If you told us in July that we'd have an eye on the 2025 NFL Draft before December, we would have told you the Dallas Cowboys season went absolutely haywire.
That pretty much hits the nail on the head. On top of poor coaching and team performance, the Cowboys have been pillaged by injuries. They currently have nine players on injured reserve, and that does not include Micah Parsons, who returned in Week 10 after a four-game absence with a high-ankle sprain.
If the season ended today, Dallas would have the No. 11 overall pick. That is appealing and the Cowboys still have right games to climb the latter with a difficult schedule to boot.
This roster has so many holes that you can make an argument for several positions in the first round. Wide receiver and the offensive line spring to mind, but Parsons wants the front office to improve the defense.
Parsons named a trio of prospects he has an eye on, but he has a clear favorite who would be an absolute dream get for Dallas.
Micah Parsons wants the Cowboys to draft Penn State star Abdul Carter
Give me Anthony hill from Texas with dmoo, Jaylon walker or my favorite Abdul carter! https://t.co/J2PicBz2Pn
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) November 13, 2024
The idea of adding a stud pass rusher in Carter opposite Parsons might not resonate with some Cowboys fans, but EDGE is a sneaky need being that DeMarcus Lawrence is a free agent and former second-round pick Sam Williams is coming off a torn ACL and will be in a contract year.
Draft expert Dane Brugler of The Athletic currently has Carter as his No. 3 overall prospect. While most mock drafts have Carter going in the 8-15 range, Brugler thinks the star junior can be a top-three pick.
Carter is an absolute blur off the edge and he's dominating at Penn State - much like Parsons once upon a time - even though he's still rounding out his pass-rush repertoire. At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds with NFL-ready explosion, Carter can be a winning player from day one.
The Nittany Lion phenom posted a 24.8% pass-rush win rate in 2023, which was the third-highest among all FBS edge defenders and linebackers, per Pro Football Focus. Penn State still has three games left in the regular season and Carter has already doubled his 2023 sack output.
That might explain why Carter is a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is presented to the nation's best defensive player.
The Cowboys will need to keep losing to be within striking distance of Carter. While drafting an edge defender to pair with Parsons over a wide receiver or offensive linemen will be controversial, think about how poor Dallas' pass rush has been this season sans Parsons.
Carter should absolutely top the Cowboys' draft board come April. They would be smart to listen to their All-Pro defender.