Dallas Cowboys get Micah Parsons after trading down
By Tyler Kirk
With the 12th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select. Micah Parsons, linebacker, Penn State.
After a surprising trade with a division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys end up selecting Penn State linebacker, Micah Parsons, 12th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.
After a little run on cornerbacks and presumed targets of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones and the front office were forced to think quickly. Ultimately, they decided to trade down (even just two picks), collect an additional third-round pick, and still take likely the highest player on their board.
While the Eagles seem like an unlikely trade partner for the Dallas Cowboys, they did complete a trade just last year. The Eagles came up for Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith, and the Cowboys drop down and get Micah Parsons.
Parsons is a do-it-all defender that will look to thrive in the defensive scheme of new defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn. As a thick and powerful linebacker, Parsons brings a level of physicality that Quinn will be looking for.
While he’s not the most effective in coverage, Parsons will still be on the field every down because of how effective he is as a pass rusher. In the run game, he is a downhill force who’s not afraid to take on blocks. On passing downs, he can even put his hand in the dirt and come off the edge.
Last year, the Dallas Cowboys linebackers really struggled. Both young, promising linebackers, Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith struggled to get to the ball. They often showed a lack of effort when getting to the ball carrier. You won’t see that from Parsons.
The Dallas Cowboys have multiple needs that they could have addressed and Parsons’ character concerns could have caused him to fall farther down the board, but the pairing makes sense.
Jerry Jones always seems to believe that he can turn some troubled young players around, and Parsons may be the perfect project. If he plays up to his potential, develops in coverage, and stays on the field throughout his career, Parsons could be a steal for the Dallas Cowboys after trading down in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.