There is a lot of hype and hope for what Parker can do for the Cowboys' defense, and Rich Eisen is buying all the stock he can get.
We have to be careful not to put too much stock in what we see on OTAs, and for Dallas Cowboys fans, that can be hard because of the arrival of Christian Parker and rookie Caleb Downs.
Together, along with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark having a full offseason, a healthy DeMarvion Overshown, plus the additions of Cobie Durant, Dee Winters, Rashan Gary, and Jalen Thompson, the defense, on paper, looks far better than it did a year ago.
But should be temper expectations?
After all, Parker has never called plays in the NFL, and Downs is a rookie, so for both, I'd imagine there will be a learning curve, and likely some mistakes early in the season.
I've said that by Week 4 or Week 5, we should see what this defense is really about. Until then, we won't really know, so I'm holding fire on bringing out the anointing oils for the defense.
But NFL analyst Rich Eisen isn't. He's all gas, no brakes when it comes to the Cowboys' defense.
Eisen was doing his top-10 defensive power rankings, and had the Baltimore Ravens at No. 10, and right behind them? Dallas at No. 9.
"I love what the Cowboys are cooking, and I'm calling my shot here and say the Cowboys will have a top 10 defense," Eisen said. "I love that line, I love Caleb Downs in the back to solidify and then marry the front and the backend. Overshown in the middle, he's healthy, running like a deer sideline to sideline."
Ok, that might be a little far, and I'm all for the hope and optimism, but this does feel like a stretch.
Let's not forget, Dallas had one of, if not the, worst defenses in football last season, so going from 32nd to 9th is a massive jump.
Now, could it happen? Sure. the NFL is an unpredictable beast, but the odds of it happening are surely low.
I think Cowboys Nation would settle for Parker's defense in Year 1 to be just average, rank 16th, and then Brian Schottenheimer's team has a great shot at playoff football.
But if Dallas does have a top 10 defense, you would think that, based on how the offense is expected to play, the Cowboys will likely be division winners and headed back to the playoffs for the first time in a couple of years.
There is a lot of hope and optimism surrounding the defense and what it could become, but top 10? I'm pumping the brakes on that.
