By Larry Rupp
Sometimes drafting the sure thing can be the best decision an NFL franchise can make. And there’s a reason why the Cowboys took linebacker Micah Parsons with the No. 12 overall pick back in April. He looked to be the player most capable of quickly transforming his talents to the professional level, and he’s already proven to be a vital part of this improving defense over the first half of the season.
Fans watching Cowboys games know that Parsons can be seen flying all over the field given his role can be anything from rushing the quarterback to dropping back into coverage. The 22-year-old’s versatility has him shooting up the rankings when it comes to who will take home the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Parsons currently leads all rookies with odds set at -120, according to DraftKings Sportsbook as of early November. The only other player even remotely close behind is linebacker Jayson Oweh of the Baltimore Ravens (+750). Linebacker Azeez Ojulari of the New York Giants (+1000), cornerback Patrick Surtain of the Denver Broncos (+1000) and defensive Gregory Rousseau of the Buffalo Bills (+1200) round out the rest of the top five.
Makin' #NFL history. 👀#WeAre #MadeInHappyValley pic.twitter.com/eFIWV5b8CO
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 4, 2021
Parsons was recently named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his impressive performance against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. He finished the game with 11 total tackles (4 for loss) and a quarterback hit in Dallas’ come-from-behind 20-16 win. It’s notable to point out that Parsons isn’t just making plays here and there. He has regularly been on the field for more than 90 percent of the defensive snaps in any given game.
It is clear that Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn trusts his rookie and sees how much potential the former Penn State Nittany Lion truly has. Parsons has played a major role in helping revamp a defense that gave up the fifth-most points per game during the 2020 season (29.6). Keep in mind that the halfway point of the season is quickly approaching and Dallas now ranks within the top half of the NFL in that category.
Quinn isn’t the only one that believes in Parsons, either. Coach Mike McCarthy recently called the former All-American an “impact player” on defense and noted how his speed has made a difference so far. Don’t forget, Parsons made an impression across the league when he ran a 4.40 40-yard dash while weighing in at 246 pounds. It’s still early, but it’s safe to say that Parsons’ consistent command has played a part in the Cowboys’ rise to the top of the NFC East.
.@MicahhParsons11 is just getting started 😎#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/7xqQ5zpvwo
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 3, 2021
In the end, winning this award may be the first of many accolades Parsons is able to rack up throughout his budding career. It seems to be his for the taking and it would be shocking to see another rookie catch up to him. Just keep an eye on how the odds change as the season rolls on.
Picture Credit: Flickr
