7. Micah Parsons: Three players have already been revealed and once again, offense is dominating so far. The defense deserves its love too, correct? I’ve been a fan of who I’m about to discuss since his college days at Penn State. He was so talented then and that’s transferred over nicely so far in his NFL career. He was that plug-in guy for James Franklin in Happy Valley. You mix speed with aggression, and that’s what you get. Number 11 in Dallas is who I’m referring to. Micah Parsons is the third name to be revealed making his debut. He checks in as my seventh-ranked player in the league and second-ranked defensive player entering the 2023 season.
When he was drafted in 2021, his presence made an immediate impact. I also remember saying on the air that the Cowboys haven’t had a defender this dynamic since the DeMarcus Ware days. Micah is an energy guy who plays with a ton of emotion and wears it on his sleeve. As I said up top, he’s that guy who you can plug in multiple spots on the defense. Micah is primarily a Defensive End but has the skillset along with the versatility to play Outside Linebacker. When I watch him, I’m blown away with his speed and how quickly he pursues the football or how he gets to the Quarterback. Micah is so disruptive and no matter where you put him, he makes his presence known. The impact he has on the opposing offense is phenomenal. When he’s on the defensive line, Micah is a bully. He’s quick, has some moves in his repertoire and he outruns people. His motor is electric, and he always has it revved up. To highlight his versatility more, Micah has also dropped back in coverage and covered Slot Receivers and Running Backs. I remember a game from his rookie season against the New York Giants. Micah had what’s called a switch release and he had the football IQ to switch masks, turn his head around and defend the receiver. I love his effort. Micah gives 110 percent on each play, and he wants to dominate each time he steps on the field. He can do just about everything on the field.
Micah was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021 and became the first unanimous selection for the award. That same season, he finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind T.J. Watt. Early on, he’s already established himself not only as the Cowboys best defensive player, but one of the best in the league. Some have compared him to Lawrence Taylor. Let’s not go that far now. Micah is more of a versatile Javon Kearse. He’s only 23 years old and the future is bright for this young star.
