"Linebacker U" produced another top-tier talent for the 2021 NFL Draft class in Micah Parsons, who was selected with the No. 12 overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys. A 6-foot-3 presence with outstanding speed (4.39 40-yard dash) and athleticism to go along with a versatile skill set, the Penn State alum was the near-unanimous pick for the best linebacker in the draft and will quickly assume a big role in the Dallas defense.
It's a Dallas defense that could certainly use help, too, considering they gave up the fifth most points in the NFL last year, which is actually good compared to the historically bad trajectory they were on throughout the first handful of games in the 2020 season. This doesn't mean that there weren't talented players already in town, however, and the linebacker corps was one area that boasted some impressive names. Now, Parsons joins that unit, and he used a bold metaphor to describe how he will upgrade what he saw as an already-strong group.
"I bring speed, versatility, physicality. I bring that dogged competitiveness," Parsons told Michael Irvin on the former wideout's podcast. "You know, I'm [going to] make everyone around me better. I'm gonna challenge everyone, push everyone, so I think our morale's gonna go through the roof. And I think when you add me next to Jaylon (Smith) and (Leighton) Vander Esch, I think that's scary, man. You got three athletic linebackers that can all hustle and play and get to the ball?
"Man... it was scary, now it's a terrorist attack."
Smith, a Pro Bowler in 2019, has played in all 64 games of his four-year career, contributing all over the field and putting up one of the few productive seasons that we saw in a down 2020 campaign. Vander Esch, a 2018 Pro Bowler, suffered an injury in Week 1 of the 2020 season but was able to return in Week 6 for the next nine games. The three of them together — regardless of how many years the trio actually lasts, with NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal saying that it "wouldn't be surprising" to see Smith or Vander Esch involved in trade talks — should make for a really strong, versatile corps that can hurt you all over the field.
Even if it's only for a year, Parsons also says he's excited to learn from Smith and Vander Esch.
"I'm just real humble, I know I'm not the best one in the world, I'm not gonna act like I'm the best one, and I can get better," Parsons said. "But I know Vander Esch and Jaylon are really good players and they're going to help me get better. And in ways that I'm good at things, I'm going to help them get better. And I just know if we all help each other to get better, then that's how we become a really good football team."
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