Cowboys Micah Parsons: Best Non-QB to Build Franchise Around?

Dallas Cowboys defensive star Micah Parsons is a serious talent, but is that enough for him to be named as the top non-quarterback to build a franchise with?

Dallas Cowboys "Lionbacker" Micah Parsons can do just about anything he puts his mind to ... so could we add "franchise builder" to his list of potential powers?

Since coming into the league, Parsons has been a beacon of high-level production and is hungry for more. When talking about players to build a franchise around, most naturally gravitate to quarterbacks. But what about other players who are just as capable?

NFL.com compiled a list of 10 non-quarterbacks that teams can build their squad around and could serve as franchise building blocks.

Parsons' rank on this list of best non-quarterbacks to build a team around came in at No. 1, above another elite talent in San Francisco 49ers star defensive end Nick Bosa.

Here's why NFL.com gave Parsons the nod:

"If defense wins championships, the first piece of a championship puzzle should be a dominant edge defender with take-over-the-game potential," NFL.com writes.  ... The 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year is a unicorn, a premier pass rusher who moonlights as a spectacular off-ball linebacker on early downs. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is showing the football world how to deploy Parsons like the queen on the chessboard. The third-year pro is the perfect playmaker to build a franchise around."

Let's dive deeper into Parsons' ability to be a franchise builder.

Perhaps what is Parsons' best quality - aside from availability (only missed one game in two seasons) - is what he does for others around him.

Such is his talent, offensive lines naturally gravitate toward him in a bid to curtail his influence. This allows others like DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, and others to eat at the line of scrimmage.

The other is his thirst for winning. Having a competitive edge that is nearly unmatched, Parsons' passion and will to win rubs off on his fellow teammates as does the high standards he drives.

He is always looking for ways to get better (like attending Von Miller's pass-rushing summit in Las Vegas). And bring his teammates along with him, and as NBA great Michael Jordan once said, "Jump on the cape, but you better hold on." Parsons is Dallas' Superman with a "cape" on defense.

Leighton Vander Esch is the quarterback of the defense, but Parsons is undoubtedly one of the team's leaders, despite only being in the league for two seasons. 

Parsons' stats speak for themselves, as he has earned back-to-back All-Pro nods along with his 26.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, one defensive touchdown, 33 tackles for loss, and 56 quarterback hits in just 33 games.

After narrowly missing out on Defensive Player of the Year honors last season, Parsons is moving toward being an even greater impact and is off the "sack wave" as he heads into his third year.

With so many players to build a franchise around, it's hard to call it a true surprise that Parsons has landed at No. 1 on this list.

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