With Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs signing a five-year, $97 million extension, other Dallas players with extension talks looming are starting to think about their own potential payday. One player who is eligible for a new deal after the 2023 season is third-year linebacker Micah Parsons. Parsons has already made a name for himself as a First-Team All-Pro selection in each of his first two seasons.
Last season, Parsons co-led the NFL in quarterback pressures with 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa, totaling 90 pressures. He also recorded 13.5 sacks, ranking seventh in the league, just behind Bosa's league-leading 18.5 sacks. It's worth noting that Parsons achieved these impressive numbers while lining up as a defensive lineman on 81.1% of his snaps in 2022, according to Pro Football Focus. Even in his rookie season, when he primarily played as a linebacker, Parsons wreaked havoc in opposing backfields, accumulating 13.0 sacks. His quarterback pressures total improved significantly from his first year, where he had 67 pressures, tying for the ninth most in the NFL.
However, becoming the sack leader is not Parsons' main objective for the 2023 season. His focus is on winning the upcoming Super Bowl because he believes that would solidify his legacy and potentially lead to a substantial contract extension. Parsons stated, "I just know if I win this Super Bowl, I don't have to worry about anything the rest of my life."
Parsons further explained that winning a Super Bowl would mean everything to him. He emphasized the importance of leaving a lasting legacy and being remembered as a key player in the organization's success. He mentioned legendary Cowboys players like Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin, whose names still resonate when discussing winning and success. Parsons wants his name to be included in that prestigious conversation.
Parsons is confident in the potential of the Dallas defense, especially after the team made significant moves during the offseason. The Cowboys re-signed safety Donovan Wilson and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, while also acquiring cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Parsons believes that with these additions, the defense can reach the pinnacle of success, comparable to the great defenses of the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens led by Ray Lewis, and the "Legion of Boom" of the Seattle Seahawks.
Current Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who helped build the dominant Seattle Seahawks defense of the 2010s, has played a crucial role in the team's recent success. Under Quinn's guidance, Dallas has showcased one of the league's best defenses over the past two seasons.
Parsons is eagerly awaiting the Cowboys' first matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, specifically in Week 9 in Philadelphia. The 100 days leading up to the game will pass quickly, just as Parsons swiftly maneuvers past offensive linemen.
