Cowboys rookie isn’t thrilled about “the next Micah Parsons” talk
Every year NFL teams enter the NFL Draft in hopes of doing what the Dallas Cowboys were able to do thanks to Micah Parsons: draft a rookie who makes an immediate impact. When Parsons “fell” to the Cowboys, many were worried he was a bad choice. Those people are eating their words.
Parsons was easily the Defensive Rookie of the Year and arguably the best rookie of the year overall. The young linebacker had 13 sacks, 64 solo tackles, three forced fumbles, 20 tackles for loss, and 30 QB hits. He was a swiss-army knife for America’s Team taking snaps in multiple defensive positions, truly doing whatever the team needed to succeed.
With the offseason upon most teams, many are looking to the next generation of players already. There is large hype around a lot of names entering the 2022 NFL Draft, and the Reese’s Senior Bowl is coming up. Outside of the NFL Combine, this is one of the most important days for players hoping for a spot on an NFL roster. Attending the all-star game of sorts is huge for many athletes. Six of the players who went last year were drafted in the first round.
With the 2021-22 season in the past for collegiate athletes, many are speculating who will be drafted in what rounds and who will really last in the pros. Apparently, Parsons isn’t thrilled about the phrasing people are using when they say, “who will be the next Micah Parsons?” In other words, who is going to be drafted and make an immediate, lasting impact as a generational player?
We gotta cut this next Micah parsons bs!! Let me be me for a little bit first ! Damn!
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) January 31, 2022
Cowboys rookie standout Micah Parsons not thrilled that people are looking for “the next Micah Parsons”
According to his Twitter, Parsons wants fans and analysts to let him be for a bit. It’s hard to let go of the spotlight, especially when you’ve earned it. But when it comes down to it, there actually are a couple of talented linebackers out there who could be “the next Micah Parsons.”
One of those names is playing in the Reese’s Senior Bowl: Utah’s Devin Lloyd. The comparison to Parsons likely comes from the fact that Lloyd is also a do-it-all guy. He can take on blocks. He can blitz. He can cover tight ends. He earned himself an impressive 89.2 PFF grade.
Another name is Nakobe Dean who won the National Championship with the Georgia Bulldogs. Dean isn’t anywhere near Parsons’ size at 6-foot and 225 pounds, but his lack of size is made up for with his speed. His instincts and legs are incredibly quick which help him terrorize quarterbacks and running backs from any team. He earned a 91.9 pass-rushing grade from PFF.
The reality is that teams for many years to come will be looking for “the next Micah Parsons.” Every GM wants their selections to be the right choice. Every team wants a guy who can come in and perform immediately. But getting drafted is only one piece of the puzzle. Will these linebackers actually outshine Parsons’ 2021 performance on the field?
