When the Cowboys selected Micah Parsons with the 12th overall pick in the draft, the move was not without its criticisms. In the interest of transparency, I was one of the more vocal critics of the pick. There were plenty of reasons to be critical. Even without considering his off-the-field baggage, Parsons played one of the most expendable positions on defense, making the value of taking any off-ball linebacker that high questionable at best.
More than that, Parsons’ profile was that of a linebacker who thrives in blitz-heavy schemes and gives him less responsibilities in pass coverage. The coverage issues lowered his value in any scheme given that the NFL is becoming more pass-happy each year, and being drafted to a team whose new defensive coordinator rarely blitzes made the team fit seem poor right off the bat.