Micah Parsons plays for the Washington Commanders' arch-rival Dallas Cowboys. But give the edge rusher credit: he always speaks highly of the team's players and coaches.
And he just can't stop praising quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels.
Parsons described Daniels as "cold-blooded" during the regular season. The All-Pro stated that he hasn't seen a better rookie signal-caller since he's been in the league, possibly since the Baltimore Ravens' two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
Now, there is a slight technicality here. Parsons is likely referring to Jackson's first full season as a starter in 2019 when he won his first of two NFL MVP awards. His rookie year was in 2018 and he only started seven games.
Jayden Daniels compares to Lamar Jackson, but he's carving out his own path
Comparisons like this are always notable when they come from a player of Parsons' caliber. The Cowboys' star edge rusher has been a Pro Bowler in each of his four NFL seasons and has already racked up 52.5 career sacks — 10.5 of them have come against the Commanders.
For as complimentary as Parsons has been of the Commanders, one has to think there's a possibility he may wear the famous Burgundy and Gold one day should the Cowboys remain in flux. He maintains a strong relationship with Washington's head coach Dan Quinn, who was his defensive coordinator for three seasons in Dallas. A trade between these storied rivals is out of the question, but who knows what could happen further down the line.
As for Daniels? All he can do is stay humble and not let the hype go to his head. This has been one of his greatest strengths so far, but as praise continues to rain down after his historic rookie year, he and Washington will be faced with a significantly higher standard to meet in 2025.
Using Parsons' comparison with Jackson, Daniels should be able to learn some valuable lessons as he navigates that process. The former Louisville star, despite all of his success, has been criticized — primarily earlier in his career — for limitations in his game such as inconsistencies as a passer and struggles to stay healthy.
Two summers ago, there were talks about the Ravens potentially trading him as they struggled to reach a long-term deal. Demand around the league wasn't very high. Jackson has used that as motivation to enter the best two-year stretch of his career.
Daniels will face his obstacles too, make no mistake about it. He remains lanky in stature and prone to taking dangerous hits on the field. This raises concerns about the sustainability of his play as it currently stands.
There's nothing he can't fix, though. So long as he keeps a good head on his shoulders, he should be an MVP-caliber player much like Jackson for years to come.