The Cowboys are more than happy that they landed on linebacker Micah Parsons with the 12th-overall pick in this year’s draft. Parsons has started each of his 11 games for Dallas, collecting 67 tackles, nine sacks, and two forced fumbles, and he’s the runaway favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. However, if the Cowboys had had their way, they would have used their selection on a cornerback.
As Jon Machota of The Athletic writes, the team’s “original plan” was to select either South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn or Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II. However, those cornerbacks were scooped up at No. 8 and No. 9 respectively, forcing the front office to pivot. They ended up landing on the Penn State linebacker (after trading down), and the organization couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out.
Parsons explained to Machota how he continues to improve throughout his first season in the NFL.
“People always talk about the rookie wall,” Parsons said, “but I just keep climbing and climbing because I’m excited to see what’s on the other side of that wall.
“I love what we have here. I’m just so honored and blessed to represent the star and have an opportunity to be a star here.”
Some more notes out of the NFC East…
- The Cowboys are dealing with COVID-19 cases throughout their staff, so they’ll be temporarily promoting Ben McAdoo to a coaching role, tweets NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. McAdoo, who had been serving as a “consultant to the coaches” in Dallas, will be in the coaches booth for tomorrow’s game against the Saints. The 44-year-old spent two years as the Giants head coach between 2016 and 2017, and he returned to the NFL last season when he was hired as the Jaguars QBs coach.
- Guess who else liked Horn and Surtain? The Giants, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, but the Eagles’ decision to trade up (with the Cowboys, no less) to select wideout DeVonta Smith was the move that really threw New York’s draft into disarray. With the organization’s targets off the board, the team ultimately decided to trade with the Bears, with the Giants selecting wideout Kadarius Toney at No. 20.
- Another Cowboys/Giants connection: Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv writes that the Joe Judge/Jason Garrett pairing in New York was always an “arranged marriage.” Co-owner John Mara was the one who pushed to add Garrett as the team’s offensive coordinator, and the former Cowboys head coach was an “outlier” on a staff that generally had connections to their head coach. Garrett was ultimately canned by Judge and the Giants in late November after the team had collected a league-low 42 touchdowns.
- Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports opines that the Giants should go all out on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson this offseason. The writer cites the organization’s draft capital (which, at the moment, includes picks No. 6 and No. 7), Daniel Jones‘ disappointment in New York, and Wilson’s supposed desire to play in the Big Apple. Assuming GM Dave Gettleman is out after the season, this would be a bold way for a new GM to begin their tenure, but the writer believes this would be preferable to rolling with Jones or drafting a quarterback in a weak class.
Giants should use those picks on the offensive line and/or the defensive line. Trading them for Wilson wouldn’t make them much better if Wilson wouldn’t have any time to through the ball.
They need O Line badly. Jones still has potential. They need to give him an O Line and go from there
They don’t have the cap space for Wilson. It’s a pipe dream. You would have to cut major talent to do it and trade away picks. Why would he want to go to a team that has no talent? He could stay in Seattle then. Use this draft to build the offense line and then if Jones isn’t good next year the team is ready for the next qb. Jones has been given a bad situation and has shown flashes.
Ok now I read the article. “ The Giants have the offensive personnel, and Gettleman & Co. have built a respectable offensive line over the years.” If this guy this our line is respectable than his opinion on everything should be ignored. What an idiot.
Wilson isn’t exactly playing like he deserves two first rounders right now. Yes he just came back from hand surgery but he’s missing wide open players. I also think the hand surgery should be cause for concern in the future.
I agree. Focus on the line. Upgrade TE to get a better blocker. Give the ball to the playmakers. Seeing signs of life though in NY.
Lest we’re not forget Joe Judge’s lifetime record of 10-17 whereas Jason Garrett’s lifetime record of 85-67. Thus, we have “the Giants way.”