Athletic freak. That’s the best way to describe Micah Parsons. Like the Youtube video says, he’s a generational talent. He sat out the 2020 season but was so good in 2019 that it did nothing to his draft stock. He’ll end up as being one of the best players in this class when it’s all said and done.
Stats
2018: 82 Tackles, 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 2 FF
2019: 109 Tackles, 14 TFLs, 5 sacks, 5 pass breakups, 4 FF, 1 FR
Strengths
As I said earlier, he’s an athletic freak. Parsons is the best run-stuffer in this class by far. He has a great feel and play recognition in the run game and possesses the elite acceleration and quickness to make plays in the backfield. This pairs nicely with a high football IQ. His elite-level closing speed allows him to make plays that a lot of other guys can’t make. Parsons is also great at avoiding blockers, using that quickness in tight spaces. Offensive ball carriers need to hold onto that ball because Parsons has a Charles Tillman-like ability to punch the ball out. Tackling is another strong suit of his. Another thing that he has in his arsenal is his ability to blitz and rush the passer. It allows him to be used in a variety of different ways, whether that be off the edge or up the middle.
Weaknesses
His Achilles heel is his pass coverage. He’s not great at it, but he’s serviceable. He’ll get beat in coverage, but he’s not considered a liability. Another possible point of alarm is the fact that he sat out this past season.
Scheme Fit: 3-4 MLB
He played mostly 30 at Penn State, but he’s one of those guys that you can plug in anywhere and he’ll find a way to succeed.
Player Comparison: Luke Kuechly
They both play the game at an insanely high level. Kuechly was known as being one of the smartest players in NFL history and Parsons isn’t a slouch in his football knowledge. Both are great against the run and smart enough to know where to be against the pass. The only difference is that Parsons is much more of a freak athlete than Kuechly was.
Draft Prediction: Detroit Lions (1/7)
Parsons is the exact player that the Lions need to help their defense. They have the worst linebacking core in the league and are in desperate need of help there. Parsons would start day one and likely be one of, if not, the best players on that defense. If he doesn’t go here, expect a slide to a team that gets really lucky in the late first.