Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith, who won three Super Bowl titles with the franchise, said the the Micah Parsons trade could end up costing the team fans for a generation.

“If we don’t [win], then I believe the Dallas Cowboys and the family could be losing fans for a lifetime because those fans feel like they have been taken advantage of and no one has really paid attention to them, and that's when you would see the effects [on] sales, tickets, suites, merchandising going down, and that’s the biggest way to impact a person’s pocket,” Smith said.

While fans have complained about the lack of playoff success for years, it has yet to affect the bottom line for the Cowboys, who are routinely the highest valued sports franchise in the world. Last year their estimated net worth was $13 billion.

Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, said the team must use the resources from the Parsons trade. He was dealt for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks, in 2026 and 2027.

The first of those picks was used on Malachi Lawrence, a defensive end out of Central Florida, who has already turned heads at Cowboys OTAs, with Clark complimenting the rookie on his technique.

Lawrence joins a talented defensive line with Quinnen Williams, Donovan Ezeiruaku and Rashan Gary.

Lawrence Dow

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Lawrence Dow is a digital sports reporter from Philadelphia. He graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from USC. He’s passionate about movies and is always looking for a great book. He covers the Texas Rangers and other sports.