Micah Parsons actively recruiting star defenders to Cowboys is amazing
By Jerry Trotta
The Dallas Cowboys usually aren’t proactive in terms of signing big-ticket free agents. While Jayron Kearse, Randall Cobb, and Joe Looney are some of Dallas’ best low-profile pickups in recent memory, fans are clamoring for the front office to break out of its shell to make this roster a Super Bowl contender.
Bolstering the interior of the defensive line should be a top priority for the Cowboys. Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence bring a championship attitude on the edge, but Osa Odighizuwa was a one-man army at DT before Carlos Watkins emerged late in the season, and the team signed Johnathan Hankins.
Luckily for Dallas, the DT free agent class is loaded with talent.
Parsons has clearly made note of this. The Defensive Player of the Year finalist has seemingly even made a list of players he’d like to see in Dallas. That, or he just wants the Cowboys to add more star-power on defense.
Either way, fans are going to love this. Minutes after Calais Campbell tweeted about wanting to play in a Super Bowl, Parsons replied to the six-time Pro Bowler by openly recruiting him to the Lone Star State.
https://twitter.com/MicahhParsons11/status/1625194635734749189
Cowboys star Micah Parsons wants Calais Campbell, Daron Payne to join Dallas.
Campbell is under contract with the Ravens for 2023, but he has the makings of cap casualty, as his $9.4 million cap hit is the fifth-highest on the team. If Baltimore is serious about keeping Lamar Jackson, whether it be through an extension or the franchise tag, they need to create more cap room.
A member of the 2010s NFL All-Decade Team, Campbell is the oldest active defensive lineman in the league at 36. Having posted 5.5 sacks, 14 QB hits, and two forced fumbles in 2022, Campbell is still an impact player, and he’d step into an immediate leadership role alongside Lawrence and Jayron Kearse.
Campbell isn’t the only DL Parsons wants on the Cowboys, however.
Speaking to PFT Live during Super Bowl week, Parsons pointed to being aggressive in free agency as how Dallas can get over the playoff hump. Rather than rattle off positions that could use improvement, Parsons came right out and mentioned Commanders stud defender Daron Payne by name.
“I like Daron Payne a lot,” Parsons said.
On @PFT_Live, @MicahhParsons11 was asked what he wants to see the Cowboys do in the 2023 offseason. Parsons didn't hesitate -- get @94yne a/k/a Daron Payne. https://t.co/REUSkLpnSV
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 11, 2023
Funny you say that, Micah, because we like Payne, too.
It’s been a while since the Cowboys boasted an elite defensive tackle, and Payne is firmly in that conversation after he posted 11.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 20 QB hits, five passes defended, and 49 pressures (career highs across the board) in 2022.
Payne will command around $20 million annually on the open market, and Washington could easily retain him by slapping him with the franchise tag. Should he reach free agency, though, it would behoove Dallas to listen to their generational defender and make Payne their big (defensive) splash of the offseason.
