Alabama Football: 2021 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 with trades
By Dakota Cox
Detroit trades back for a linebacker
12. Detroit Lions (via SF): Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Detroit needs help at almost every position, so they can simply consider the best player available. While they will likely want to draft Parsons at sixth overall, trading back gives them more darts to throw in the hopes of hitting a bullseye.
Micah Parsons is a rare breed at inside linebacker. He can play outside linebacker and rush the quarterback, but his athleticism sets him apart. He’s not as elite of an athlete as Isaiah Simmons from last year’s draft, but he has the tape necessary to be one of the first defensive players drafted.
Detroit needs to figure out what they want to do at quarterback, but now is not the time. Since they traded away Matt Stafford and acquired Jared Goff, they are officially ready for a full rebuild. They can use the rest of Goff’s contract to evaluate his fit with the Lions. If he progresses, they might want to extend him. If not, they can tank for a quarterback in a future draft. Unless the Lions are in love with a quarterback, they need to build a young nucleus and acquire picks to prepare for the future.
Parsons has the leadership skills necessary to carry an NFL team once he becomes a veteran. If Detroit doesn’t ruin him, this would be a great fit.