Cowboys' Micah Parsons 2023 NFL season props, odds: Dallas pass-rusher taking massive betting action as Defensive Player of the Year favorite

If the NFL held a draft today where every current defensive player in the league were available, there's a pretty good chance that the majority of general managers would take Dallas Cowboys pass-rusher Micah Parsons first. He's only 24 and already on a Hall of Fame track. No Cowboy has won NFL Defensive Player of the Year since way back in 1977, but Parsons -- a two-time runner-up for the award -- is taking massive action to do so at both DraftKings and BetMGM.

Parsons was the favorite for the award last season for a spell, but his level of play dropped from about December on. He only had 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks over his final six games. The former Penn State star finished the season with 65 tackles, 13.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble returns.

Good numbers, no doubt, but Nick Bosa of the 49ers was the clear pick for DPOY as he led the league in sacks with 18.5 and anchored the NFL's best defense. Parsons finished second in the voting, just like he did in 2021 as a rookie to Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt. Parsons was first-team All-Pro both years. 

Now, we do want to mention that Parsons left Tuesday's practice after suffering a lower-leg injury, but he's reportedly fine:  "It's just something that happened to me, it's football," Parsons said. "I'm not worried about it." All of his individual props would be taken down if there was concern.

At DraftKings, Parsons is the +600 favorite and taking 35% of the handle, more than triple the rate any other player. On the tickets, he's at 16%. Lions second-year end Aidan Hutchinson the only other player in double digits at 11%. At BetMGM, Parsons is also the +600 leader and getting 26% of money, by far the most.

Here are Micah Parsons props available via DraftKings:

• To win NFL Defensive Player of the Year: +600
• To win NFL MVP: +15000
• To lead NFL in sacks: +750 (third favorite)
• To have at least 18 sacks: +450
• Over/Under sacks: 13.25 (both -110)
• To lead NFL in tackles/assists: +20000

His 26.5 combined sacks in his first two years are the sixth-most since sacks became an official stat in 1982. Only Parsons, Aldon Smith and Reggie White have opened their careers with two seasons of at least 13 sacks. I'm a tad curious why DraftKings had a special of 18 sacks; it might make more sense to make that 20, which is the Cowboys franchise record set in 2008 by new Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware.

Parsons technically was drafted as a linebacker out of Penn State and did play mostly as an off-the-ball linebacker as a rookie in 2021, but last year he was mostly an edge rusher – and Parsons led all NFL edge rushers in pass rush win rate (30%). Bosa was only ninth at 22%. 

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