2021 NFL Mock Draft: Bears trade into top 10, Washington Football Team goes offense

Talent-wise, Micah Parsons may be the best defensive player in this draft class. But talent isn’t the only thing that goes into the equation when evaluating prospects.

Parsons has some serious off-field maturity issues that seem likely to drop him into the teens. These issues have been amplified because Parsons sat out last season because of the COVID pandemic, and that has caused his stock to slip as a result.

The 18th pick seems like a good landing spot, as it splits the difference between his high-end ceiling of being a top-10 pick and his low-end floor of going towards the end of the first round.

When he was last on the field, Parsons recorded 109 tackles, five sacks, and five pass defenses for Penn State. He’s an elite athlete with a 6-foot-3, 245-pound frame and has all the tools needed to be a three-down playmaker at the next level. It’s just a matter of whether or not he can grow up and contribute to a team.

Brian Flores gained notoriety with the Patriots during his time as a linebackers coach, so he well may like Parsons’ traits. The Dolphins will have to have done their due diligence to feel comfortable selecting Parsons, but the fact of the matter is that he’s a great scheme fit for them and would fill a big need for them at the linebacker spot next to two-down thumper Benardrick McKinney.

The Dolphins could also go with an edge rusher here, and Kwity Paye stands out as an option for them. That said, Parsons is the better player right now, he fills a need, and after already selecting someone who is, arguably, the best player in this class, the Dolphins can take a chance on Parsons with their second first-round pick.