The All-22: How Micah Parsons Makes the Packers' Entire Defense Better

Last season, the Green Bay Packers tied for sixth-best in the NFL with 45 quarterback sacks, but their 22.1% pressure rate, while decent for a team that blitzed on just 17.3% of their snaps – was far more middle of the pack. Still, not too bad for a defense without an obvious alpha pass-rusher on the roster. 

Of course, that all changed with the addition of Micah Parsons in the August 28 trade with the Dallas Cowboys that brought Parsons to Jeff Hafley’s Packers defense. Parsons is the best speed-rusher of his era, and his attributes will really amplify the fronts the Packers put on the field – starting with Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions. 

"It gives us a big jolt," Packers quarterback Jordan Love said of Parsons' acquisition. "Everybody was excited, just because we know what type of player he is. Some exciting things can happen."

Who might Parsons help the most? It could be Rashan Gary, the 2019 first-round draft pick out of Michigan who was given a four-year, $96 million contract extension with nearly $35 million guaranteed. Gary is a very good, if not elite pass-rusher, and where the very good as opposed to elite showed up last season was how Gary performed against double teams. Overall, Gary had nine sacks and 49 total pressures. But when he was double-teamed by opposing offenses, Gary had no sacks, no quarterback hits, and only one quarterback pressure. 

Double teams are not a problem for Parsons. Last season with the Cowboys, Parsons had 14 sacks and 70 total pressures in an injury-limited season, and when doubled, he totaled four sacks, five quarterback hits, and 12 quarterback hurries. Parsons can create chaos no matter how offenses are arrayed against him, and that will benefit every one of his defensive line mates in the 2025 season and beyond. 

If you want to know what an impact Parsons can make on the field, consider that in the four games and 372 snaps he missed last season with an ankle injury, Dallas’ opponent offensive EPA rose from +0.07 to +0.13, opponent passing EPA rose from +0.01 to +0.17, the blown block sack rate fell from 21.1% to 15.0%, and the blown block sack rate fell from 5.7% to 2.8%. This gu can change a defense all by himself.

So, while the Packers will benefit from Micah Parsons doing what he does in a singular sense, Parsons is also the kind of defender who makes everyone else better with his mere presence. You’ll see a lot of that this season.

(All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions).