The sports world was shaken over the weekend when Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis swapped teams in a massive three-team NBA trade that sent Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers and Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. The move was a stunner, an all-in swing that reshaped the Western Conference overnight. In the NFL, trades like this don’t happen often—but maybe they should.
That’s exactly what Bleacher Report was thinking when they floated their own version of a league-altering swap: Micah Parsons to Baltimore. The idea? The Ravens send wide receiver Zay Flowers, pass-rusher Kyle Van Noy, and their 2025 first-round pick to Dallas in exchange for one of the best defensive players in football. Funny enough, Marlon Humphrey was hinting at something similar at the Pro Bowl.
That’s right—Dallas loses another young superstar. Why not pile on the distress in Dallas?
Bleacher Report proposed this blockbuster deal
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) February 3, 2025
Ravens receive: EDGE Micah Parsons
Cowboys receive: WR Zay Flowers, EDGE Kyle Van Noy, 2025 1st-RD pick
"Baltimore has proven they can field a functional offense without top receiving talent as long as Lamar Jackson is healthy" pic.twitter.com/g4RuFpS58g
Luka Doncic might not be the only young star heading out of Dallas...
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report laid out why the move makes sense, writing:
"Baltimore has proven that it can field a functional offense without top receiving talent as long as quarterback Lamar Jackson is healthy. However, its 30th-ranked pass defense was an issue last season. Adding Parsons would help address that issue for the foreseeable future—assuming Baltimore can work out the extension that Dallas should have done a year ago."
Now, let’s be real—this trade proposal is almost interesting. Almost. But there’s one glaring problem: Zay Flowers isn’t going anywhere. Not to mention, it's a bit of a wild exercise anyway.
Baltimore’s offense may not be built around wide receivers, but Flowers is different. He’s already shown flashes of being the best wide receiver in Ravens history, and after his breakout season, his ceiling is way too high to be included in any deal. If the Ravens were actually interested in dealing for Parsons, a more realistic package could be Rashod Bateman, Van Noy, and a first-round pick.
And honestly? That version of the deal makes a lot more sense.
Bateman, while still a talented player, hasn’t cemented himself as the guy in Baltimore. A move to Dallas would give him a fresh start to build off his 2024 breakout season, where he could step in as a high-upside No. 2 alongside CeeDee Lamb. Van Noy, meanwhile, was a great addition for the Ravens, but he’s turning 34 and clearly not a long-term piece. Throw in a late first-rounder, and suddenly, Jerry Jones has a legitimate decision to make.
Of course, the biggest hurdle here is the money. The Ravens have about $6 million in cap space, while Parsons' 2025 fifth-year option sits at $21.4 million. And his next contract? It’s probably going to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in football. Making this trade work would require serious maneuvering—think contract restructures, potential trades, and maybe even parting ways with a player or two.
But if there’s ever a time to get aggressive, it’s now. The Ravens are in a Super Bowl window, and Parsons is the type of player who can kick that window wide open. It’s a long shot, sure. But after watching the Lakers and Mavericks shake up the NBA, maybe it’s time for the Ravens to swing big, too.