Micah Parsons views the departure of DeMarcus Lawrence as an opportunity for him to step up as the leader of Cowboys’ defense.
DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons (Image Credits: L-via NBC Sports, R-via AP)
The Dallas Cowboys lost a loyal star in defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence in free agency. The man has been the backbone of the Cowboys’ defensive line since he was drafted to the team in 2014. His numbers have earned him a spot in the team’s Hall of Fame- 61.5 sacks over 11 seasons is nothing less than elite.
However, Dallas failed to secure him this off-season and the Seattle Seahawks swooped in to offer him a three-year contract worth $42 million and $18 million of it guaranteed. With his departure, the Cowboys defensive line has one man to look up to, Micah Parsons. The edge rusher has been viewed as an emerging star since his rookie season but he has not been a leader because DeMarcus Lawrence has always occupied that position.
Lawrence’s departure signals one thing, it is time for Parsons to come out of his shadow and take his place. It is time for number 11 to take the center stage and he knows it just as well. Parsons took to X to send out a warning to his opponents. “It’s my time,” he wrote with a lion emoji at the end of the statement.
Although he loses a veteran and a formidable teammate to rely on the field, Lawrence has passed over almost all of his key learnings to him since he arrived in Dallas. For the first time, Parsons and Lawrence will compete against one another hoping to finish as the NFL’s sack leader this time.
Dallas has made key changes to their defensive roster
Despite losing Lawrence, the Cowboys do not intend to take a step back on defense. The team signed linebackers Keith Murray from the Titans in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick and Jack Sanborn. They further added defensive back Kaiir Elam from Buffalo. The most notable change to their defense has to be the appointment of Matt Eberflus as the defensive coordinator.
DeMarcus Lawrence would have liked to stay in Dallas but the team cannot afford to pay him. Significant contracts to Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have limited the amount they can offer the veteran. Additionally, they are yet to pay Micah Parsons which is a top priority for them. Things can get complicated when his negotiations begin because of Myles Garrett’s recent deal.
The market for defensive ends has exploded and with the salary caps going up, the players will look to secure their payday. Of course, Parsons will not seek to sign a deal as big as Garrett, but he will hope to earn in the range of Maxx Crosby’s current deal. It would be fair to assume he seeks somewhere between $30 to $35 million per year. For now, he remains focused on bettering his performance and winning next year.
For Dallas, the priority remains winning a Super Bowl. Last season, due to Dak Prescott’s season-ending injury, the team missed out on qualifying for the playoffs. This year, they will hope to achieve a feat they have not been able to accomplish in three decades with an inexperienced head coach leading them.
It will be interesting to see if Micah Parsons gets the better of DeMarcus Lawrence at the end of this season. Despite being on different teams, they both are in the same conference.
