NFL analyst pegs ILB for Broncos if they don’t go CB at No. 9

If the Broncos don’t opt to go cornerback with the No. 9 overall pick in this upcoming draft, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah says Denver could be intrigued by one defensive prospect: Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.

In a conference call previewing the NFL Draft on Tuesday, Jeremiah said with the talent at cornerback falling at No. 9, it’s hard to see the Broncos going with any other position.

“I think everybody just kind of looks at the corner position, and (it) just looks like an obvious spot there where they’re picking. The talent that will be there. That makes an awful lot of sense,” Jeremiah said.

Jeremiah added Denver needs a defensive tackle, but he doesn’t “think there’s anybody worth taking up that high.”

However, Parsons could make an interesting pick, Jeremiah said, because of what Vic Fangio might be able to do with him in Denver’s defense.

You know, it would be fun to watch what Vic could do with Micah Parsons out of Penn State just because he can do so many different things and Vic could be creative with him,” Jeremiah said. “… Just really week to week you could change his role and how you want to use him.

“I think he’s got a chance to be a really good rusher, too, if you even just wanted to cut him loose and let him do some of that stuff. That would be one that would be kind of interesting there.”

Parsons, who ranks as the fourth-best available prospect according to ESPN.com, sat out the entire 2020 season due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the time, Parsons cited “the potential risk to the health and well-being” of his young son as the reason for foregoing his eligibility.

Despite starting just one game his true freshman year in 2018, Parsons led the Nittany Lions with 83 tackles, becoming the first freshman in program history to do so.

With 109 total tackles and 5.0 sacks, Parsons picked up the Big Ten’s Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year award in 2019, along with first-team All-Big Ten and consensus All-American honors.

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