Though he’s finished in the top three of the NFL defensive player of the year voting on three occasions, pass-rushing extraordinaire Micah Parsons never has actually won the award.
His campaign is off to a good start in 2025. There’s a reason why BetMGM gives him the best odds (plus 150) to win the award.
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Parsons was named the NFC’s defensive player of the month in October, a nod to his four sacks, six quarterback hits and five tackles for loss over three victories against Cincinnati, Arizona and Pittsburgh. Although, anyone who watches Parsons play for the Green Bay Packers will tell you it goes beyond the surface numbers as he occupies outsized attention from blockers and frees up teammates to make plays.
More: Micah Parsons still finds ways to shock and awe Packers in his first career 3-sack game
Parsons has won the award once before, in September 2023. He later finished third in the DPOY voting, following up back-to-back runner-up finishes during his superb four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.
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The Packers have gotten the difference maker they were hoping for when they made a blockbuster preseason trade to land Parsons, then signed him to a four-year deal worth $188 million, giving him an average annual value that ranks highest in NFL history among non-quarterbacks.
That remained true this week even though the Lions signed their own difference maker on defense, Aidan Hutchinson, to a four-year extension worth $180 million, though Hutchinson’s deal promises him $141 million guaranteed, a record for a non-quarterback. Parsons’ deal calls for $136 million guaranteed.
Entering 2025, before extensions by Wisconsin native T.J. Watt ($41 million per year), Ja’Marr Chase ($40.25 million), Myles Garrett ($40 million) and Maxx Crosby ($35.5 million), the record for highest-paid non-QB was Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson ($35 million).
Packers safety Xavier McKinney won the NFC defensive player of the month last October, the first Packers player to win a monthly award since Aaron Rodgers won the offensive nod in December 2021.
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University of Wisconsin alumnus Jonathan Taylor was named the AFC offensive player of the month after he averaged 109 yards per game over four Indianapolis Colts victories, with 10 all-purpose touchdowns in those games. Taylor, the frontrunner for the league’s offensive player of the year award, will at least make a case to become the first non-QB league MVP since 2012.
Other NFC award winners for October included Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the offensive player and 49ers kicker Eddy Piñeiro on special teams.
Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones was defensive player of the month in the AFC, and Denver kicker Will Lutz got the nod on special teams.
Rams outside linebacker Byron Young won the NFC defensive player of the month in September; he registered five sacks in the season’s first four games, with 23 tackles overall. He’s up to nine sacks on the season through October.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Packers star Micah Parsons named NFC defensive player of the month