It has been a very long time since the best player on the Green Bay Packers has been on the defensive side of the ball.
Micah Parsons looks to be that player now.
Days before the season started, general manager Brian Gutekunst orchestrated a trade with the Dallas Cowboys to get Parsons. That trade included Green Bay sending two first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark in exchange for Parsons. While that obviously is a lot of compensation, that is the price one is going to have to pay when trying to land a top 10 player in the entire league.
“I felt like going into the offseason, it was supposed to be my year to be the best player, and I am just trying to live up to that,” said Parsons.
Gutekunst then turned around and signed Parsons to a four year, $188 million deal, essentially hitching the Packers’ wagon to the 26-year-old star pass rusher. Locking Parsons up appears to be the right move for the Packers now and looking to the future of this team.
During the Jordan Love era, Green Bay has been one of the better teams in the NFL. The issue is that the team has consistently bowed out in the playoffs. It is obvious to say this, but making the move to get Parsons is a move to help the Packers get that extra push to making it to the Super Bowl.
Trading for Parsons is reminiscent of moves that were made for Green Bay’s previous two Super Bowl victories. Led by Brett Favre, Green Bay added Reggie White, which brought about a Super Bowl. Led by Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay added Charles Woodson, which brought about a Super Bowl. Now, led by Love, Green Bay added Parsons, which will hopefully bring about a Super Bowl.
On the season, Parsons has totaled 12.5 sacks on top of 24 quarterback hits, so it has become obvious that he is doing his part in making the Packers’ defense one of the best units in the NFL and in keeping those Super Bowl hopes alive.
“They brought me here to help win games and be the person that I am right now – making people better, cheering on guys and ending games,” said Parsons. “That is what they were looking for, and that is what they found.”
To Parsons’ point of being that player who can end games, that has become a part of the Packers team that has seemingly come under the radar. When it gets late in the game and Green Bay is playing that “bend, don’t break” defense, it has been Parsons who has been the closer. In both of Green Bay’s wins against the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants, it was Parsons’ play late that helped to lock up those games.
With five games left in the season and without a playoff spot locked up yet, it would be foolish to already be talking about getting to a Super Bowl. But when you have a player that is as skilled as Parsons, this Packers’ defense and team as a whole seems to be in a much better spot this season than either of the past two years of Love starting for this team.
