2021 NFL Draft: Best pick by every NFC East team
After the NFL Draft finishes, there’s always a feeling of fresh confidence in the air from every organization. A new class of rookies brings about new expectations and excitement, and part of that expectation is feeling like your team gets better. The 2021 NFL Draft was no different.
The NFC East came in with a lot of questions, especially with the 2020 division winner finishing under .500. The Eagles needed serious work in the secondary, at receiver, and were potentially thought of as a team looking for a new quarterback. Washington, with a well-built roster, had the freedom to look for value. The Giants needed help on the edge and were looking to help out Daniel Jones. Dallas needed help on every level of the defense.
So, how did each team do, and what was each team’s best selection in the 2021 NFL Draft? Let’s dive in!
Dallas Cowboys: Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Round 1, 12th Overall
As stated above, the Dallas Cowboys entered the 2021 NFL Draft with tons of needs on the defensive side of the ball. The secondary needed help opposite Trevon Diggs, and the defensive line needed some upgrades. Many believed that the Cowboys would get either Jaycee Horn or Patrick Surtain II to fall to pick 10, but they went in the two selections before Dallas got on the clock.
The Cowboys decided to back two spots and select linebacker Micah Parsons. While it may seem odd that linebacker was the direction Dallas went at 12, the Cowboys did decline Leighton Vander Esch’s fifth-year option, which could signal his end after 2021.
Parsons gives the Cowboys an athletic playmaker who has elite range and closing speed. He will make life difficult as a blitzer for opposing offenses and has the ability to hang with receivers and running backs in coverage. There are still things for Parsons to iron out in terms of processing, but the combination of athleticism, size, and speed raises his ceiling to an absurd level.
The Cowboys did address the secondary and the defensive line in the 2021 NFL Draft, but with the biggest upside, Parsons is easily the best pick they made.