The Cowboys had a significant turnaround defensively in 2021, which was spearheaded by rookie linebacker Micah Parsons who had 13 sacks, the most on the team. It's a mantle that once belonged to long-time pass-rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, who claimed he was taking his spot back when he was asked what his mentality was for the 2022 season.

“Become the sack leader again”, Lawrence said. “I let a rookie show me up last year. Shout out to my boy Micah. Restate my dominance. Let everybody know how I’m coming, how I feel and the type of respect I’m going to demand when I step on the field.”

Nothing like a little friendly competition, right?

The Defensive Rookie of the Year heard the words of his veteran teammate. Never one to back down from a challenge, Parsons had a message for Lawrence in regards to the team's sack crown. Needless to say, if Lawrence returns to the throne, he'll have to earn it.

“I want D-Law to step up, I want him to be who he is, I’m not taking that away from him. But I’m sorry to tell him he’s never getting that back," Parsons said. "I want him to get all the enjoyment that he possibly can, feed his head so he can be a 10-sack guy.

“But if 10’s the number, I’m going for 20.”

The Cowboys added some more firepower to their pass rush this offseason. In March, they signed veteran edge rusher Dante Fowler, who played under Cowboys' defensive coordinator Dan Quinn during his days with the Atlanta Falcons. In the second round of the NFL draft, the Cowboys took Sam Williams, who has already been getting tips from the aforementioned Lawrence.

This means that Parsons could have more freedom to roam and get after the quarterback with the attention that opposing offenses will have to give the Cowboys' new additions, plays guys like Dorance Armstrong and Tarell Basham. It doesn't guarantee that Parsons will get 13 sacks again per se, but it does increase the chances that he can have another big year for the Cowboys in that department.

Parsons didn't do much rushing of the passer during his days at Penn State and didn't play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That's what made Parsons getting 13 sacks impressive last season, especially when factoring in that he wasn't a full-time pass rusher due to his responsibilities as a linebacker.

The Cowboys are driven now by the defensive side of the ball, and Parsons is the one at the head of the table. However, Parsons realizes that although he's already an elite defender, he still has room for improvement going into his second season.

“Bro, I can get better everywhere,” Parsons said back in February. “I can become a better pass-rusher. I can become a better linebacker. Like, anything. I just feel like I’m just out there raw and I was just learning and I grew and I kept getting better and better throughout the year. No one’s ever perfect. There’s always room to grow in many ways to get better."

Parsons put his name at the top of defensive playmakers as a rookie. With another year of guidance under Quinn, he may very well put a stranglehold on who's the man when it comes to getting sacks on the Cowboys, regardless of Lawrence's desire to reclaim his spot.

Feature image via Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports