Micah Parsons weighs in on potential improvements for Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons had face time with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith this week at the NBA All-Star festivities. The star defender opened up about his relationship with Jerry Jones and how he’s hoping to convince the team owner to make certain changes to the roster this offseason.

“We just sit and talk from before the game until the whole half about players I want to bring in, players I want to be around, who do I need, who do I want to be with, future of our team,” Parsons told Stephen A. Smith. “That’s just dope to have that type of feedback with an owner that loves to hear your ideas and what you think and where the team can be.”

Parsons’ list of improvements for the team isn’t very long, and it mainly concerns the defense. The former first-rounder called on Jones to juice up the linebackers room and the defensive line room.

“I said look at every team that was in that final four,” Parsons said. “Who did they have? Who did Baltimore have? A great linebacking corps, right? Who did San Fran have? Great linebacking corps. K.C. (Nick) Bolton, and they came along. We need to get another bigger linebacker. And I said we need to get a super, 330 nasty interior [lineman].

“I saw the way Chris Jones affected that Super Bowl and I was like, ‘My God.’ And not even Chris Jones. Mike Pennel. I think we’ve got a lot of rushers. I think Osa (Odighizuwa), he can play inside, outside, one of the most versatile DTs. When we lost (Johnathan) Hankins, he’s a big dude, but we need to get one of them big old, nasty, pass-rushing, get-going [guys].”

Parsons hoping for more size on Cowboys defense

Micah Parsons requesting another big defensive lineman after the team drafted Mazi Smith with their first-round selection last year, could mean that Smith won’t end up being the “big old, nasty” mass in the center of the defensive line. The former Michigan star dropped weight during his rookie season instead of putting it on.

As for an additional linebacker, the Cowboys do have a player on the roster who could break out in 2024. Former Texas standout DeMarvion Overshown suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason but he has the potential to be a long-term starter for Dallas. The free agency window also opens up in less than a month, meaning plenty of opportunities for the Cowboys to improve their roster.

Parsons put Stephen A. Smith in an ankle brace this week, according to First Take‘s Molly Qerim. Qerim claimed that Parsons crossed up the ESPN host so badly needed x-rays on Friday. However, Smith refuted that account of events.