NFL Mock Draft 2021: How Penn State’s Micah Parsons’ fits with Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders made a big splash on defense ahead of NFL free agency Monday, and could be in range to pluck Penn State Football’s Micah Parsons during the 2021 NFL Draft.

Entering the offseason in dire need of pass-rush help, the Raiders agreed to terms with veteran edge-rusher Yannick Ngakoue Monday, the first day of the NFL’s negotiating window prior to free agency opening on Wednesday.

Last season, the Raiders produced just 21 sacks, fourth-fewest in the NFL, and generated pressure on only 23.5 percent of defensive snaps.

With Ngakoue in the fold, the Raiders add Parsons to what is shaping up to be a dominant front-seven, in Pro Football Focus’ latest NFL Mock Draft 2021 projection:

"No. 17: Las Vegas Raiders – Micah Parsons, LB, Penn StateParsons was PFF’s highest-graded off-ball linebacker in 2019, finishing the season with a 91.6 overall mark. He can get after the quarterback at will when set loose, generating 26 quarterback pressures on just 94 pass-rush snaps."

Prior to arriving in Happy Valley, Parsons was a five-star defensive end prospect, the No. 1 ranked player at his position in his recruiting class, and quickly developed into an All-American inside linebacker and the heart of the Nittany Lions‘ defense.

Sports Info Solutions believes that Parsons has the chance to be an instant contributor at the next-level, despite inconsistencies at times in coverage.

“Parsons offers instant value as a run-defender, and his blitzing ability should temper zone coverage woes in Year 1,” the outlet writes in its annual NFL Draft guide.

So, what kind of player can the Raiders — or any NFL team — expect to be getting in Parsons?

“Ray Lewis, Patrick Willis, they’re the best inside linebackers in the last 25 years,” an NFL executive recently told Victory Bell Rings. “And what made them so good was their hand use. Once they got their hands on a lineman and stunned them, they’re so quick and fast, they could get off the blocks and make the tackle.

“The one thing Micah has to do, is he has to use his hands inside vs. traffic to become the kind of player he has the potential to be. If he figures that out, he’s going to be a perennial All-Pro for as many years as he wants to be.”