Could Micah Parsons become Luke Kuechly’s long-term replacement?

Micah Parsons draft projection

There is little doubt that a player with the skillset of Micah Parsons is going to be in high demand both during the evaluation process and the 2021 NFL Draft. Although there is a lot of football to be played between now and then, the player has the highest of ceilings and it would be a huge shock if he didn’t build on last season next time around.

Parsons has a first-round grade already. And another good campaign could even elevate him into the top-ten. The Carolina Panthers took Luke Kuechly No. 9 overall out of Boston College, which proved to be one of the shrewdest moves in franchise history.

The team itself is currently going through a period of transition during Matt Rhule’s first season at the helm. This might see them end up with another high-end draft pick next year, which makes Parsons a realistic proposition for the organization.

There will be real pressure on the Panthers to select someone like Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence, or the intriguing Trey Lance to give them a potential franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future. However, these players are not expected to be around after the top-five and it remains to be seen whether Carolina finds themselves in this particular scenario.

Parsons has all the making of a defensive lynchpin at the next level. And he is sure to impress the Panthers’ front office the same way that Derrick Brown managed to do before becoming the No. 7 overall selection this year.

On the face of things, Parsons is well worth a top-ten pick at the present time and there could be even more to come during his junior year.