Dallas Cowboys Predictions: 3 Reasons Micah Parsons wins DROY award

Dallas Cowboys: 3 reasons Parsons wins DROY

Reason No. 1: He’s as good as advertised.

Micah Parsons was touted as a generational athlete who could rush the passer like an EDGE, pursue ball carriers like a linebacker, and cover pass-catchers like a defensive back.

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It was hard to find a better Underwear Olympic specimen than Micah. Posting a 4.39 40 with a 39.5 vertical and 134 inch broad jump is freaky for anyone, especially a 6-foot-3, 250lb man. In other words, he tested like a freak. But after opting out in 2020, there was some concern his tremendous ability wouldn’t translate so seamlessly this year.

After all, Parsons had only played LB for two years prior, it’s not like he was a seasoned veteran taking a year off, the kid had a way to go.

But it became clear early in training camp, Parsons was not just another athlete resting on his laurels and content to ride his physical ability to a lucrative professional career. No, he was going to work for more.

Parsons in no way looked as raw as one might expect from an inexperienced LB coming off 1.75 year hiatus. He knew his reads and responsibilities, he was aggressive, rarely unsure and willing to do all that was asked of him. He lived up to the tremendous hype.

Reason No. 2: He’s not being used as just an off-ball linebacker

The thing that upset most Cowboys fans when Dallas drafted Parsons was the position he played. Off-ball linebacker is considered a replaceable part in today’s NFL. They are the running backs of the defense.

Quinn is turning this defense into a tool built to support and unleash Micah Parsons.

Off-ball LBs may fill up a stat column but their impact is less than that of pass-rusher or cornerback. Worst of all, they are largely replaceable. That all speaks to the value of the pick (or lack thereof) and is a poor use of draft capital to those who understand positional value.

But what did our wondering eyes see this summer in various camps and practices? Micah Parsons being used all over the place. The Dallas Cowboys weren’t just using Micah as a LB (like they did with Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch), they were using him as a defensive lineman, EDGE player, and even in man coverage (lining up against WRs and TEs).

He’s been in on base defense, nickel defense, and goal line. He’s being used like a chess piece and not just another low value tackle-collecting off-ball linebacker.