Will Parks Make the NFL?

The NFL season is just around the corner, and one question on everyone’s mind is whether or not Will Parks will make the cut. The talented safety has been impressing coaches and scouts all preseason, but the final roster is always a crapshoot. We’ll take a look at Will’s chances of making the team and what impact he could have if he does.

The Case for Parks

Parks was one of the most productive receivers in college football last year. He had over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s a great route runner with good hands. He also has good size and speed. The biggest knock on him is that he’s coming from a small school.

His college career

The case for parks starts with his college career. He was a 3-year starter at Clemson, where he racked up 22.5 sacks and 47 tackles for loss. He was a two-time first-team All-American and won the Bednarik Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive player, as a senior in 2016.

His NFL Scouting Combine results

His NFL Scouting Combine results were impressive. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds, posted a vertical jump of 32 inches and broad jump of 121 inches. He also had 20 reps in the bench press.

The Case Against Parks

Parks is a below-average athlete with poor size for his position. He also lacks the skill set to be successful at the NFL level. As a result, he is unlikely to be drafted and will not make an NFL roster.

His size

Parks is 6-foot-1 and slightly built. That’s a big reason he wasn’t drafted, and it’s a big reason he hasn’t been able to find a long-term home in the NFL. For all his talent, he doesn’t have the size to be an every-down back, and he doesn’t have the speed to be a change-of-pace back.

His speed

One of the biggest concerns with drafting Parks has been his speed. He ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, which is below average for a wide receiver. In fact, there were 29 receivers who ran faster than him at the combine.

The Verdict

It’s official. Will Parks has been released by the Denver Broncos. After signing a three-year, $22.5 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in March, the former University of Arizona product was expected to be a key cog in the team’s secondary.

The experts’ opinion

The experts’ opinion is that Will Parks will make the NFL.

The stats

The numbers don’t look great for undrafted free agent rookie Will Parks.

Parks was signed by the Denver Broncos after going undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft. He played in 13 games as a rookie, recording 18 tackles (15 solo) and one pass deflection.

Those are hardly standout numbers, but they are solid enough for a player who was expected to be a depth option behind starters T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart.

Parks’ biggest problem is that he is buried on the depth chart. The Broncos used a third-round pick on Justin Simmons in the 2016 NFL Draft, and he is expected to be the team’s primary backup behind Ward and Stewart.

The Broncos also have veteran safety Shiloh Keo, who has more experience than Parks, as well as special teams ace Corey Nelson.

Parks will have to battle all of those players for a roster spot in 2017. It’s possible that he could end up being the odd man out.