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If Demarcus Lawrence thinks it’ll be easy to regain the mantle of the Dallas Cowboys’ sack leader from Micah Parsons, the veteran sure sounds like he has another thing coming.

Parsons burst onto the scene in 2021 by setting the new NFL record for sacks by a rookie, registering 13 after being chosen No. 12 overall in last spring’s NFL Draft out of Penn State. 

After besting Lawrence, who finished with just three sacks in seven games last season, Parsons says he has no plans on relinquishing his crown as the Cowboys’ leading sack artist anytime soon. 

"It makes me want to compete," Parsons said of Lawrence's comments, via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. "It's healthy for the locker room. I want D-Law to step up. I want D-Law to be who he is. I'm not taking that away from him. But sorry to tell him, he's never getting that back. I want him to get all the enjoyment that he possibly can, feed his head so he can be a 10-sack guy, great. But if 10's the number, I'm going for 20. You've just got to go out there and compete. It's just going to be a race to the quarterback, like it or not. I'm excited."

Buy the official Penn State Football White Out 2022 t-shirt   The Cowboys got the best out of Parsons, when defensive coordinator Dan Quinn moved the 23-year-old to the edge, following Lawrence’s injury.    After returning to his natural position as an edge rusher, Parsons wound up producing 70 total tackles, and forcing three fumbles, en-route to an 89.8 overall grade and 93 pass-rush mark from Pro Football Focus.    Parsons’ versatility as a dynamic playmaker from the inside linebacker spot, and off the edge, give him the chance to be an anchor of the Cowboys’ resurgent defense.     

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