Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, Zack Martin named First-Team All-Pros

The Dallas Cowboys have had a successful 2021 season by going 12-5, winning the NFC East, and securing the three seed in the playoffs. Of course, that doesn’t happen without big-time performances from the best players on the roster, and the Cowboys have gotten just that.

All-Pro selections were announced on Friday. The Cowboys were represented well on the list as rookie linebacker Micah Parsons, cornerback Trevon Diggs, and right guard Zack Martin were named to the first team.

Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons, CB Trevon Diggs, and RG Zack Martin have been named 1st Team All-Pro.

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) January 14, 2022

Parsons has quickly established himself as the most versatile defender in the NFL. He’s lined up at linebacker, defensive end, cornerback, and safety which is mind-blowing, to say the least. The 12th overall pick registered 84 tackles (20 tackles for loss), 13 sacks, 30 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, and three passes defended.

With all the different ways Parsons can be utilized it allows defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to dial up a plethora of looks to confuse opposing offenses. It’s catapulted the Cowboys’ defense to be the top-ranked unit on third down and forced turnovers.

Diggs lead the NFL with 11 interceptions and finished second on passes defended with 21. He tied the Cowboys’ franchise record for interceptions set by Everson Walls in 1981 and it was the most that any player has had since then.

The former wide receiver has used his skills from playing that position to become the NFL’s premier ball-hawking corner. He has 14 interceptions for his career and they’ve all come in the last 21 games (didn’t record an interception until Week 8 in 2020).

Martin was, well, Martin again in 2021. This was his seventh all-pro selection in his eight-year career and the fifth time he’s made the first team. After a rocky 2020 which saw him miss six games with a calf strain, Martin reminded the world this season that he’s the gold standard when it comes to guards in the NFL.

Not only is he the best at his position, but the argument can be made that he’s the best offensive lineman in the league with the way he slid outside to play right tackle last season and looked like an all-pro in the absence of La’el Collins. The Cowboys running game flourishes behind him and he keeps pressure from getting to Dak Prescott up the middle which is a quarterback’s worst nightmare.