It hasn’t taken long for Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons to establish himself as one of the best defensive players in the NFL.
Actually, he is one of the best players in the league, period.
CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz joined Nate Burleson of CBS Mornings on Friday, and during the conversation, Parsons’ name came up. Nantz had some very lofty praise for the Cowboys’ youngster.
“They have Micah Parsons, who as we saw on Sunday, he could make a play this year not only as the Defensive Player of the Year, but maybe the Most Valuable Player,” Nantz said. “That’s what he wants. It sounds sacrilegious to say it, but he’s a Lawrence Taylor type of player. He’s not there yet, but he has the potential to be that.”
Taylor, who played linebacker for the New York Giants, won the MVP award back in 1986, representing the last time a defensive player took home the honor. The only other time it happened was when Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Alan Page did it in 1971.
Obviously, it is exceedingly difficult for a defensive player to win MVP, but if anyone in the current NFL landscape can do it, it’s Parsons.
Through two games this season for the Cowboys, Parsons has already logged seven tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The 24-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Penn State, was originally selected by the Cowboys with the 12th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He burst on to the scene during his rookie campaign, racking up 84 tackles, 13 sacks and three forced fumbles en route to a Pro Bowl appearance and a First-Team All-Pro selection.
The following year, Micah Parsons totaled 65 stops, 13.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, making another trip to the Pro Bowl and notching First-Team All-Pro honors once again.
