Skip Bayless weighs in on Micah Parsons' chances of competing for Defensive Player of the Year

The Dallas Cowboys are expecting another Defensive Player of the Year-type performance this year from star edge rusher Micah Parsons. The former Penn State star has already played like the best defender in the league, he’s just fallen a few votes shy.

On Undisputed this week, host Skip Bayless discussed what he believes Parsons’ chances are for winning the award this year after his third season. He believes the defender has what it takes to get it done if he can keep consistent pressure on the quarterback all season, instead of tapering off down the stretch.

“This man is the key to this season for me,” Bayless said. “I need this man to take a giant step into superstardom that I hoped he would take last year. He said he put on 10-ish pounds of muscle, maybe that will help him endure.

“I think he has the capability of being the leader of the team. It’s rare that a defensive player is the team leader… I need Micah, still a baby in terms of the NFL, to rise up and take the leadership from Dak.”

Over 33 games, Parsons has racked up 26.5 sacks, 149 tackles, and six forced fumbles. He was the runner-up to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt in 2021, and again in 2022 to the San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa.

Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse believes 2023 is the year Parsons gets it done.

“I expect a Defensive Player of the Year type of year from him. Hands down,” Kearse said Wednesday, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “If I was a betting guy, my money is on him. I’ve just seen the way he’s come in this year, different than the previous two. He has the ability to wreck a game at any given moment when he wants to. The type of impact I’m expecting him to have is not only for the defense, but for the team is tremendous. … Just his mentality in how he’s attacking things this year, it’s much different than I’ve seen in his previous years.

“… Comes in like, ‘I’m the lion.’ He lives like that throughout the day, throughout the week, just like, ‘I’m the baddest guy out here.’ He has shown that. That’s the biggest difference I’ve seen from him.”

Parsons chasing Bosa in more ways than one

Nick Bosa officially ended his holdout Wednesday after he and the 49ers agreed to terms on a five-year, $170 million contract extension with $122.5 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.

Speaking with the media Wednesday ahead of Week 1 against the New York Giants this Sunday, Parsons said he was “super happy” to see Bosa get paid, and that it gives him “something to chase.”

“Super happy for Nick Bosa, man,” Parsons said, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “He really showed why he was the best player in the league last year. It gives you something to chase, man. And not in terms of his contract, but in terms of how great he was. He knows that I’m coming for him. He even said, ‘I won this year, and I know you’ll be coming for it next year.’

“And I said, ‘You’re damn right.’”

By this time next year, Parsons could have the title of highest-paid defender in the league.

On3’s Nick Geddes contributed to this report.