Some genuine excitement is back for the Green Bay Packers and their devoted fans. Just days ago, the team pulled off a monumental trade with the Dallas Cowboys that brought them Micah Parsons, one of the NFL's very best edge rushers.
The Packers badly needed pass rushing, and now they have that ability in spades. Parsons, 26, has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons in the league, and during that time, he has seemingly been a serious candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year award every year.
Parsons could find himself revitalized now that he's playing in Green Bay and on a young, upstart team. As good as he's been, he has been picked by ESPN analyst Ben Solak to lead the NFL in sacks this season.
"My favorite candidate to lead the league in sacks is Parsons, motivated by his trade to Green Bay and unlocked by defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley in a way he never has been," Solak wrote.
"... Despite the defensive attention he has endured, Parsons is first in total pressures and third in sacks over the past three seasons combined. He just hasn't had that one spike season yet. A new environment in Green Bay is as good a time as any to get there."
Last season, Parsons had 12 sacks for Dallas, but no one else on the team had as many as six sacks. The Packers, however, also have defensive end Rashan Gary, who logged 7.5 sacks in 2024, which means opponents may not be able to get away with putting two blockers on Parsons.
While Green Bay was sixth in points allowed last season, it was 13th in passing yards allowed, and its red zone defense was relatively weak. One should expect some type of measurable improvement in that department this fall.
Read more: 49ers' Brock Purdy Predicted to Land Major End-of-Season Award
The team still has some work to do, however, before it can declare itself a legitimate Super Bowl contender. It lacks a legitimate alpha star-level wide receiver, and quarterback Jordan Love has to prove that he's more than a promising young quarterback.
But the Packers have a proven and prolific running back in Josh Jacobs, and barring injury, they should be a legitimate playoff threat.
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