Micah Parsons odds: Cowboys star favored to join Lawrence Taylor with historic double of NFL Defensive Player of Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year

Sometimes, it's better to be lucky than smart in the NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys weren't originally targeting Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons in the first round of this year's draft but landed him at No. 12 overall. He's having an historically good rookie season and could join New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor as the only players to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.

The Cowboys went into the draft targeting a cornerback, preferably either South Carolina's Jaycee Horn or Alabama's Patrick Surtain, but Horn went No. 8 to Carolina and Surtain (who is having a terrific rookie season himself) at No. 9 to Denver. Thus, Dallas ended up trading back two spots from No. 10 to No. 12 with the Eagles and selected Parsons, who opted out of the 2020 season with Penn State.

In Sunday's 27-20 win at Washington, which all but wrapped up the NFC East title for the Cowboys, Parsons had two sacks and a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown. Parsons has recorded a sack in each of his past six games and is the third rookie to record a sack in six-or-more consecutive games since 1982, joining Jevon Kearse (eight consecutive games in 1999) and Mike Croel (six in 1991).

Parsons, who has 12 sacks and three forced fumbles this season, is the fifth rookie with at least 12 sacks and three forced fumbles since 2000, joining Mark Anderson (2006), Dwight Freeney (2002), Julius Peppers (2002) and Terrell Suggs (2003).

Kearse won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1999 when he set a rookie record with 14.5 sacks. Croel won it in 1991, Peppers did in 2002 (beating out Freeney) and Suggs did in 2003, but Anderson was beaten out by DeMeco Ryans in 2006.

Through 13 games a year ago, the Cowboys had allowed 400 points and 48 touchdowns. They had just five interceptions and 24 sacks. Through 13 games this season, the Cowboys have allowed 287 points and 32 touchdowns. They have 21 interceptions and 31 sacks.

The Defensive Rookie of the Year race is 100 percent over as Parsons is the -6000 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook with Surtain next at +1000. For Defensive Player of the Year, Parsons is a +300 co-favorite with Cleveland's Myles Garrett. Pittsburgh's TJ Watt is right behind at +400. It's going to be one of those three guys. Watt leads the league with 16 sacks despite missing two-plus games and Garrett is second with 15.

In addition to his 12 sacks, Parsons has 57 tackles and three forced fumbles. In 1981 when Taylor accomplished the historic double, the future Hall of Famer had 9.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.

Dallas is at the New York Giants on Sunday. In 44-20 victory over the Giants in Week 5, Parsons had eight tackles but no sacks.

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