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NFL Draft: The case for Penn State’s Micah Parsons to Minnesota Vikings

By Matt Lombardo

Nov 30, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Johnny Langan (17) is tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Micah Parsons (11) during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Johnny Langan (17) is tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Micah Parsons (11) during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports /
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Could Penn State’s Micah Parsons be an ideal NFL Draft fit alongside Eric Kendricks for the Minnesota Vikings? 

The Minnesota Vikings entered this offseason with one of the NFL’s more swarming front-sevens, and added nose tackle Dalvin Tomlinson to the mix, but just might have the opportunity to add a difference maker in the NFL Draft later this month.

Penn State Football’s Micah Parsons is widely viewed as one of the premier defensive prospects in this year’s NFL Draft class, potentially a top-10 selection.

Parsons helped himself running an unofficial 4.39 40-yard dash at Penn State Football’s pro day last month, but depending on how the top of the board shakes out — with as many as five quarterbacks chosen in the top-10 picks, he could slip just beyond the top-10.

If Parsons is available, Pro Football Focus believes the Minnesota Vikings should be the team to scoop him up with the No. 14 selection:

"The focus in Minnesota has been on the offensive and defensive lines for good reason, but what happens if Parsons, PFF’s seventh-ranked player overall, drops to the Vikings in the first round?Granted, the Vikings do already have Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr in place. Barr recently restructured his deal to become a free agent next offseason, though. Parsons could theoretically give Minnesota a talented trio of linebackers in 2021 while stepping in for a departing Barr the following season. Mike Zimmer would be able to use Parsons’ freakish athleticism and pass-rushing ability early on, even with Kendricks and Barr in the fold, considering that the Vikings ran base defense at a top-five rate in the NFL in 2020.Parsons earned PFF pass-rushing grades of 85.0 or higher in each of the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Just because he plays off-ball doesn’t mean he can’t give a boost to Minnesota’s pass rush. He’s also a safer bet as a prospect than many of the edge defender prospects in this draft class. The pick would give the Vikings immediate short-term help while keeping the linebacker position a strength moving past this season."

Much has been made during the pre-draft process of Parsons’ pass-rush prowess, and for good reason. Parsons’ natural position is defensive end, and he arrived in Happy Valley as a five-star recruit and the nation’s top-ranked prospect at the position, before producing 6.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery as the Nittany Lions‘ inside linebacker for two seasons.

The Vikings match up against the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Jones twice per season, so continuing to improve the run-defense could prove a wise investment in the draft.

Moreover, Parsons is a difference-maker who alongside Eric Kendricks could form one of the NFL’s most dominant linebacker duos.

“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.”

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