FRISCO, Texas (AP) — As they say goodbye to one Penn State linebacker, the Dallas Cowboys are welcoming another.
The Cowboys selected linebacker Micah Parsons of the Nittany Lions with the 12th overall pick in the NFL draft Thursday night after trading down two spots in a deal with NFC East rival Philadelphia.
Dallas drafted Parsons two days after Sean Lee bid farewell during the club's pre-draft news conference. Lee, a second-round pick in 2010, retired after spending all 11 of his mostly injury-plagued seasons with the Cowboys.
The Cowboys added a third-round pick from the Eagles in the trade, the 84th overall selection.