Dallas Cowboys All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons has not been present for any of the team's voluntary organized team activities the last couple weeks. Head coach Mike McCarthy said that Parsons was "in really good shape" but that there is "work to do" with a new defense he will have to catch up on. McCarthy thinks Parsons' next step is to take on more of a leadership role with the younger players and said Parsons' absence at OTAs was a missed opportunity to do that. The Cowboys are in a bit of a transition on defense in 2024 after seeing defensive coordinator Dan Quinn leave to the take the head-coaching job with the division-rival Washington Commanders. Despite not being at OTAs, the 25-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2021 out of Penn State is an elite pass-rusher and will be expensive in IDP fantasy leagues as one of the first defensive players off the board.

From RotoBaller

Dallas Cowboys All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons was not at organized team activities on Monday but said that he will be back for in-house and national media responsibilities next Tuesday, May 28, and for mandatory minicamp next month. This week's workouts are voluntary, and Parsons is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, so without a long-term contract extension, he's going to train on his own for now. As things stand now, it doesn't sound like the 24-year-old defensive star is contemplating a holdout this summer. Parsons has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three NFL seasons and was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021. As long as he's healthy, Parsons is one of the most productive pass-rushers for IDP fantasy managers. He has 40.5 sacks in just three seasons with Dallas.

From RotoBaller

The Dallas Cowboys officially picked up hybrid defensive end Micah Parsons' fifth-year option for the 2025 season on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the move. Parsons' salary is worth $21.32 million as a defensive end, which is the position at which he played the majority of his snaps in 2023. The 24-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2021 out of Penn State has been a beast rushing the passer so far in his first three NFL seasons. He's made the Pro Bowl in all three seasons and has a total of 213 tackles (142 solo), 40.5 sacks, 51 tackles for loss, 89 QB hits, eight passes defended, seven forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) in 50 regular-season starts. Parsons had 64 tackles and a career-high 14 sacks in 2023 and will once again be a highly coveted pass-rusher in IDP fantasy formats this fall.

From RotoBaller

The Dallas Cowboys have picked up All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons' fifth-year option as a defensive end, even though he's listed as a pass-rushing linebacker on the team's depth charts. As a result, Parsons will earn $21.32 million in 2025 as a defensive end, instead of the $24 million he would have been paid if he had been tagged as a linebacker. The 24-year-old former first-round pick in 2021 out of Penn State has been a Pro Bowler in each of his first three NFL seasons and had another big year in 2023, recording 64 tackles (36 solo), a career-high 14 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 33 QB hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 17 regular-season starts. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year finished as the No. 10 defensive lineman in IDP fantasy formats and should once again be targeted as a starting defensive lineman in those formats this fall.

From RotoBaller

The Athletic's Saad Yousuf writes that linebacker is a position of need for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, as well as running back, defensive line and offensive line with uncertainty surrounding Tyron Smith and Tyler Biadasz's future. At linebacker, Leighton Vander Esch's future is uncertain, at best, and 2023 rookie DeMarvion Overshown has yet to play in the NFL and is coming off a major injury. Dallas is going to need to acquire quality starting linebackers this offseason if they want to keep All-Pro Micah Parsons as a pass-rusher. The Cowboys' defense was very strong in 2023 before falling apart in their embarrassing wild-card loss to the Green Bay Packers, but they're going to need to address the linebacker position if they want their pass rush to remain a strength.

From RotoBaller

The Dallas Cowboys are expected to hire former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer as their new defensive coordinator, according to sources. The 67-year-old is the third-winningest coach in Vikings history and has been long respected for his defensive prowess. Zimmer previously coached with the Cowboys from 1994-2006. He'll be replacing Dan Quinn, who left to become the head coach of the Washington Commanders. Zimmer had a 74-59-1 record as the head coach of the Vikings from 2014-21, which included three playoff appearances. He'll be inheriting a defense that includes two finalists for Defensive Player of the Year in pass-rusher Micah Parsons and cornerback DaRon Bland. Dallas's defense ranked fifth in yards per game (299.7) and points per game (18.5) in 2023.

From RotoBaller