Micah Parsons reacts to ESPN's pass rusher rankings: 'It's up this year'

Various outlets have begun releasing player rankings leading up to the 2024 season, which is providing Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons with some extra motivation. Despite ranking No. 3 on ESPN and No. 4 on CBS, Parsons won’t be happy until he’s the consensus No. 1 edge rusher in the league.

As ESPN points out, the former first-rounder had a career-high 14 sacks despite facing 167 double teams last season, which was the most among edge rushers. He also had a 35.3% pass rush win rate, which is nearly 5 percentage points higher than any of his cohorts.

The stats are impressive, but Parsons doesn’t think they tell the whole story – or the real story.

“There no way it was 167 double teams!” the Cowboys star posted on X. “Maybe 500! Mf can’t fwm man! It’s up this year on mommas! 2 weeks!”

“Most doubled team player but I have best pass rush percentage and most pressures!” he added. “Saying production low something not adding up!”

Most doubled team player but I have best pash rush percentage and most pressures! Saying production low something not adding up! 🦁

— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) July 10, 2024

In most rankings, Parsons is among the top 3 or 4, with TJ Watt, Myles Garrett, and Nick Bosa as his closest competitors. His ire may come from one ESPN contributor ranking him as his 7th-best edge rusher. Despite that, there were contributors, or at least one, who had him ranked first.

Parsons’ comments on social media stand in conflict with what he said last year after Garrett won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award. At the time, he acknowledged that the Browns star had a better year.

“Myles was the better player!!” he said in February. “Reality of the situation ! Myles Faced way more double teams and affect on qbs! Fans please stop looking at stats and look at film please!!”

Parsons explains decision to workout away from team

Unlike his teammate CeeDee Lamb, Micah Parsons didn’t skip Cowboys activities this offseason as part of a contract holdout. No, he skipped because he wanted to do his own thing. At mandatory minicamp, he explained why practicing and training privately was the best for him, even if it meant missing opportunities with the Cowboys.

“Yeah, you know, I think the more years you have, the more you understand that there’s also like the business side to it,” Parsons said, per NFL Network’s Jane Slater. “You know, and I think that’s what camp is for. I mean, there was a time where Aaron Donald didn’t even go to camp and he won Defensive Player of the Year and then went to the playoffs…

“Like we wasn’t talking about the best defensive player wasn’t even in camp… So, I’m just looking at it as a time for my body to heal. I’m playing as an undersized rusher… banged up every year. So I’m just letting my body heal. I’m just trying to grow, strengthen, and really just get ready for the year.”

The Penn State star followed a similar plan last offseason. It resulted in a career-best year for him. Heading into his fourth year in the league, Parsons believes there’s nothing more valuable to him, or to the team, than him playing with his full health.

“If I’m not available when it really matters because I’m banged up or my body is not healing properly or I didn’t get all the rehab or treatment that I need to be successful, then that’s on me,” Parsons said. “It’s not on them. They’ll just find the next me.”