The 2021 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Micah Parsons 2021 NFL Draft profile.
Background
Position: Linebacker
Size: 6-foot-3, 245 pounds
Class: Junior
2019 Stats: 109 total tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, 5 passes defended, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recoveries
Micah Parsons decided to forgo his junior and senior seasons of college football and declare for the 2021 NFL Draft. Parsons played two great seasons at Penn State and is ready for the next level more than most prospects.
He was a U.S. Army All-American out of high school, but he was playing defensive end. Parsons transitioned to linebacker as a freshman at Penn State. He totaled 82 tackles, four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. The Nittany Lions won nine games, but finished the season with a loss to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl. His play improved in 2019, as Parsons totaled 109 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and five sacks. He helped Penn State to an 11-2 record and a win over Memphis in the Cotton Bowl.
Parsons is one of the few prospects who didn’t have much left to prove for NFL decision-makers. He is currently projected to be picked early in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Strengths
As a former defensive end, Parsons has great size for a linebacker. He stands at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, which is great for a player at his position. This allows him to match up well with tight ends and shed blocks and get to ball carriers. There won’t be many bigger linebackers in the NFL than Parsons.
Parsons is an explosive athlete. He has great burst and good speed. His range goes from sideline to sideline, as he is great at chasing down ball carriers. This also helps him rush the passer well and drop into coverage.
His versatility as a linebacker allows him to stay on the field for all three downs. He is great at stopping the run, which allows him to be effective on early downs. On passing downs, he is an effective pass rusher and is solid in coverage as well. He showed good ability to play zone and to cover tight ends. Defensive coordinators will be able to move him around on defense and use him as a chess piece.
Weaknesses
He played defensive end in high school, which helped make him versatile, but also means he has limited experience at linebacker. Parsons was able to pick up the position very quickly at Penn State, but he will need to master the position in the pros.
Parsons did bite on his fair share of play-action passes, which got him out of position. He normally has good eyes and instincts, but teams looking to get an edge on him can use play-action passes to throw him off. It will be important for Parsons to stay disciplined, because NFL offensive coordinators will be looking to gameplan against him.
While he already has speed, he can improve his quickness. He is bigger than most linebackers, so if he drops a little weight, he could be quicker. In a league that has recently emphasized the importance of speed, Parsons will want to be at his fastest speed.
Projected Draft Range: Top 10 Pick
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