Baldinger Calls Parsons Trade Cowboys' Dumbest Move
Insider Brian Baldinger criticized Dallas for trading Micah Parsons to Green Bay, arguing the defense now lacks pass rush.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
Insider Brian Baldinger said the Dallas Cowboys' 2025 trade of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for Kenny Clark is the dumbest thing the organization has done. Baldinger made the remarks on Pardon My Take on Friday.
Why it matters
Baldinger argued the Cowboys' defense has holes and lacks a pass rush without Parsons, a factor in a 3-5 start that leaves Dallas second in the NFC East and 13th in the conference standings.
The Cowboys hold a 3-5 record and sit 13th in the conference standings, second in the NFC East. The source does not report how the team plans to address its pass rush.
The players
Brian Baldinger
Brian Baldinger is a longtime NFL analyst and former offensive lineman who frequently offers critical commentary on team personnel decisions.
Micah Parsons
Micah Parsons is a Pro Football Hall of Fame-caliber edge rusher who was among the most disruptive defensive players in the NFL before his trade.
The details
Dallas traded Parsons to Green Bay in 2025 in exchange for Kenny Clark, and Parsons missed most of that season due to injury. Baldinger said the defense has holes and lacks pass rush without him.
Timeline
2025: Dallas traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.
Friday: Baldinger criticized the trade on Pardon My Take.
Nov. 8, 1 p.m. ET: Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9.
Season Trajectory
The Parsons trade set the stage for Dallas's current defensive questions, which now shape its position in the NFC East race. Baldinger's critique frames the move as a turning point that continues to affect the team's standing in the conference.
The Cowboys' 3-5 start and 13th-place conference standing mean the Week 9 game against Indianapolis carries weight in the NFC race. Fantasy managers tracking Dallas's pass rush should watch how the defense performs without Parsons.
The takeaway
The Parsons trade remains a central debate in Dallas's defensive planning. Readers following the Cowboys should track how the team adjusts its pass rush over the coming weeks.
What happens next
Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. ET in Week 9.
Further reading
For more Cowboys context, see the Dallas Football coverage on the team's season.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ClutchPoints.
