Micah Parsons' first month with the Green Bay Packers reinvigorated the confidence of the franchise and its fanbase. For a player in rare air already with his production through four seasons matching the likes of Reggie White, it must be terrifying for opposing offenses to realize that Parsons is playing at an even higher level in Year 5.
Parsons' impact has already thrust the young Packers’ defense into the conversation of best in the NFL. The outcome of Sunday night’s game against Parsons’ former Dallas Cowboys dampened that outlook a bit, but their early work against the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders did display what this defense is capable of when it’s firing on all cylinders.
Between rejuvenating the Packers and finding an extra gear in Green Bay, Parsons’ domination through the first quarter of the 2025 NFL season is worthy of some recognition that just might lead to some hardware of his own at the end of the campaign.
Micah Parsons recognized as the difference-maker Green Bay needed
Pro Football Focus released its quarter-mark awards ahead of Week 5, Green Bay’s BYE Week. There, they named Parsons a first-team All-Pro and the leader in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year race. Parsons was the only non-specialist Packer mentioned whatsoever. Only punter Daniel Whalen received recognition as PFF’s first-team All-Pro punter selection.
As for Parsons, his mention isn’t a surprise. After all, his story remains the most followed in the NFL through the first month of action, and his play has more than warranted such attention.
Still, his popularity in the current NFL landscape may be inflating his value, if only by a touch. In that respect, Parsons does have just 2.5 sacks, far from the league lead of five held by Brian Burns and Byron Young. Of course, PFF always leans on pressures over sacks in their edge discussions, and their stats say Parsons has 25 through four weeks. Pro Football Reference only has him down for 11.
But that bit of devil’s advocacy shouldn’t discredit the impact Parsons has made for Green Bay. Whether he has 25 pressures or 11, 2.5 sacks or 5, Parsons is the player keeping offensive minds up at night. He’s the most important piece of the Packers’ defensive equation, especially when considering the youth around him and the inexperience at cornerback.
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Parsons’ presence has assisted the young players and defensive backfield more often than not, and few players around the league carry that argument to the DPOY conversation. Surely by the end of the season, Myles Garrett and others will have their supporters for the award, and that does circle back to Parsons potentially needing to give a bit more.
The DPOY voters may or may not use his astronomical PFF grades and questionable statistics. If they don’t, Parsons probably needs to finish more of those pressures with sacks. He’s yet to record more than 14 in a season, while a guy like Garrett has had 14 or more in the past four seasons. Those types of voters will also want to see game-changing splash plays, which haven’t come yet for Parsons in Green Bay.
Again, Parsons has built a resume to be the frontrunner for the award, and I’m simply forecasting how he can go about staying in that position. There’s only so much that can be said about Parsons that hasn’t been said already. He’s that good. And awards or not, he’s been exactly what the Packers needed this season.