The Dallas Cowboys 2021 season awards feature some of the best players at the position in the NFL. Dallas had their season cut short despite boasting the top offense in the NFL. The Cowboys also greatly improved their defense from last year with mostly the same personnel. Micah Parsons and the Cowboys had Super Bowl expectations but fell short with a first-round exit via the San Francisco 49ers. All-in-all the 2021-2022 season was a success despite the first-round playoff loss.
Dallas Cowboys 2021 Season Team Awards
Most Valuable Player (and Comeback Player of the Year): Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott was the most valuable player of the Dallas Cowboys in 2021-2022. He also earned the Comeback Player of the Year title for the Cowboys, overcoming his horrific ankle injury last season. The veteran quarterback made good on his massive new contract leading Dallas to an NFC East title and the playoffs. Prescott amassed 4,440 passing yards with 37 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. Dallas has a perennial pro-bowl candidate on contract for the next several years to continue this NFC East dominance.
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Offensive Player of the Year: Ezekiel Elliott
Ezekiel Elliott has earned offensive player of the year. The running back tallied up 987 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns. Elliott bounced back for Dallas after struggling to meet expectations the season before. The ground game was a big part of the Cowboys success this season and Elliott spear-headed the run-game to help control the ball and the clock.
.@EzekielElliott with the high step into the end zone. 😎#WASvsDAL | #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/pImz3hKKs7
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 27, 2021
Defensive Player of the Year: Trevon Diggs
Trevon Diggs was great this season playing an opportunistic ball hawk. Diggs snared 11 interceptions this season. Those 11 interceptions tied the franchise record and left him three picks shy of the NFL record. Dallas has been terrible defensively the last few seasons. Dan Quinn installed a new defensive mindset and Diggs played his part perfectly with opportunistic turnovers. This defense saw a tremendous turn-around lead by Diggs and other key players.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Micah Parsons
Micah Parsons was the other essential defensive cog alongside Diggs. Micah Parsons is a candidate for defensive player of the year for the NFL-wide awards as a rookie thanks to 13 sacks and 84 tackles in 16 games. The rookie linebacker was out-spoken and took responsibility to solidify the middle of this defense playing multiple positions. The former Nittany Lion was great rushing the passer, stopping the run, and defending the pass when asked to do so. Parsons put up some great numbers as a rookie and anchored this much-improved defense helping the Cowboys to dominate the NFC East.
Micah Parsons has been voted the 2021 NFL Rookie of the Year and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by @PFWAwriters. Parsons is the third Cowboys player selected as the PFWA’s Rookie of the Year (Tony Dorsett in 1977, Ezekiel Elliott in 2016) and the first to receive DPOY. pic.twitter.com/2BpL2o9qMy
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) January 25, 2022
Most Improved Player of the Year: Cedrick Wilson
Cedrick Wilson capitalized on his opportunities this season. Both Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb missed time due to injuries and COVID-19 this season. The young wideout racked up a career-high 602 yards and six touchdowns. Wilson went over 100 yards twice this season during stretches where Cooper and/or Lamb were banged up or on the COVID-19 reserve list. The third-year wide receiver had 189 yards the season before, and 46 receiving yards his rookie season in 2019. Wilson proved he can be a complementary receiver or even possibly the lead wide receiver in any offense. Prescott and the Cowboys were very lucky to have Wilson with multiple absences from Lamb, Cooper, and Michael Gallup.
Dallas Cowboys 2021 Season
The Dallas Cowboys had a great season highlighted by some new faces and some great play by veterans. Prescott and Elliott both returned to form while Parsons, Diggs, and Wilson took full advantage of their opportunity to see the playing field. Dallas is lucky to be led by such great young talent at every level both offensively and defensively. Despite the first-round playoff exit, the Cowboys have a promising future over the next several seasons.
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