Micah Parsons Falls Short as Myles Garrett Voted Top Edge Rusher in NFL

Micah Parsons Falls Short as Myles Garrett Voted Top Edge Rusher in NFL

Myles Garrett of the Los Angeles Rams has been voted the top edge rusher in the NFL by an AP panel, with Micah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers finishing second.

What happened?

Garrett, who was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Rams in June, earned all eight first-place votes and won the voting with 80 points. Parsons, who was dealt from the Dallas Cowboys to the Packers before last season, was the only other player named on all eight ballots and finished with 27 points.

Why it matters for Micah Parsons

Parsons has performed at a high level every year in the NFL, and his season-ending injury in Week 15 of last season is expected to sideline him for at least the start of this season. Despite this, Parsons has shown his ability to dominate on the field, and his finish in the AP's top edge rusher voting is a testament to his skills.

What comes next?

Parsons will look to bounce back from his injury and continue to be a force on the field for the Packers. With Garrett leading the way, the Rams will be a team to watch in the NFL this season.

Garrett has been the NFL's dominant defensive player for years, leading to his record-setting campaign with 23 sacks last season. He has been named the AP Defensive Player of the Year twice and has earned All-Pro honors for the fifth time.

Parsons, on the other hand, has been a consistent performer for the Packers, earning his third career All-Pro honor last season. He has started his career with five straight seasons with at least 12 sacks, a feat that no other player has achieved.

The AP Pro Football Writers ranked the top five players at edge rusher, basing selections on current status entering the 2026 season. First-place votes were worth 10 points, while second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2, and 1 points, respectively.

In addition to Garrett and Parsons, the other players who received votes were Will Anderson Jr. of the Houston Texans, T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions.