Pride of Detroit
The Detroit Lions’ 2025 Week 1 opponent, the Green Bay Packers, have acquired All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys in a monster trade ahead of the regular season. The terms of the deal have the Packers giving up two first-round picks and Lion-killer defensive tackle Kenny Clark in exchange for Parsons.
The Lions and Packers play each other in their season openers in Green Bay, and this move should dramatically impact the scope of how this game will be played. Let’s look at the pros and cons of this deal from the Lions’ perspective.
There is little doubt that the Packers’ pass rush got significantly better with this deal. In recent seasons, the Packers have been unable to find a consistent pass rusher opposite Rashan Gary, and this year they were scheduled to have former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness in that starting role. Van Ness has had a difficult first two years in the NFL, only registering seven sacks and 38 pressures (per PFF) over his first 34 games played. Compare that to Parsons, who played just 13 games last season but managed to record 12 sacks and 70 pressures.
With Gary typically lining up across from the Lions’ Penei Sewell, that means Taylor Decker will draw Parsons. While Decker, a Pro Bowler last season, is capable of handling business against even the best pass rushers in the NFL, he is 32 years old and coming off an offseason surgery. That puts a heavy priority on the Lions making concrete plans for the future on what life will look like after Decker.
Parsons can probably step on the field tomorrow and play effective defense, but one of his best qualities is his ability to do so many things. With the Lions on the docket in just 10 days, how much of the Packers’ defense can he absorb? The Lions could end up getting a break by facing the Packers in Week 1.
Clark has historically been a Lion killer, and with him out of the division, the Lions should be jumping for joy, especially the players on the interior. One of the Lions’ biggest question marks this offseason was how quickly their interior offensive line would gel. Now, the Lions’ interior will face the likes of Karl Brooks instead of Clark, which should make their lives significantly easier.
This offseason, the Packers got lighter and more athletic, and raised some serious questions...
