NFL ranks Cowboys’ Micah Parsons above Aaron Donald on ‘top disruptors’ list

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons took the NFL by storm last year. He not only became the first player to ever unanimously be voted Defensive Rookie of the Year, but he was also the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year behind Pittsburgh Steelers LB T.J. Watt. Parsons beat out names like Aaron Donald, Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, and more in just his first NFL season.

There is likely a lot of pressure on the soon-to-be second-year defender, but the 22-year-old thrives under pressure. Parsons is always trying to improve and wants to take on the biggest and best competition to prove himself. As a Swiss Army knife type of player, Parsons provides a level of versatility and prowess that some of the league’s top defenders simply cannot.

Opponents had no idea how to prepare for him given he could line up at linebacker, defensive end, and even cornerback thanks to his elite athleticism. Perhaps that’s one of the (many) reasons the Cowboys linebacker made the NFL’s list of top 10 disruptors of the 2021 season.

To make a list of the top 10 “disruptors” is quite tough. There are a myriad of highly talented linebackers, edge rushers, tackles, and linemen in this league. Writer Nick Shook used Next Gen Stats to compile his list. He specifically looked at QB pressures (QBP), QB pressure rate (QBP rate), hurries, sacks and turnovers caused by QB pressure (TO-QBP). Here was his final list:

10. Leonard Floyd, OLB, LA Rams

9. Javon Hargrave, DT, Philadelphia Eagles

8. Aaron Donald, DT, LA Rams

7. Nick Bosa, DE, SF 49ers

6. Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns

5. Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Las Vegas Raiders

4. Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas Cowboys

3. Maxx Crosby, DE, Las Vegas Raiders

2. T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

1. Trey Hendrickson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals

NFL names Cowboys’ Micah Parsons No. 4 “disruptor” in the league above Aaron Donald, Nick Bosa, and Myles Garrett

It is pretty impressive for Parsons to be on this list with some of the top defenders in the league for many years running. To beat out names like Donald, Bosa, Garrett, and Ngakoue in your rookie season is something to be celebrated. Here is what Shook had to say about Parsons:

"“Parsons wasn’t an every-down rusher — he was primarily an off-ball linebacker — which sparks an interesting debate when it comes to this exercise. With less pass-rushing responsibility, Parsons might have benefitted from being assigned to get after the quarterback in more advantageous situations. But the flip side of that argument is the reality that he was rushing less, meaning he had fewer chances to make an impact in that facet of the game. And he certainly maximized those opportunities. Parsons fell short of the gross totals posted by most of the players listed here when it came to quarterback pressures, but he led the league in quarterback pressure rate at 21.1 percent. He finished with 13 sacks, getting home on 4.7 percent of all pass rushes — good for third-best in the NFL. Add in the four turnovers caused by pressure, and Parsons proved to be quite the disruptive defender in his rookie season.”"

In just one year, Parsons already has a trophy shelf bigger than a large percentage of the league and All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods. Can he be even better in year two? He certainly thinks so. Hopefully, his versatility will still keep teams guessing about where he will be on the field.