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Dallas Cowboys: Micah Parsons being cross-trained early in camp

By Sayre Bedinger

Jun 3, 2021; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) goes through drills during voluntary Organized Team Activities at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 3, 2021; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) goes through drills during voluntary Organized Team Activities at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Cowboys are cross-training linebacker Micah Parsons in his rookie training camp, opening up a lot of possibilities for year one.

Although the Dallas Cowboys aren’t exactly taking the Shohei Ohtani route with rookie linebacker Micah Parsons and asking him to play two ways, they are definitely cross-training him with the defense to help maximize his talent and impact on every game. Parsons was the first of many defensive selections for the Dallas Cowboys in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he is expected to have a major impact in year one.

The Cowboys didn’t just draft Parsons to play the off-ball linebacker position, nor should they have. Anyone interested in Parsons in the 2021 Draft undoubtedly had an interest in arguably his best trait as a player — pass rush abilities.

Parsons had five sacks in the 2019 season at Penn State even though he wasn’t a full-time edge player. He has such a natural burst off the edge and with his combination of speed, explosiveness, and strength, he can be a major asset there for Dallas in year one.

The team seems to be counting on it.

Even though the Dallas Cowboys are not yet in full pads, this rep from Parsons against an elite NFL left tackle in Tyron Smith is a clear indicator of what kind of talent this young prospect has.

Although the NFL is really coveting guys like Fred Warner (who just received $19 million per year with the 49ers) who can turn their back to the line of scrimmage and play effectively in coverage — which Parsons can — there is still undoubtedly a lot of value in a player like Parsons, who probably could be a 12-plus sack guy if he switched to playing edge on a more permanent basis.

Dallas is expecting big things out of its rookie class as a whole with Kelvin Joseph projecting as a starting cornerback and players like Chauncey Golston and Osa Odighizuwa also expected to factor into the defensive line rotation early.

Parsons has star potential as a linebacker and in Dan Quinn’s defense, we can expect to see him rushing the QB plenty.

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