Micah Parsons has proven to never be shy when it comes to saying what’s on his mind. Whether he’s challenging any and all comers to a foot race (or chess or locker-room basketball or a home run derby), stirring the pot about a certain Eagles quarterback’s MVP chances, or putting his foot in his mouth on social media with his frequent comments on issues of the day, the Cowboys linebacker takes a no-nonsense approach to, well, pretty much everything.
So it should come as no surprise that when asked about how the Cowboys can get over the proverbial hump, Parsons didn’t tapdance around the subject.
“We’ve got to go after free agency,” he told PFT Live‘s Mike Florio and Chris Simms this week from Radio Row in Phoenix.
And when asked about general areas of need he sees on the roster, the second-year superstar didn’t talk in broad positional strokes. He came right out and named names.
“I like DaRon Payne a lot.”
The Commanders defensive tackle set career highs in sacks and tackles for loss in 2022; now the former first-round draft pick is in line for a massive new contract. It may come from Washington, who has reportedly reached out to Payne’s representatives… or it may come from another club.
Having played out his fifth-year option, Payne could be locked up by the Commanders with a franchise tag. But if one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the league actually hits free agency in March, expect the bidding war to get crazy.
Landing him could require a deal that’s projected to be well over $19 million per year. And that makes the Cowboys- who are notorious for sitting out the expensive first wave of free-agent signings and waiting for the bargain players to come available later- an unlikely suitor for the 6-foot-3-inch, 320-pound Alabama product.
If Spotrac’s $19.4 million AAV projection is accurate (PFF estimates even more), it would give Payne the second-highest salary on the Cowboys roster, behind only quarterback Dak Prescott.
But Parsons says it would be a worthwhile investment, one that could finally secure that sixth Lombardi Trophy for the franchise.
“You’ve got to spend the money,” he said. “Why not spend it? I think we’ve got a chance. I think we could be in Vegas next year.”
Parsons is the engine that makes the Dallas defense go. But even after back-to-back 12-win seasons that saw him take him Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and then a second-place finish for Defensive Player of the Year, the 23-year-old knows it’ll take more than just him.
“I feel like we’re right there,” he said. “We’re two plays away, we’re two or three plays away.”
Or maybe, as Parsons believes, one very highly-paid defensive tackle.
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