3 best Commanders' candidates to play Micah Parsons role for Dan Quinn

Dan Quinn needs a Micah Parsons-type player to make his defense work for the Washington Commanders. Sounds simple, right? Well, not exactly. Not when Dallas Cowboys' All-Pro edge force is a rarity in the NFL.

Parsons is a true roving pass-rusher who can wreck protection from multiple spots and in various ways. Quinn helped shape the role for the former Penn State standout originally drafted as an inside linebacker in 2021.

Before delving into the full list of candidates for the Commanders, it's a good idea to form a clearer understanding of exactly how Parsons operated in Quinn's schemes.

Micah Parsons role explained

Speaking at this year's NFL Scouting Combine, per Ben Standig of The Athletic, ex-Cowboys' defensive coordinator Quinn admitted that he could be looking for someone to occupy a role to how Parsons was deployed wth the Washington Commanders.

"Putting a player like (Parsons) in the spots (where) they can do their thing. And that’s what I enjoy most on the coaching is finding all these unique things that a player can do and then how do you feature ’em."

So that's the theory behind Parsons' role, but what does his roving brief look like in practice? A great example happened against the New York Jets last season, highlighted by Brandon Loree of SB Nation's Blogging the Boys.

Parsons tormented center Connor McGovern to generate quick pressure on the pocket.

While he was stood in the A-gap, between center and guard, Parsons was free to attack from anywhere along the line of scrimmage. Operating as a standup rusher afforded him the freedom to stunt and twist in several directions.

Quinn used Parsons to create a guessing game for offensive linemen and quarterbacks. Identifying where No. 11 lines up is a priority, but working out which gap he'll blitz is another matter altogether.

Not many players can handle the responsibilities Quinn put on Parsons, but the Commanders do have a few options, including incumbent linebacker Jamin Davis.

Commanders could give Jamin Davis a chance

Jamin Davis should get his chance to make a niche role his own. Dan Quinn and new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. plan to use the 2021 first-round draft pick "more in pass-rush situations this season," according to Ben Standig from The Athletic.

"The plan is to have the athletically gifted Davis become a 'hybrid' defender, which should translate into less pass coverage and more attempts at getting after quarterbacks."

A natural place to start reshaping Davis' game is to get him rushing off the edge more often. He showcased nifty first-step quickness and downhill acceleration on this stunt against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021, highlighted by film analyst Mark Bullock.

A more recent example cost Davis $21,855, per Standig, but showed his explosion off the edge and closing speed around the corner. The play in question occurred against Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos in Week 2 last season.

Both plays offer exciting glimpses of what Davis might achieve. Provided his remit is streamlined to simply getting after quarterbacks.

That might be the best way to make better use of the 25-year-old's natural range and athleticism. Those qualities were too often wasted or else misused by Quinn and Whitt's predecessors Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio.

Their reluctance to unleash Davis more often was confusing since No. 52 usually made the most of his limited blitz opportunities. The former first-round pick blitzed only 33 times in 2023, 14 times fewer than during his rookie campaign. Yet, he still managed to record three sacks, generate four pressures, and register a single quarterback hurry.

The raw tools are there for Quinn to turn Davis into a moving, seek-and-destroy quarterback hunter. Beginning with a situational role is smart, but it could mean the Kentucky product gets beaten to the Parsons role by one of the Washington Commanders' top additions in free agency.

Frankie Luvu could be Commanders' best bet

He's already made a positive impression on his Washington Commanders teammates since arriving from the Carolina Panthers, and Frankie Luvu could win Dan Quinn over as a potential Micah Parsons 2.0. What strengthens his case is a 6-foot-3, 235-pound frame big enough to work through traffic and collapse the pocket.

Like Parsons, Luvu is often at his most disruptive when blitzing the A gaps. His talent in this area was explained to JP Finlay of NBC4 Sports by The Charlotte Observer's Mike Kaye.

"That guy is a game-changer and a playbreaker...He is the ideal guy for a double A gap blitz...He's extremely versatile...He can really make things happen...He will disrupt the offense more than he won't."

Luvu showed off his talent for disruption on this blitz against the Minnesota Vikings last season, highlighted by Bleacher Report's Brandon Thorn.

Wrecking a backfield player in pass protection should be the minimum requirement for any blitzing linebacker enjoying a running start. Luvu would need to prove he can handle tougher assignments.

Fortunately, a blitz from Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, broken down by Fan Nation's Schuyler Callihan, showed how Luvu can stand up to a guard.

The power is impressive, but so is the way Luvu disguised his intent by looking away from the line of scrimmage. He then timed his pressure perfectly to catch 6-foot-4, 316-pound Cesar Ruiz by surprise en route to causing significant disruption.

Luvu has all the attributes you want from a blitzing demon. He also has 20 career sacks to his credit, ample proof he can make plenty of Parsons-like plays for Quinn.

That's assuming the latter doesn't view Luvu as more of a natural partner for middle linebacker Bobby Wagner. If so, Quinn could find his Parsons early in this year's draft.

Commanders could draft Chop Robinson

The Washington Commanders have already met with arguably the best fit for a Micah Parsons-style role, Chop Robinson. He's even been compared to his fellow Penn State alum by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein:

"[Chop] Robinson might not be as fast as [Micah] Parsons, but he’s close. He’s ultra-twitchy with the explosiveness to get on top of blockers and overwhelm them in an instant."

Robinson's sack numbers for the Nittany Lions, 9.5 in the last two seasons, won't wow anybody. What should impress the Commanders is the player's natural versatility.

He lined up all over the front during his collegiate days, a wanderlust shown here by Billy M.

This experience would be invaluable to Dan Quinn as he attempts to build another Parsons. So would Robinson's history of attacking as both a standup rusher or putting his hand on the ground as a traditional defensive end. Parsons does both with the Dallas Cowboys.

Robinson has already operated in a Parsons-like role, so his transition to Quinn's schemes would be a quick one. Speaking of quick, the Commanders would soon enjoy unleashing his innate speed-to-power combination that routinely surprises offensive tackles and puts the 240-pounder in positions to enjoy unlikely success via the bull rush.

Owning the No. 36 and No. 40 picks means the Commanders will have a decent chance to take Robinson if he slides out of the opening round. If not, Quinn should talk general manager Adam Peters into trading back into the first for a pass-rusher who could be another Parsons.

Drafting Robinson would complete a necessary overhaul of the defensive end position. Free-agent arrivals Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler Jr., and Clelin Ferrell are all capable, but none possess the potential to pillage quite like the aforementioned college recruit.