NFL Mock Draft 2021: Patriots, Washington trade up in 3-round mock
2021 NFL Mock Draft: 15th pick
Pick Analysis. LB. Penn State. 15. player. Scouting Report. Micah Parsons. 44
After trading back from the 4th overall pick all the way down to the 15th overall pick, the Atlanta Falcons take a shot on Penn State’s ultra-talented linebacker prospect Micah Parsons.
Actually, this mock draft pick was a pretty popular one early on in the NFL mock draft process as the Falcons were assumed to be taking the top defensive player on the board, which, for a long time, Parsons was considered to be.
Concerns have risen over Parsons’ history of immature decision-making and behavior, though Penn State coaches have routinely gone to bat for him (though there was that one-game suspension for undisclosed behavior issues).
Parsons is alleged to have been part of some pretty gross hazing at Penn State and the “maturity” concerns have come up from too many reputable voices to be completely dismissed.
Arthur Smith, who was just in Tennessee where Isaiah Wilson seemingly flamed out of the NFL in less than a year, may not want a repeat situation in his first year as head coach, but love for football doesn’t seem to be Parsons’ issue.
With that in consideration, this is a guy who could help the Atlanta Falcons in a number of ways on the field. Parsons is an outstanding athlete who can rush the passer, play sideline to sideline, and he’s finding his way in coverage.
This guy can win in so many ways physically. If the game “slows down” for him at some point, he’s going to be a force.