Cowboys' Micah Parsons gets shafted by respected NFL personnel
The Dallas Cowboys finished third in sacks last season with 54, and the main player responsible was All-Pro Micah Parsons. Parsons would end up with 13.5 sacks, making him just the third guy in NFL history to record at least 13 sacks in his first two seasons joining Hall of Famer Reggie White and Aldon […]
The Dallas Cowboys finished third in sacks last season with 54, and the main player responsible was All-Pro Micah Parsons.
Parsons would end up with 13.5 sacks, making him just the third guy in NFL history to record at least 13 sacks in his first two seasons joining Hall of Famer Reggie White and Aldon Smith. The impressive thing about what he does is that Parsons isn't a full-time edge rusher like most of his peers.
ESPN is currently dropping their rankings of the top players at every position. Coming in at No. 3 for edge rushers was Parsons right after Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers and Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns.
3. Micah Parsons
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 6
He didn't disappoint in Year 2, with a league-leading 29.7% pass rush win rate as his snaps on the edge increased.
Parsons and T.J. Watt went back and forth in the voting throughout, with Parsons winning a tight tiebreaker decided by several general managers because of youth and versatility.
"It wouldn't surprise me if he's No. 1 by next year," an NFL coordinator said. "His talent is undeniable."
Since 2021, he's pressured quarterbacks on 18.3% of his pass rushes, which tops the league among edge rushers with 500+ attempts, according to Next Gen Stats.
And when he's not rushing, he can gracefully slide into a linebacker role and play the run or the pass.
"He has a knack for setting up blockers and getting them off balance," an NFL personnel evaluator said. "It's not just ability. He sets up tackles and has a plan. And he brings versatility." –Jeremy Fowler, ESPN
Bosa and Garrett are more than deserving of taking the top two spots on this list so Parsons shouldn't feel any type of way being after them. However, the lowest ranking for Parsons during this voting process which is made up of over 80 voters that includes coaches, execs, and scouts was sixth. Yes, that's right, sixth.
Of course, opinions are like noses, everybody has one, and people are entitled to think and believe what they want to. But even that is to a certain degree because some players are just different and even set themselves apart from other great players, and Parsons is one of those rare breeds.
Parsons beats opposing offensive linemen at the highest rate and he gets pressure in the pocket more than anyone defender on passing downs. What more is there to be said about the pass-rushing attack he possesses?
Whoever this anonymous voter was needs to put a little bit more respect on Parsons's name going forward.
Cowboys: Micah Parsons gets major respect from NFC East foe
He recognizes greatness.
Feature image via Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
