NFL Mock Draft 2021: Penn State Football’s Micah Parsons to Broncos

The Denver Broncos will need to revamp their front-seven this offseason, particularly with much uncertainty surrounding future Hall of Famer Von Miller, and in a recent NFL mock draft projection, have sights set on Penn State Football.

Last season, the Broncos finished 25th in total defense, while struggling to generate a consistently dominant pass rush, producing 42 sacks and generating pressure on 26.2 percent of snaps.

There seems to be momentum building towards bringing back Miller, and picking up his team-option for this season, but that remains an uncertainty.

In CBS Sports’ latest NFL Mock Draft 2021 projection, the Broncos select Penn State Football linebacker Micah Parsons with the No. 9 overall pick:

"Josey Jewell is coming off a strong season, but he’s the only off-ball linebacker currently under contract in Denver. Parsons is a top-five talent who could get pushed down the board if there are runs on QBs and offensive linemen."

Pairing Jewell and Parsons would create a dominant linebacker presence.

Parsons opted out of the 2020 season, citing COVID-19 concerns and to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft, but his potential as a top-10 selection and premier defensive prospect had long been cemented.

In his final collegiate season, in 2019, Parsons produced 109 total tackles, five sacks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery, en-route to being named a First-Team All-American.

One NFL executive believes Parsons has a higher ceiling in the NFL than Buccaneers All-Pro Devin White.

“He can be a game-changer,” a long-time NFL personnel executive tells VictoryBellRings, on the condition of anonymity so he could speak freely on Parsons as he still consults for several teams. “Devin White, who I loved coming out of LSU, Micah is a much better prospect than him. Devin was very athletic, very fast, you see it on the NFL level.”