Micah Parsons is PFF’s highest-graded linebacker against the run this preseason

When we talk about takeaways from the Dallas Cowboys, whether it be a preseason game or training camp practice, it seems like we are always including rookie linebacker Micah Parsons.

Parsons has flashed all over the place so far and is giving fans all the reason in the world to believe in the team’s defense this year. He really does seem to be someone that is going to dramatically lift the floor of everyone involved.

It is important to remember that we are still in the preseason and that things are obviously very different than when they are happening for real. Still, though, any kind of success for a player that a lot of people were disappointed by at the draft is positive.

There are those who believed in the pick the moment that the Cowboys made it. Many hoped and believed that Parsons would immediately become one of the best linebackers in the NFL and through a majority of the preseason he is the top-graded one against the run by PFF’s standards. That is pretty good.

Jabril Cox has also come along rather nicely and is starting to progress and become the player that many people saw during his time at both NDSU and LSU. We have said this several times before with regards to different pairs, but it seems like the Cowboys might have a promising linebacker duo for the foreseeable future. Again, we have been burnt when going down this road before.

Putting aside our past emotional scars it is difficult to not get excited about the rookies in general, including Parsons and Cox. Last week Osa Odighizuwa led the way as far as PFF’s rookie grades are concerned, but this week after the Houston Texans game it was all about the linebackers.

• Micah Parsons, 90.8
• Jabril Cox, 82.2
• Osirus Mitchell, 73.3
• Matt Farniok, 67.4
• JaQuan Hardy, 61.7
• Kelvin Joseph, 61.6
• Brenden Knox, 60.1
• Austin Faoliu, 58.5
• Braylon Jones, 54.2
• Simi Fehoko, 54.1
• Quinton Bohanna, 51
• Nick Eubanks, 48.9
• Nahshon Wright, 47.3
• Osa Odighizuwa, 31.8

It’s nice to see Matt Farniok’s name higher up the list, there likely weren’t many people who gave him that strong of a chance to make this team’s roster. This is hardly proof that he is a lock or anything, but still, it is positive momentum.

Ultimately, the Texans game was really headlined by both Parsons and Cox with everybody else struggling to show up. The former was the subject of one of Brian Baldinger’s breakdowns and Baldy loves him so much that he believes Parsons is going to become the most versatile defensive player in the NFL.

For what it’s worth, Parsons is PFF’s eighth-highest graded linebacker overall throughout the preseason which is nice to see. Keanu Neal is actually second behind only Tampa Bay’s Lavonte David who has only played six snaps this exhibition period.

Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come.