NY Giants: 3 reasons Penn State’s Micah Parsons is best fit at No. 11

Reason #1 NY Giants should pursue Micah Parsons: Need for a pass-rusher

While the need for a pass-rusher is an issue that has been partly addressed with the signing of Ifeadi Odenigbo, the need for additional sack threats is pressing.

As GMenHQ’s Matt Lombardo pointed out in a piece ranking the NY Giants’ 5 biggest needs, 2020 lacked guys that made quarterbacks sweat after dropping back in the pocket:

"The Giants’ defense became the team’s strength, particularly down the stretch, but it is glaringly evident that this unit desperately needs a dominant edge rush presence. This season proved that it is flawed logic that a defense can effectively cobble together a pass rush by committee, or simply rely on pressure generated by the defensive line. Here are the sacks generated by Giants’ linebackers this season: Blake Martinez (3), Tae Crowder (1), Kyler Fackrell (3), Carter Coughlin (1), Carter (1), Markus Golden (1.5). That’s just not going to get it done."

Micah Parsons excels at getting to the quarterback, collecting five sacks in 2019 for the Nittany Lions. That included two sacks in the Cotton Bowl against #17-ranked Memphis that December. Clearly, Parsons isn’t afraid of the big stage.

Of course, there is no bigger stage than New York. With the Jets in a perpetual state of disappointment, the Giants carry the gridiron torch in the Empire State.

Don’t knock the 106,000-fan stage Parsons had at Beaver Stadium, though. The Big Ten features NFL prospect factories such as Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin that Parsons regularly clashed with.