Could Micah Parsons become Luke Kuechly’s long-term replacement?
By Dean Jones
Could Micah Parsons become Luke Kuechly’s long-term successor with the Carolina Panthers?
The Carolina Panthers did not find a long-term replacement for Luke Kuechly in the 2020 NFL Draft. They will be counting on free-agent signing Tahir Whitehead to fill the void in the short-term. But there is an immensely intriguing proposition awaiting them next year.
Micah Parsons looks NFL ready right now. The Penn State standout enjoyed a phenomenal 2019 campaign. And if he can replicate this form during the next college season then he is going to be an extremely hot commodity on draft night in 2021.
He was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and its safe to say Parsons has lived up to this billing so far. If the Carolina Panthers draft team wants to get their Kuechly replacement next spring. Then the prospect should be high on their shortlist.
Whitehead signed a one-year deal worth $2.5 million. And he has performed well over the last two seasons. The player is a superb tackling presence. But his coverage skills are somewhat questionable across the middle.
Whether the player can do enough to earn a longer-term commitment from the Panthers remains to be seen. He will be 31-years-old by the time his contract is up for renewal. And Carolina’s decision-makers will need to up the ante when it comes to potentially filling the enormous shoes left by Kuechly’s shock retirement.
Parsons might be the guy. But there is no telling just how high in the first round he will actually go with another exceptional season of production.