Penn State football: Potential landing spots for Micah Parsons in 2021 NFL Draft
By John Buhler
player. NFC East. New York Giants. 4. 31. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. (No. 11)
One man who could be in line to be an NFL head coach down the line is New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. He has been coaching on the defensive side of the ball for over a decade in the NFL, most notably serving as the New England Patriots linebackers coach during their dynastic run.
What was key in the Giants’ second-half turnaround from a season ago was the emergence of Graham’s defense. Yes, the offense improved under Jason Garrett, but it was Graham’s side of the ball that really turned people’s heads. Though he may not be in New York for very long, he could be the one to help make Parsons a star during the early part of his rookie contract out of Penn State.
New York is picking in the right vicinity to land Parsons at No. 11. Yes, there are a few teams selecting ahead of the Giants who might be able to swoop in and grab him before they have a chance. However, if the Giants do opt to take a player on the defensive side of the ball at No. 11 and Parsons is somehow still on the board, you better believe he will be playing for the G-Men.
AFC West. Scouting Report. (No. 9). Denver Broncos. 3. player. 45. Pick Analysis
Vic Fangio is always a fan of great front-seven play
2021 is a critical year for the Denver Broncos. They need to figure out several things very quickly. Is Drew Lock the answer at quarterback? Can head coach Vic Fangio get the team back into the playoffs after a half-decade absence? Picking at No. 9, the Broncos could go in many directions with their top-10 selection. If they want to go with a defensive star, they might go with Parsons.
When the Broncos have been good in the post-John Elway era, the team has largely rallied around great defensive players. Yes, Peyton Manning was an excellent quarterback for them for a while, but the defense carried him to a second Super Bowl in 2015 once he devolved into a pumpkin. Bradley Chubb is promising and all, but Parsons could be their next true defensive superstar.
Denver has other needs besides a middle linebacker to use its top-10 pick on. However, the Broncos need to start hitting on more and more of their draft picks. With George Paton coming over from the Minnesota Vikings, he could get a defensive-minded head coach like Fangio a crucial piece in Parsons that could transform his defensive front-seven to make the Broncos relevant.