NFL Draft 2021: Cowboys select Micah Parsons No. 12 overall after trade

The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2021 NFL Draft on Thursday night with a bevy of team needs to potentially fill with their first-round selection. From cornerback to offensive line and maybe even a tight end, for months speculation has been built around which prospect will land in Dallas with the 10th overall selection. And now we know the answer.

On draft night, the Cowboys traded their 10th overall selection to their division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, for the 12th overall pick and a third-round selection, 84th overall. Following the trade, the Cowboys selected Micah Parsons at pick No. 12, the linebacker from Penn State.

Coming into the 2021 NFL Draft, Parsons was considered the top linebacker prospect in the class. And while many penciled him in as potentially the top defender of the draft, maturity issues seemed to shadow the clear physical tools he possesses.

In 2019, Parsons racked up 109 total tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, five pass deflections, and four forced fumbles in 13 games for the Nittany Lions.

In Dallas, Parsons now enters a crowded linebacker room with starters Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch looking over their shoulders. Smith’s overall play has declined over the past two seasons while Vander Esch has struggled with injuries. The selection of Parsons now puts both veterans on notice entering a critical 2021 season.

Cowboys history of first-round selections over the past ten years

2010 – Dez Bryant, WR – Oklahoma State
2011 – Tyron Smith, OT – USC
2012 – Morris Claiborne, CB – LSU
2013 – Travis Frederick, C – Wisconsin
2014 – Zack Martin, OT – Notre Dame
2015 – Byron Jones, CB – Connecticut
2016 – Ezekiel Elliott, RB – Ohio State
2017 – Taco Charlton, DE – Michigan
2018 – Leighton Vander Esch, LB – Boise State
2020 – Ceedee Lamb, WR – Oklahoma

The Dallas Cowboys enter day two of the 2021 NFL Draft with four selections in rounds two and three. The Cowboys own pick No. 44 in the second round, and then the 75th selection, 84th pick (from Philly), and the 99th selection in the third round of the draft which is scheduled for Friday night.