NFL Draft 2021: Why Penn State Football’s Micah Parsons eyes NY Giants

Penn State Football inside linebacker Micah Parsons has the chance to hear his name called in the top-10 picks of the 2021 NFL Draft later this month, but might have his sights set on a team — and situation, just outside the top ten.

The NY Giants, who boast former Penn State Football defensive line coach Sean Spencer in the same role on head coach Joe Judge’s coaching staff are scheduled to pick No. 11 overall later this month, and Parsons says reuniting with one of his former coaches would certainly be intriguing.

“If I can get with Coach Chaos again,” Parsons said, via The Record. “that would be unbelievable.”

Parsons’ versatility and dominant skill-set could be a huge asset to NY Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, and he would be an instant talent upgrade at inside linebacker alongside Blake Martinez in a front-seven that made significant strides in 2020.

Reuniting with Spencer would be personal for Parsons.

"“Some people are coaches, and some are fathers,” Parsons wrote, via the Record, when Judge hired Spencer. “Coach Spence made me feel like I was one of his own children … one of the realest out! Give me first chance. Love you dawg, until next time.”"

Next time could be right around the corner.

Adding Parsons could give Graham the chance to deploy him off the edge as a pass-rusher, after Parsons produced 6.5 sacks and forced six fumbles in two seasons in Happy Valley, prior to opting out in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns and to prepare for the NFL Draft. Likewise, Parsons’ ability to be a dominant linebacker in coverage from sideline-to-sideline would be a boost.

Judge and Graham got a first-hand glimpse of what Parsons is capable of, when they scouted Penn State Football’s pro day last month and saw Parsons run the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at 246 pounds and run the three-cone drill in 6.89 seconds.

One NFL executives believes Parsons has a lofty ceiling, in any defense.

“Most of the time, you get guys who are that fast and that quick but weigh 230 pounds and you can’t figure out where to play him,” an NFL executive recently told VictoryBellRings. “This guy moves like that, plays like that, hits like that, and all of a sudden it’s like ‘holy shit, you can play this guy anywhere.’ You can play Micah at inside linebacker, outside backer, he can put his hand in the dirt on third down if you want him to and rush the passer with him.”