Penn State Football: The Nittany Lions Top 5 NFL Draft Picks Since 2017

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Saquon Barkley of Penn State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #2 overall by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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Micah Parsons #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images) /

Micah Parsons is my top Penn State football NFL draft pick since 2017. Parsons was selected in the 1st round pick 12 in the 2021 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys. I still wish he played during the 2020 season at Penn State. Maybe that season goes in a different direction with Micah leading the defense.

Either way, his NFL career has been incredible so far. To me, he is the most dominant player on the field at all times. He is tasked with lining up at middle linebacker, defensive end, and outside linebacker, this guy does it all.

His breakout game at Penn State was in the 2019 Cotton Bowl. He won defensive MVP of that game with 14 tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.

Parsons won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2021, and he was selected to the First-Team All-Pro teams in 2021 and 2022 as well. Within the first two years of his NFL career, he has accounted for 149 tackles, 26.5 sacks, 6 pass deflections, and 6 forced fumbles. An absolute game-wrecker that can win the NFL MVP award in his career.

That’s what makes him the top draft pick over the past 6 years to me, he’s just scratching the surface of his NFL career and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Micah in his future.

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