Linebacker Micah Parsons is one of the best defensive players in the NFL. He’s made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons and has also been part of the All-Pro team twice.
Parsons is also often regarded as a generational player, and the Dallas Cowboys struck gold by drafting him No. 12 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, the Cowboys star recently revealed how he could have played for the New York Giants instead, but his division rival failed to keep a promise.
Fans React to Micah Parsons’ Throwing Shade at the Giants
Parsons recently revealed that the Giants told him that they would draft him at No. 11 if he was still available. The Penn State product was available, but New York traded their pick to the Chicago Bears, who drafted Justin Fields.
The Cowboys took advantage of it and selected Parsons with the next pick. The Giants, meanwhile, drafted wide receiver Kadarius Toney at pick 20, who was traded by the franchise in just his second season with the team.
Toney went on to win two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs, while the Giants have continued to struggle. New York could have benefited greatly by drafting a player like Parsons, but it adds up to the team’s long list of poor decisions.
Dave Gettleman was the Giants’ general manager at the time of the 2021 NFL Draft and at the forefront of not drafting Parsons. Gettleman retired after that season, finishing his tenure in New York with a disappointing 19-46 record in four years.
Things haven’t improved for the Giants since he left, as new GM Joe Schoen allowed running back Saquon Barkley to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. And New York has been criticized throughout the season due to Barkley’s impact on the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl.
The fans doubled down to troll the Giants after getting to know that the franchise lied to Parsons before the draft. Here are some of the reactions.
Brutal screw up by the Giants 😭
— Matt Goodman (@chefmattg17) February 6, 2025
“Every day, there is a new embarrassment for this franchise,” said a fan.
Another fan added, “All-time fumble by an all-time bad GM.”
Another Giant L for New York Gmen
— Fantasy Farmer (@TFFDudes) February 6, 2025
“We are the dumbest team in the league,” said one Giants fan.
“What a terrible GM,” wrote another.
Another classic giants blunder
— Freedom Nexxus (@InfirmaPeribit) February 6, 2025
Parsons Could Soon Become The Highest-Paid Defensive Player
Parsons will be eligible for a contract extension in the offseason, and with a new deal, he’s likely to become the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa currently holds that title, with an annual average contract value of $34 million.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is known for being a tough negotiator, which could lead to lengthy conversations with Parsons regarding his contract extension. However, since the team’s fan base is already unhappy with Jones due to his failure to land a top head coach, he could be willing to strike a deal quickly with his star player.
Dallas missed the playoffs this past season as the team dealt with injuries to key players like Parsons, Trevon Diggs, Dak Prescott, and CeeDee Lamb. The team’s front office is under a lot of pressure to address the roster’s needs in the offseason, and fans will be relieved if they can agree on a new deal with Parsons.
The 25-year-old linebacker has often expressed his desire to stay in Dallas and doesn’t necessarily want to become the highest-paid defensive player in the league. So, it will be intriguing to see if Jones can avoid a repeat of how poorly Lamb’s situation was managed last offseason.