Dallas Cowboys edge-rusher Micah Parsons recently took a direct jab at Pittsburgh Steelers’ T.J. Watt when asked to rank the top five pure edge-rushers in the NFL. Parsons, including himself, omitted Watt from the list, citing stats as the basis for his decision.
Parsons argued that when looking at the statistics, Watt did not meet the criteria to be considered a top-five edge-rusher. He mentioned double-team percentages to support his claim. However, key stats contradict Parsons’ assertion, as Watt finished fifth in tackles for loss (19) and led the league in sacks (19).
Analytically, Watt earned impressive ratings, with the fifth-highest defensive grade (91.9) and the fourth-best pressure grade (91.7) according to Pro Football Focus. ESPN analytics also placed him fourth in win-rate (25 percent) among edge rushers. Despite Parsons emphasizing double-team percentages, Watt’s impact remained significant, especially with his league-leading sack count.
Interestingly, Parsons’ argument about stats comes shortly after he stated that stats don’t matter. Additionally, he denied any “beef” with Watt but seemed to be affected by the Steelers player, possibly due to Watt receiving more first-place votes for Defensive Player of the Year and his response to losing the award to Myles Garrett.
In conclusion, regardless of Parsons’ attempt to downplay Watt, the statistics strongly support Watt’s standing as a top-tier edge-rusher in the NFL.