Look, if you were watching the draft back in April 2021, you probably remember the vibe. It was the "Year of the Quarterback." Everyone was obsessed with Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, and whether Trey Lance was actually worth three first-round picks. Meanwhile, sitting there at pick 12, the Dallas Cowboys made a move that basically broke the league's defensive geometry. They took Micah Parsons.
Fast forward to 2026, and the conversation isn't about the quarterbacks anymore. Well, it is, but mostly because half of them aren't even starters. Instead, we’re looking back at the Micah Parsons draft class as one of the most lopsided, talent-heavy groups in modern NFL history—just not in the way anyone expected. Honestly, it’s a masterclass in why "positional value" is sometimes just a fancy way to overthink yourself out of a Hall of Fame talent.
The Night the Micah Parsons Draft Class Shifted
Let’s be real for a second. The Cowboys didn’t even want Parsons at first. They wanted a cornerback. They were eyeing Jaycee Horn or Patrick Surtain II, but both got snagged right before Dallas was on the clock. Jerry Jones traded back, picked up an extra asset from the Eagles (who took DeVonta Smith), and "settled" for the linebacker from Penn State.
"Settled." That’s hilarious now.
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Parsons didn't just play linebacker; he became a hybrid nightmare. In his first four seasons, he matched Reggie White as the only player to ever hit 12+ sacks in each of his first four years. By the time 2025 rolled around, and he made that shocking move to the Green Bay Packers after a contract standoff, he had already racked up 65 career sacks. Think about that. He’s 26 years old and already has more All-Pro nods than most "elite" veterans see in a lifetime.
Who Else Was in That 2021 Group?
It wasn't just Micah. This class was deep. You had Ja'Marr Chase going to Cincinnati and immediately turning Joe Burrow into a superstar. You had Penei Sewell in Detroit, who is basically a 330-pound brick wall that can run like a deer.
But look at the defensive side. That’s where the 2021 group really left its mark:
- Patrick Surtain II: Taken 9th by Denver. He’s consistently been a top-three corner in the league.
- Jaelan Phillips: A pass-rush force for Miami before injuries slowed his momentum.
- Jevon Holland: A safety who redefined how much ground one guy can cover in the secondary.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown: Okay, he’s offensive, but getting him in the 4th round? That’s highway robbery.
The irony is that the teams who went for "the safe bet" at QB—the Jets with Zach Wilson or the Niners with Trey Lance—ended up watching the Cowboys and Bengals build championship-caliber cores around the guys those teams skipped. In every 2026 redraft, Parsons goes no lower than #2. Usually, he's the first non-QB off the board, and some crazy people (who might be right) argue he should go #1 over Trevor Lawrence.
Why 2021 Was a Defensive Renaissance
We usually think of great drafts by the QBs. The '83 class. The 2004 class. But the Micah Parsons draft class proved that a generational defender is worth more than a "maybe" at quarterback.
Parsons changed the math. Before him, you were either a linebacker or a defensive end. He said, "Why not both?" He’d spend ten snaps chasing down running backs in the flat and then line up at edge and blast past a Pro Bowl left tackle for a strip-sack. It forced offensive coordinators to change their entire protection schemes just for one guy.
The league is still catching up. You see teams now desperately looking for "the next Micah"—guys like Will Anderson Jr. or the 2026 prospects—trying to find that same twitchy, positionless versatility. But you can't just manufacture that. Parsons ran a 4.39 at 246 pounds. That’s not normal. It’s a glitch in the Matrix.
The Financial Fallout
The impact of this class hit the checkbooks hard too. When Parsons signed his $188 million extension with Green Bay in 2025, he set the market for non-QBs. It wasn't just about him, though. It was about the value of the 2021 class as a whole. Guys like Sewell, Chase, and Surtain all reset their respective markets.
If you were a GM in 2021 and you didn't walk away with a cornerstone player, you’re probably looking for a job in media right now. The gap between the "hits" and "misses" in this class is a canyon.
Actionable Insights for Football Fans
If you're tracking how these players continue to age, keep an eye on these specific metrics. They'll tell you if the 2021 class is maintaining its dominance or starting to fade:
- Pressure Rate vs. Sacks: For Parsons, his sack numbers are flashy, but his pressure rate is what actually breaks offenses. As long as he stays above a 15% pressure rate, he’s still the king.
- Snap Versatility: Watch where these guys line up. The 2021 class succeeded because they were "chess pieces." If a coach starts pigeonholing them into one spot, their value drops.
- Second-Contract Health: We’re seeing some of the high-usage guys from this class hit the injury report more often. 2026 is the pivot year where we see who has the longevity of a Von Miller and who was just a flash in the pan.
The 2021 draft wasn't what we thought it was on draft night. It wasn't the "Year of the QB." It was the year the defense struck back, led by a kid from Harrisburg who didn't even have a set position.