Today we are looking at Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, who opted out of the 2020 season after collecting a long list of accolades as a sophomore in 2019, including consensus All-American, first team All-Big Ten, Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year, and Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP!
Strengths: Parsons’s elite physical traits immediately pop off the tape. The modern NFL game is all about matching the elite offenses’ speed, and Parsons is the rare LB who can do so without sacrificing size, offering an incredibly rare speed and size combo. Parsons is elite in each phase of the position. Against the run, Parsons has the rare ability of being able to beat blocks consistently and then blow up the play. He also has solid tackling technique. As a former highly-recruited high school defensive end, Parsons projects to be one of the best blitzers at the LB position in the league, using his aggressiveness, speed, and pass rushing background to get to the QB and wreak havoc. Parsons also excels in coverage, in both man coverage and zone, showing the fluidity in transition as well as the athletic mirror ability needed to match with NFL tight ends and running backs. Parsons has top-notch instincts in all phases of the game, which he pairs with his incredible burst and speed to present elite read and react ability, which allows him to make plays that he never should have been able to make given where he was on the field. His range and pursuit speed are incredible and it sometimes feels like there is no play he can’t get to. Came up huge in Penn State’s Bowl game, recording 14 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles and receiving the game’s Defensive MVP award against Memphis.
Weaknesses: Parsons’s aggressiveness does get the best of him at times, as he overruns a tackle from time to time, coming in too hot. This needs to be cleaned up or he will allow a few avoidable big plays in his early years in the NFL. Parsons also could improve how he handles scheme complexity, as Ohio State managed to pull him out of position a few times. His decision to opt out might result in a slower transition to the NFL, but it also shows his maturity in that he made the responsible decision to protect the health of his young son.
Bottom line: Parsons is one of the easiest projections I have ever made. This early in the draft process, I am already comfortable saying he will be a perennial Pro-Bowler at LB. “Rare” really is the right way to describe Parsons, as he excels in every phase of the game and is an absolute game-changer on defense. The fact that he played defensive end throughout high school and has such little experience at LB is scary considering how elite he already was at the position as a sophomore.
Draft Projection: Top 10
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