in all aspects was a priority this offseason and started by boosting the defense in free agency. From stealing Milton Williams from the Panthers and signing a well-known leader in Robert Spillane to welcoming one of the best cornerbacks available in Carlton Davis and reuniting with Harold Landry III, New England's defense looks stellar on paper.
But there are some lingering concerns about their pass rush specifically, even with the impressive additions and the hopeful breakout seasons from Christian Barmore and Keion White.
There are still some free agents available to consider if Vrabel and Co. want to add more talent to the group, like Jadeveon Clowney. Or they could try to pull off a blockbuster trade for a player like Parsons, as they have enough cap space to take on his current deal and offer him a hefty extension.
It would prove that the new regime wants to build a dominant defense for years to come, and successfully trading for a player of Parsons' caliber, who has recorded double-digit sacks in all four years of his career, would ensure that were the case.
On top of the production they would inevitably get from adding a four-time Pro Bowler, former Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-Pro, Parsons would also be an invaluable mentor to younger players on the team now and in the future. He's a proven talent that could easily set the tone for the linebacker room, and the impact of his presence would make his teammates even better.
It wouldn't be a cheap trade to get a deal done, and it would require sending multiple picks and maybe even a player. But suppose Vrabel and the rest of the Patriots coaching staff believe that Parsons is the right guy to put their defense over the top. In that case, there might not be a price too high to get him on the team, especially if the Cowboys are already playing hardball during extension talks.