There is one scenario, however far fetched, that could change the course of the ongoing, messy contract talks between edge rusher Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys.
In this scenario, Parsons doesn’t play to start the regular season, like what’s been predicted by owner Jerry Jones, and in his place rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku does what he did in college and begins to rack up sacks.
If Ezeiruaku even seems like an elite edge rusher through the first few weeks, Parsons is the kind of insane competitor that it might provoke him to sign whatever deal is on the table in order to get on the field with him.
Ezeiruaku’s emergence could also be the thing that ultimately makes the Cowboys cash in on Parsons in a trade, which he’s already requested.
It all might not be smoke, either. ESPN’s Mina Kimes tabbed Ezeiruaku to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in her preseason picks.
Kimes isn’t the only one heaping praise on the Boston College product.
“With Micah Parsons not participating in practice due to his contract dispute, Ezeiruaku has been declaring himself as a true force to reckon with,” USA Today’s K.D. Drummond wrote on August 4. “Lining up primarily as a left defensive end, Ezeiruaku has shown a complex rush attack that is far beyond his years. He’s also displayed the ability to set the edge, looking like he’s ready to take on a starting role sooner rather than later.”
Dallas Gets First Round Talent in Second Round
It’s not a stretch to say the Cowboys got first round talent with Ezeiruaku at No. 44 overall.
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski was already thinking along the same lines as Kimes after Dallas went through mandatory minicamp by naming Ezeiruaku as his Dark Horse candidate for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
“The 21-year-old will have the chance to fully capitalize on opponents being distracted by Micah Parsons at all times, which should create plenty of opportunities for Ezeiruaku to win one-on-one matchups,” Sobleski wrote on July 4. “Thus, he could create a significant impact from Day 1.”
Getting to learn from Parsons and play opposite him would be the dream of almost every NFL rookie edge rusher — headed into his fifth season Parsons still has a legitimate chance to crack the NFL’s top 10 career sacks leaders in the future.
Size Concerns May Have Impacted Draft Stock
At 6-foot-2 and 248 pounds, Ezeiruaku is a few inches shorter and 10-20 pounds lighter than the “ideal” size for NFL edge rushers — the kind of size that would have gotten him picked in the first round.
Ezeiruaku finished his college career with 28.0 sacks over 4 seasons and led the nation with 16.5 sacks in 2024 to go with 80 tackles, 3 forced fumbles and 20 TFL. He was also named ACC Defensive Player of the Year, All-American and won the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top collegiate defensive end.
” … His hands exploit small advantages to turn them into big ones and he has a variety of ways to challenge protection, though he’s still learning to craft his plans,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “Ezeiruaku’s play demeanor, skill and athletic talent are the underpinnings of a productive starter with three-down value.”
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