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Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons is an intriguing talent and one that could help the New York Giants defense if plugged in alongside Blake Martinez. However, there are some character concerns with Parsons that apparently worry the Giants.
Although Parsons addressed and dismissed some of those concerns, the Giants do not appear to be sold. In fact, one NFL talent evaluator told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post that Big Blue prefers Parsons get selected ahead of their pick at No. 11 overall so the decision is made for them.
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“The Giants are hoping another team takes him,” a talent evaluator with another NFL team told The Post, “so they don’t have to decide.”
Others around the league liken Parsons to former Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who was viewed as a talented competitor with a very immature and distracting side.
“There’s some [concern] because he comes off like Odell Beckham with high-maintenance stuff — like a quarterback playing linebacker,” one NFL scout said. “But I’m not worried about Parsons like I was worried about [DeAndre] Baker.
“He’s going to be a rock star, like an LT. He’s going to play early, he’s going to have success, he’s going to be sitting court-side. Nothing is going to stand in the way of football for Micah. The red flags aren’t enough to deter you from drafting him.”
The Giants aren’t so sure.
Kim Jones of NFL Network, who is also a Penn State alum, says Parsons is one of a handful of players the Giants are strongly considering with their first-round pick.
As mentioned on @NFLTotalAccess, I confirmed today that these 6 are AMONG the players the #NYG are considering w/the 11th overall pick:
Azeez Ojulari, GA, edge
Micah Parstons, PSU, LB
Kwity Paye, Mich, edge
Rashawn Slater, NU, T
Patrick Surtain, Ala, CB
Jaylen Waddle, Ala, WR— Kim Jones (@KimJonesSports) April 14, 2021
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan had a different take on his “Breaking Big Blue” podcast earlier this week however, saying it would be a surprise if the Giants went with Parsons at No. 11.
“There’s a lot of smoke around Micah Parsons. I’d be surprised if the Giants went in that direction right now,” said Raanan.
The conflicting information on Parsons is interesting, but indicates a mixed bag of opinions inside the East Rutherford facilities. The Giants have been burned in the recent past by selecting players with some character issues and things obviously didn’t work out with OBJ, so the reluctance is understandable. But with so many jobs on the line, it’s also easy to understand how some would fall in love with Parsons’ talent.
“If I’m the Giants and I’ve had a recent track record of some misses with key assets,” one league source told the Post, “I’m probably going to be a little more risk-averse with that first pick and lean a little more towards the higher floor than getting too carried with the higher ceiling.”