2021 NFL Draft: One legend that each first round draft pick reminds us of

NFL Draft 2021: Dallas Cowboys pick Micah Parsons, compares to Dick Butkus

The old footage might be a bit difficult to recognize but those who are old enough to remember will attest to the greatness of former linebacker Dick Butkus. Also, if they squint hard enough, they’ll notice that Micah Parsons is the second coming of the Hall of Famer.

Butkus didn’t just hit people, he laid them out. Going across the middle was a guaranteed trip to the IR and although the rules of the game have softened considerably, Parsons is doing his part to bring that sort of violence to the field.

Parsons put together back-to-back seasons that consisted of hard hits and smart play. Much like Butkus, Parsons was near perfect in zone coverage or stopping the run. Their near identical play comes at no surprise considering Parsons weighs the exact same (245 pounds) and stands just as tall (6’5) as Butkus back in his heyday.

Although Parsons is possibly the most well-rounded of the linebacking crew, he does need to address his ball-hawking skills. He always appears to get there just in time to stop a big play from developing but Butkus was legendary for going up and grabbing the ball to secure it for the offense.

Other than that, it appears as though the Dallas Cowboys has a Dick Butkus Jr. on their hands.