If the Carolina Panthers want to get their defense back to the elite level it was when they went on their Super Bowl run in 2015, they will have to add another elite linebacker who can patrol sideline to sideline like the now-retired Luke Kuechly.
Let’s take a look at Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, a 2021 NFL draft prospect who could pair with Shaq Thompson and create one of the more dynamic off-ball duos in the league.
Profile:
6-foot-3, 245 pounds
Projected 40 yard dash: 4.45 seconds
Parsons is a freak athlete with tremendous versatility. He can play inside and off ball linebacker, as a stand-up edge rusher and even as a base end with his hand in the dirt. Speed, burst and instincts are all strengths of Parsons that he uses to get after the quarterback and stuff run plays on a consistent basis. He’s small for his position, but he doesn’t play like it. Parsons’ 6-foot-3 frame is well-built and very compact, which allows him to turn speed into power when rushing the passer. Parsons uses his speed to reach ball carriers sideline to sideline and has natural instincts to plug up the run game. However, his greatest strength is his ability to blitz.
Highlights:
Parsons vs. Pittsburgh
Parsons vs. Memphis
Parsons 2019 highlights
How he compares:
Parsons has announced the he will sit out the 2020 season and prepare for the 2021 NFL draft. As long as he performs near expected at his pro day and the NFL combine, he will be a lock as a top-15 draft pick. He is a truly unique defender that has all the tools necessary to have his game translate into All-Pro success in the pros. Parsons and Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses are the only LBs in the class that have true sideline-to-sideline range, a trait only elite linebackers in the NFL possess. However, Moses has battled injuries his entire collegiate career, which gives Parsons the edge as LB1 in this upcoming class.
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