In superflex leagues, quarterbacks dominate rookie draft value.

But in 2026, IDP is forcing its way into the conversation earlier than usual.

With elite defensive prospects and uncertain offensive depth, dynasty managers are facing a new kind of decision: when to prioritize QB, when to stick with offensive skill players, and when to pivot to IDP. These rankings are built to answer exactly that.

All rankings are based on Big 3 IDP Scoring, which favors more big plays, such as sacks and pass breakups. Scoring varies by IDP leagues, so if you have questions about which player is more valuable in your league, for instance, always feel free to reach out.

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Most rookie draft rankings separate offense and IDP.

But hey, we at The IDP Show want to make sure you can get them all in one place.

In 2026, the gap between top offensive players and elite IDP prospects is tight, forcing dynasty managers to make tougher decisions earlier in drafts. What I’m here to do is combine the two into a single tiered ranking system to help you navigate those decisions with clarity.

All rankings are based on Big 3 IDP Scoring, which favors more big plays, such as sacks and pass breakups. Scoring varies by IDP leagues, so if you have questions about which player is more valuable in your league, for instance, always feel free to reach out.

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While the offensive rookie draft options disappointed us coming out of the NFL Draft, it was our beloved IDP stars like Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese, and Caleb Downs who stole the show. Now, rookie drafts might look different than they ever have, making a full rankings breakdown all the more important so we can dominate them.

All rankings are based on Big 3 IDP Scoring, which favors more big plays, such as sacks and pass breakups. Scoring varies by IDP leagues, so if you have questions about which player is more valuable in your league, for instance, always feel free to reach out.

Tier 1

The top IDPs in this year’s rookie drafts were all top-10 picks in the NFL Draft, and while this feels obvious, it isn’t always a given. What makes this top tier even more enticing and important for 2026 rookie drafts is that the uncertainty and lack of star power on the offensive side of the ball pushed all three of these IDPs into first-round consideration. Most years, we’re looking at one, maybe two, IDPs in Round 1 of rookie drafts, and even then, that feels like a reach. But this year, the IDPs are the stars, so don’t hesitate to grab them where you’re not used to, because drafts will dry up very quickly without them.

Sonny Styles gets the nod as IDP1 for me, as he and Arvell Reese earned the highest draft capital for the linebacker position since Devin White (5th overall) in 2019. While draft capital alone doesn’t create stars, Styles truly earned that spot, delivering a 97th percentile score in my linebacker prospect model, highlighted by an elite 9.99 Relative Athletic Score (RAS). Styles will compete immediately with Leo Chenal and Frankie Luvu for a healthy role in Dan Quinn’s defense, and considering the talent and investment, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him take on a significant role in Year 1. Even without a clear path to snaps as a rookie, Styles projects as an elite long-term prospect at the position, of which there just aren’t that many of these days.

Arvell Reese was an IDP I was hesitant to target heading into the draft because of uncertainty about how he would be utilized in the potential defenses that could draft him, but John Harbaugh's comments that the team plans to use him at off-ball linebacker helped soothe any concerns I originally had. While Reese is undoubtedly going to get work as a blitzer, where he’ll have a chance to utilize his pass-rush prowess, doing so as a near full-time linebacker will keep his production floor better balanced than if he were a true hybrid-type player. Reese is the immediate favorite to start next to Tremaine Edmunds in New York, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him be a contender for defensive rookie of the year in 2026, considering the talent and opportunity.

There is an IDP for all league types in this top tier, and depending on your scoring settings, you may find this group easily interchangeable. Styles should lead the way in tackle-heavy formats, Reese can serve as a great balanced scoring option, and David Bailey makes the most sense as the top big-play scoring option in this class. As the second overall pick, Bailey will undoubtedly go high in rookie drafts, and he deserves that level of expectation coming out of college as a high-end scorer in the IDP prospect model with a 9.04 score. When it comes to top-10 picks at the position, there are some IDP busts like Clelin Ferrell, Solomon Thomas, and Tyree Wilson, but all of those players came in below or well below the 90th percentile of scorers in the model, where Bailey scores in the 98th percentile, greatly increasing his odds to hit. The New York Jets should get plenty of run out of their second overall pick for years to come, and IDP managers looking for the top pass rusher in this class should have Bailey near the top of that list.

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We’re very excited to release our first-ever IDP Rookie Draft Guide for you all. Coming out of a wild NFL Draft, where landing spots, especially on offense, likely created uncertainty for rookie drafts, this guide gives you the tools not just to survive your rookie drafts, but to truly thrive this season.

Whether you’re new to IDP or a seasoned veteran, we have something for everyone, including IDP player profiles for over 50 players, featuring their key metrics coming out of college, their prospect model scores, data-based model comps, and in-depth analysis.

You’ll also find ranking sets for IDP-only, for 1QB + IDP formats, as well as superflex + IDP formats. Printable cheat sheets are also included. This guide is everything that I personally would want to see from a rookie draft guide covering IDP, so I hope you all get the most out of it as well!

Below, you’ll find some sample pages so you can see exactly what you’re getting inside the guide, with the full download link below that.

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Hey everyone,

Jon Macri here to bring you a full breakdown of the upcoming content and pricing changes for The IDP Show, starting this Monday, April 27th. As with any price change, there will always be questions about whether you’re getting the most value from your subscription, so I wanted to lay it all out for everyone heading into this week, exactly what you’re getting by subscribing to The IDP Show.

We have three tiers for our subscribers, with something for everyone who supports us. Whether you’re a free subscriber or a paid supporter, we’ve put a lot of effort and planning into ensuring you can take your IDP game to another level.

Free:

• All non-rankings articles

  • Every week, we’ll have new articles hitting the site covering all things IDP.

  • From the offseason and during the season, there will be something for everyone to enjoy, whether we’re talking breakouts, ADP, dynasty, or in-season prep. Expect plenty of IDP coverage.

• IDP Depth Charts

  • Want to know who is in line to start? Who are the immediate backups for each team?

  • We’ll post and update defensive depth charts for every team to serve as your go-to source for defensive roster knowledge.

• IDP Snap shares

  • Access to 2025 snap shares for every defensive player will be posted on the site mid-May in a searchable and sortable data table for reference heading into 2026.

  • As the season unfolds, 2026 snap shares will be available as well to all subscribers in the same format.

• Weekly Tackles Allowed Charts

  • Throughout the 2026 season, we’ll have updated charts outlining and sorting the best tackle matchups for all IDP positions each week.

• IDP Trade Calculator

  • Available already, this calculator is sourced from The IDP Show’s dynasty IDP rankings as well as market-based offensive values to give IDP dynasty managers an idea of how the market values their players.

• Podcast/YouTube

  • The podcast episodes and YouTube videos will continue to be a major part of The IDP Show, with multiple new episodes every week in the form of full podcast episodes from The IDP Show, The IDP After Show, short-form YouTube videos, and YouTube Shorts.

Paid ($10/month or $100/year):

• Full rankings set

  • Adam and I will have consensus dynasty IDP rankings on the site, sortable by ranker or by consensus. These will hit the site early-mid May and be updated consistently throughout the year.

  • The first run of 2026 rankings will hit the site early June and be continuously updated leading up to the start of the season.

  • Adam’s best ball rankings are already up on the site for those taking part in best ball drafts this offseason, and those will stay updated leading into the season.

• Seasonal projections

  • On top of the seasonal rankings, which allow for more personal preference and bias, the projections will be data-coded and take that bias out of the picture for those looking to get a different perspective on 2026 outlooks.

  • The projections take into account potential usage, projected zone and man coverage rates, natural positive and negative regression, as well as individual player production profiles to deliver the most accurate outlooks possible for IDP.

• Draft guides

  • The 2026 IDP Rookie Draft Guide will release Monday, April 27th, and will include 50+ player profiles, several rankings sets (IDP-only, 1QB, superflex), cheat sheets, and IDP prospect model scores so you can dominate your IDP rookie drafts.

  • The 2026 IDP Redraft Guide will be another strategy guide designed to cover all of your IDP needs heading into the year, including rankings, profiles, and more. Keep an eye out for this one in early July.

• The IDP Show Discord access

  • Often requested, and finally available to paid subscribers to The IDP Show, because we want to connect with the best community in fantasy football, and we want you to have more access to us as well.

• Weekly IDP Fantasy Report article in-season

  • The IDP Report is your go-to article for IDP 2026 domination, which includes weekly snaps shares for every IDP, alignment data, analysis, waiver targets, and more.

• Weekly IDP rankings in-season

  • Once we get into the week-to-week lineup setting, I’ll also shift to weekly IDP rankings to help you get those lineups locked and loaded every week, leading to an eventual IDP championship.

• Historical Production vs. Expected Access

  • My context and data-based production versus expected analysis will be available to paid subscribers, with access to previous results for all IDP positions.

• Roster Evals with Jeff Pomazal

  • Get a 30-minute roster evaluation with the great Jeff Pomazal once per (subscription) year to leave no stone unturned when it comes to locking in your roster for the coming season.

S-Tier ($180/year):

• Roster Evals with me

  • Two one-hour roster evaluations with me per (subscription) year to discuss anything you might need to help get your rosters and lineups locked and ready to chase a fantasy championship.

• Historical IDP prospect model access

  • I’ve created prospect models for IDP prospects dating as far back as 2016, with strong hit rates for the top scorers in the model.

  • Now S-Tier members can get access to the full list of prospects and their scores in each positional model for the first time.

• Monthly live office hours/Q&A with me

  • An hour-long session to ask me anything you want to know, whether you’re there live or want to submit questions ahead of time, I’ll answer them all for you.

• Exclusive supporter podcasts

  • Unlike the office hours offering, which is live, this podcast will be pre-recorded and built entirely on your questions.

  • Questions can be submitted at any time, and I’ll collect them and answer them once per month in this exclusive pod.

• IDP Prop Bets from Johny the Greek

  • The great Johny the Greek’s IDP prop bet analysis will be available every week for bettors looking to find the edge against their betting platform of choice to line your pockets all season long.

Thank you all so much for the support already, and if there are any questions or concerns whatsoever, please do not hesitate to reach out to me on Twitter (@IDP_Macri) or via email (big3IDP@gmail.com).

I can’t wait to go on this ride with you and do everything I can to bring you all the fantasy championships that I can. Let’s get it!

Seven years ago, we started The Big 3 IDP Podcast in a shed in Bowling Green, Kentucky, because we believed the IDP community deserved the same level of consistent, quality analysis we saw in the offensive fantasy football space. We pictured ourselves like The Fantasy Footballers, but focused on the other side of the ball.

What that podcast has become since July 21, 2019, is beyond even our wildest dreams. A full-blown brand with multiple podcasts, a YouTube channel, a world-class team, and the best fans in the business… I mean, what can we say? Thinking about it all truly leaves us speechless, and if you listen to our show, you know that’s no small feat!

There have been many pivotal dates in the history of The IDP Show over the last seven years, but this one is the most significant to date. We have some news to share, and we want to share it the right way—directly from us, delivered to you first.

Drumroll please…

On April 26th, Jon Macri will become the new owner and host of The IDP Show.

This is an amazing full-circle moment for us. On October 6, 2020, we welcomed an up-and-coming name in the IDP space to our podcast. We knew in that moment Jon was something special, and since then, we’ve been thrilled to watch his star continue rising. First, as a fixture in our feed with The Big Nickel IDP Podcast, then as a full-time analyst for PFF who brought top-tier IDP analysis to a wider audience.

If you’ve followed IDP for any length of time, you already know what Jon brings to the table. He is one of the most dedicated, thorough, and respected IDP analysts in fantasy football. We know our community is in the best possible hands.

Make no mistake: we aren’t going anywhere. We are invested in growing this brand and serving this audience alongside Jon. His success is our success. We’ll be involved going forward, just in a different capacity. The same goes for our team. Jon is already hard at work figuring out how to best utilize the amazing folks we’ve been blessed to work with. So, know that: The people aren’t leaving. The mission isn’t changing.

What’s changing is who is leading the charge, and the charge is getting louder.

With that in mind, we want to announce another change: our pricing. We’ve never taken it for granted that what we’ve built is because of you. Your financial support of our small, independent brand is directly responsible for everything you see. We are profitable, bootstrapped, and invest every dollar back into making The IDP Show even better. So, before we talk pricing changes, let us say: THANK YOU!

Here are the changes you’ll be seeing to our website pricing:

• Effective today, annual subscriptions move from $50 to $100/year.

  • If your annual subscription was set to renew today, you received notice a week ago. If your price increased and you didn’t see that notice, please reach out and we will make it right with a full refund, no questions asked.

• Monthly subscriptions move from $5 to $10/month starting Monday, April 27th.

  • We’re making this announcement today to give our monthly subscribers 5 days’ notice to adjust their subscription before these changes take effect, but the same offer applies: if you get charged more without seeing this notice, let us know. We’re happy to cancel your subscription and refund you.

Look, we hate these “price increase” emails just as much as you do. Which is why we’re not charging more for the same amount of content, tools, and resources.

You’re not paying more for the same. You’re paying more for way, way more.

Free subscribers will still get great IDP content, which includes:

• Free articles every week

• IDP depth charts

• IDP snap shares

• Weekly Tackles Allowed Charts

• IDP Trade Calculator

• Weekly episodes of The IDP Show

• Weekly YouTube Shorts and quick-hitter videos

Paid subscribers will have access to everything listed above, most everything you were already getting, plus a series of new additions to the website, including:

• The IDP Report (weekly in-season)

• 2026 season-long projections: 800+ IDPs

• Full IDP ranking Set: Dynasty, Rookie, Redraft, Best Ball

• 2026 IDP Rookie Draft Guide

• 2026 IDP Draft Guide

• The IDP Show Discord access

• Historical Production vs. Expected data

On April 27th, we will also be launching a new premium subscription called the “S-Tier” that will be $180/year, and includes a host of added perks for supporters:

• Historical IDP prospect model access

• Monthly live office hours/Q&A with Jon

• IDP prop bet analysis

• 50% off roster evals ($25 instead of $50)

• Exclusive supporter podcasts + more

We’ll have much more detail about these revamped tiers and the new perks in a separate email that we’ll send on Sunday. The point is: buckle up. The fire hose is about to open full-blast. As you can tell from his video, Jon is fired up, recharged, and ready to serve this community at the highest possible level. He is hitting the ground running on the podcast, website, YouTube channel, and social media accounts.

Which leads us to one final piece of fun news: Jon will be in person in Bowling Green starting tomorrow for the NFL Draft, along with other members of our team. We’ll record our annual “best and worst landing spots” podcast with him on Saturday night, then join Jon as guests on his first episode as host: a 1 QB rookie mock draft.

The first seven years of this brand have been everything to us. The late nights, the drafts, the leagues, the community that grew up around all of it—we don’t take a single bit of that for granted. But we genuinely believe the next seven years and beyond, with Jon leading this thing full-time, are going to be even better.

Thank you for being here and for supporting this show. The best is still ahead.

Cheers,
Adam, Bobby, & Josh

The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, and with it comes the most important question in dynasty:

Where do you have these rookies ranked, and more importantly, where is everyone else taking them?

To give you a real answer to that second question, we assembled six of the sharpest minds in IDP dynasty—Jeff Pomazal, Kyle Bellefeuil, Eric Harms, Jason King, Evan Ringler, and Mike Woellert—for a superflex, TEP rookie mock draft. Each manager took two picks per round and shared their full rationale for why they made that pick at that spot.

That’s what we wanted this article to be: a window into how serious dynasty managers are actually thinking about this class, rather than just another rankings breakdown. Whether you’re preparing for your own rookie draft or just want to stress-test your board before the picks start flying, this is the conversation worth having. The class is deeper than it might look at first glance… and the debate starts at pick 1.02.

Let’s dive into it.

1.01: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Jeff: I am taking the chalkest of the chalkest picks with Jeremiyah Love. The dude is the complete package, and when a prospect is at the Bijan Robinson/Jahmyr Gibbs level of prospects, this is a no-brainer in all formats. If I have the 1.01 and I am not taking Love, I am moving it for a haul because some of the recent trades I’ve seen go down for this pick have been massive, and if, for some reason, I do not want Love, I can get a very nice haul of proven players and possibly some picks in return. Love has everything you want in your RB1: size, he’s a natural receiver, and the ability to take it to the house on every single play.

1.02: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Kyle: I debated jumping in the pool of the first tier of wide receivers here (Tate, Lemon, and Tyson). However, given this is superflex, I decided to go with the heavy favorite to go first overall to Las Vegas in Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza might not have a high-end QB1 ceiling, but he has the traits as a leader, processor, and ball placement to be a rock-solid QB2 for the long haul.

1.03: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Eric: Like a lot of people, I have Carnell Tate as the top receiver in this class. Tate is a great route runner and has a good feel for setting up defenders. He has excellent hands as well, catching the ball away from his body, and he didn’t drop a single pass in 2025. At 6’3” and 195 pounds, he is a prototypical X receiver.

1.04: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Jason: Given the TEP format, Kenyon Sadiq has a leg up on the top remaining WRs (Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson, and KC Concepcion). Even in non-TEP/SF drafts, you can consider Sadiq as high as 1.03, as long as TE is a starting spot. Those top WRs aren’t sure-fire studs, while Sadiq has the upside of a difference-maker at TE.

1.05: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Evan: For most people, this pick is about Makai Lemon vs. Jordyn Tyson. For me, it’s clearly Lemon. I have real concerns about Tyson’s durability, physicality, and separation ability, but no doubts at all about Lemon’s transition to the NFL. His short-to-intermediate route running, soft hands, and physicality after the catch will immediately make him a good #2 WR, with the potential to turn into a great #1 like former USC Trojan Amon-Ra St. Brown.

1.06: Jordyn Tyson, WR, ASU

Mike: So with the 6th pick, I’m assuming I need some offensive weapons. My top RB/WR were taken, but I’m starting to warm up to Jordan Tyson. Maybe it’s because his brother (Jaylon) plays for the Cavaliers. His injury history is his knock, but he separates well and has decent size at 6’2.” He can run the route tree and has been a productive WR. His draft capital should have him on the field and contributing immediately. Honestly, I focus on IDP, but he would be my WR3.

1.07: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

Jeff: I took Concepcion at 1.07 because I feel like he offers a strong mix of immediate production and some nice long-term upside, especially in PPR formats. Lots of mocks have him going to solid landing spots with some creative, offensive-minded coaches. I would love to see him land in San Francisco or Buffalo, where he would be able to showcase his skills with his route running and his YAC ability. He needs to work on his hands a little, but this is something I think that he can improve on at the next level. I thought about Omar Cooper Jr. here, but I think maybe recent draft hype has pushed his name ahead of higher-quality players like Concepcion.

1.08: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

Kyle: Deciding between Denzel Boston and Omar Cooper Jr. was a struggle with this pick, but in the end, I landed on Boston as his profile is one I typically gravitate towards. While he had to wait his turn at Washington, Boston finished strong with 125 receptions, 1,715 yards, and 20 touchdowns over his final two seasons. Boston is big (6’4” and 212 pounds), possesses a big, strong set of mitts, and his new quarterback will love his ability to go up and get it. Boston has a real shot to sneak into the first round and could be a red zone threat early on.

1.09: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

Eric: I was happy to have Cooper make it to me here. He played mostly out wide in 2024, but mostly in the slot in 2025. He’ll likely be mostly a slot player in the NFL and he fits very well there. He’s a shifty, tough receiver who is great with the ball in his hands, and he’s hard to bring down. I also love that he is good at blocking. He is going to stay on the field with his skill set.

1.10 Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State

Jason: This was a struggle, and I almost went with Jadarian Price, who Evan took one pick later. If Price comes off the board late Thursday night or early on Friday, he’s the better pick. I like Reese, though, as a potential Will Anderson-level asset at EDGE, and he’s arguably the best player in the entire draft class.

1.11 Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

Evan: On a per-carry basis, Jadarian Price is the most explosive runner in the class, ranking 1st in the percentage of carries that go for 10+ yards and 15+ yards. The main concerns are his ability to handle volume and his receiving profile (only 15 catches in his college career). I’m betting that these flaws are merely because he played with Jeremiyah Love, and he will be able to showcase his full skill set in the NFL. Price is likely to get 2nd round draft capital, which gives him a considerable boost over other RBs in the class.

1.12: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

Mike: At 12, I’m assuming this is a championship roster with very few holes. At this point, I don’t feel like I need to reach for any of the position players, so I might as well take one of my favorite LBs and my IDP 1.01 here. Yes, he’s my IDP 1.01. He’s been talked up as a potential 1st-round pick, and the draft capital could potentially get him on the field as a Day 1 starter, like Carson Schwesinger last season. He’s a high-IQ off-ball LB and was one of the strongest linebackers I evaluated in all three phases. He can stuff the run, get to the QB, and is fluid in coverage. He has good instincts, plus processing speed, and most importantly, a track record of production, which is important for IDP value.

2.01: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Jeff: I easily took Eli Stowers at 2.01, especially in a TEP format. His upside at a position that really only has a handful of year-in, year-out, proven studs was just incredibly valuable and way too good to pass up. Stowers brings some freakish athleticism and receiving ability, which was on full display at the NFL Combine. I like Stowers as much, if not more than Sadiq, in this draft because I am able to draft him later in the draft and get someone who I think will be a huge mismatch for OCs as they look to attack the seam against slower linebackers. I know this draft has some nice sleepers at the position, but getting Stowers here allows me to attack other positions of the draft later on.

2.02: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Kyle: I was really considering going running back with this pick, with the likes of Jonah Coleman and Mike Washington, who both went shortly after. However, with Jason and Mike breaking the seal on the IDPs a few picks earlier, I opted to grab my LB1 in Sonny Styles. Styles is an athletic freak who never has to leave the field, who could come off the board within the first five picks on draft day. I’m elated to grab him in the early second with his potential to anchor my linebacking core for the next decade.

2.03: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington

Eric: I considered Mike Washington here, too. Washington certainly has better athleticism, but I went with Jonah Coleman because I prefer his running back skills. He has very good vision, power, and contact balance. And he holds onto the ball. Coleman has also shown he can catch the ball, and I see him being a 3-down back, depending on where he lands. While he might not break off 80-yard touchdowns, he is a reliable running back who can still get more than what is blocked. In the 2nd round, I prefer to take offensive players with potential over non-elite defensive players. If they hit, the value is higher for the offensive players. There weren’t any Will Anderson/Abdul Carter-like elite defensive players left at this point.

2.04 David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Jason: By this point in the early 2nd, we’re already seeing likely Day 3 RBs coming off the board. I get the allure of taking swings on RBs or WRs here, but I prefer the more sure thing with Bailey, a potential long-term EDGE2.

2.05 Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas

Evan: Mike Washington is one of the most athletic RB prospects we have ever seen, posting a 100th percentile Speed Score and 92nd percentile Burst Score. He’s a somewhat well-rounded back in my opinion, but really pops in the open field, where he can turn an 8-yard gain into a house call. If Washington lands in the right system—one that allows him to get downhill consistently—he could turn into a phenomenal value. But he could also be the next Isaac Guerendo.

2.06: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Mike: It never fails that I’d get sniped on Mike Washington Jr. after toiling back and forth between Johnson and Simpson. In a SF league, I might as well nab the QB2 in the draft. Honestly, I don’t have too much to analyze here. I thought he looked good at the beginning of the season, with decent pocket presence and smarts throwing the football. His limited experience might be a bit of a red flag (15 starts), but he displayed decent accuracy. He could go in the 1st round and I view him as a 2027 starter.

2.07: Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska

Jeff: I love the 2nd round this year, and it's because of players like Emmett Johnson. Johnson is a great target at this point in the draft as his skill set is perfect for today’s NFL. He has back-to-back seasons with more than 35 catches, with 46 this last season for almost 400 yards. In a PPR league, that is an extra 85 points on the season, which could really raise his points per week average. He is 5’11” and 200 pounds, which is just perfect. Johnson has great footwork and some great balance after contact. I would love to see him drafted by the Vikings, as he would quickly pass up both ex-Packer legend Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason for touches.

2.08: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State

Kyle: After passing on RB with my last pick, that’s where I decided to go here. Kaytron Allen doesn’t possess the high-end athleticism of some of the other backs in this class, but his vision, power, and durability give him the potential to lead a committee situation at some point. Allen also offers enough as a pass catcher if called upon. Landing on a team in need of an early-down runner would be an ideal situation for Allen.

2.09: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

Eric: This might be seen as a reach by many. There are certainly safer picks here, but I love Ted Hurst, and I’m chasing his tremendous upside. A 6’3,” 206-pound WR from Georgia State with a 9.90 RAS, he showed he belonged with a standout performance during the Senior Bowl. He’s a great ball tracker and makes some awesome acrobatic catches. If he gets better at releases and gets a little stronger, he has a very high ceiling. This pick is all about the ceiling.

2.10: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson

Jason: The late 2nd round offers plenty of opportunity to take swings on the offensive side, and there’s just a sliver of difference between who goes in the upper half of the round and the bottom half. In the right situation, Antonio Williams could be a volume slot with a WR4 floor.

2.11: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

Evan: Rueben Bain Jr. is my top EDGE in this draft class, but he will likely be discounted in most drafts because of his short arms and off-field concerns. I’m not too worried about his arm length because he showed an ability to consistently win against elite competition, particularly in the college football playoffs. In terms of stats and metrics, Bain checks every box. He was incredibly productive across the board in 2025, led all FBS EDGEs in total snaps (by a wide margin), and remained efficient on a per-snap basis.

2.12: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana

Mike: I wasn’t too enamored with the running backs here. I could have gone with another IDP, but I went with Elijah Surratt from Indiana’s potent offense. I like the fact that he catches the ball—a pretty key trait for a receiver. Sarratt had a 4.5% drop rate (3 total) on the year, so he’s a dependable target. His size and strength provide an advantage. If scoring is your thing, and we love scoring in fantasy, he had 15 TDs in 2025. He turned in a decent 2.39 yards per route run and should be a solid NFL WR2.

3.01: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

Jeff: I took Chris Bell here at 3.01 because he’s a big-bodied receiver (6’2” and 220 pounds) who has a strong red-zone upside, wins a high percentage of 50/50 balls, and, before his ACL injury, was showing steady progression in each of his three college seasons. At that stage of the draft, betting on his size, physicality, and potential opportunity made him a worthwhile upside swing to start the 3rd round. I think I would be fine drafting him in the 2nd round to make sure that I land him. He’s a perfect “draft-and-stash” type of player.

3.02: Chris Brazell, WR, Tennessee

Kyle: This pick is all about upside. Chris Brazzell has things to clean up as a route runner, but he has game-breaking potential at 6’4” and 198 pounds and blazing speed as seen by his 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. This could be a low-floor selection, but Brazzell’s ceiling is worth a shot in the 3rd round.

3.03: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

Eric: After going for great upside at 2.09, I went the opposite direction with this pick. Germie Bernard is a receiver who does everything well, but nothing great. He is a good route runner and a reliable receiver who is willing to go over the middle. He has a good floor and should be a flex option on fantasy teams for years to come.

3.04: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame

Jason: From a pre-NFL Draft fantasy perspective, everything from 2.03 to this point has been the same, value-wise. Malachi Fields fits the possession-WR archetype, and the hope is that he finds his way into a high-passing volume offense with a competent offensive coaching staff.

3.05 Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn St.

Evan: I think Nicholas Singleton is the last RB remaining who has a real chance to get Day 2 draft capital. A year ago, he was one of the top RB prospects, until he had a very disappointing 2025 campaign (like all of Penn State). Singleton will immediately be useful in the NFL as a receiver, and has explosive potential on the ground (although it didn’t show up last season). The 3rd round is the perfect time to take RB dart throws with upside.

3.06: Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest

Mike: Demond Claiborne demonstrates patience behind the line and above-average change of pace and direction. Ball security is probably going to be his bugaboo, as he lost 4 fumbles during the 2025 season. He’s elusive in space and makes for decent fantasy depth.

3.07: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Jeff: Not sure how often you can get a potential top 5 player in the draft in the second half of the 3rd round, but here we are. I was racing to submit my pick. I took Caleb Downs at 3.07 because in IDP formats, he’s the kind of safety who can rack up tackles, and his football IQ will allow him to make plays all over the field. His football instincts and versatility to play at both safety positions and in the slot make him an instant DB1 for years to come in IDP leagues. Going to sleep well tonight, boys!

3.08: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

Kyle: Like Jeff, I was waiting to run to the podium if Caleb Downs was still on the board here. With Downs gone, I decided to stay in the IDP lane here and go linebacker with the pick. The debate was between Jake Golday and C.J. Allen. While Allen is a rock-solid run defender who is likely to garner higher draft capital, I stuck to my board and went with Golday, who I have one spot higher in my ranks. Golday’s pairing of size and athleticism, and IDP potential as a player who can impact the game on all three downs, makes him a prime target of mine in the late third round of drafts.

3.09: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State

Eric: Max Klare is a versatile, receiving tight end, and I love that at 3.09 in a TEP draft. He gets separation with his route running and is also good at finding the openings against zone. I would love to see him drafted to Kansas City and become the heir apparent to Travis Kelce.

3.10: Justin Joly, TE, NC State

Jason: What can I say? It’s TEP, and as an NC State season ticket holder, I saw a lot of Justin Joly over the past two years. A pure receiving TE, Joly is strong in contested situations and plays like a QB’s best friend by consistently finding voids in coverage. There’s nice flex appeal here given the format.

3.11: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

Evan: CJ Allen is commonly projected to get 1st round draft capital, which is rare for off-ball LBs in today’s NFL. He’s a smart player who’s likely to be a green dot 3-down LB for years to come. Allen might not have the most explosive skillset, but a reliable high-volume LB is a great pick at the end of the 3rd round, especially in start 3 LB leagues.

3.12: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

Mike: If you miss on Downs, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a fine consolation prize. He’s my S/DB2. McNeil-Warren has similar traits, and if he played in a Power-5, he might get just as much pub as Downs. He had a 61% box rate, which we love for IDP, and recorded an 11.8% tackle rate. If you know me, you know I love my tackle rate, and for a DB, that’s elite. He’s a tone-setter and brings the physicality. The ball isn’t secure near Warren, as he has busy hands and will force the ball out. He has plus sideline-to-sideline, relentless in pursuit, and a plus trigger downhill.

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The NFL Draft kicks off in a little over a week, and it doesn’t just add talent. It also resets the math for teams. Contracts that made sense in January become liabilities in April. Aging starters who survived free agency intact suddenly have a Day 2 pick breathing down their neck. And the fantasy community, which spent months building conviction on these players, is often the last to adjust.

The NFC has a handful of names this year that fit that profile: established IDP contributors whose situations have quietly deteriorated heading into draft weekend. Some have injury question marks. Some have contract leverage working against them. Some are just caught in the wrong spot at the wrong time, with a team that has clearly telegraphed where it’s heading.

The window to sell is shrinking. Once a team announces a pick at your guy’s position, the market moves fast and the leverage shifts. Here’s who you might want to consider moving before next Thursday night.

Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, Minnesota Vikings

Jonathan Greenard’s status with the team has been bandied about this offseason. While nothing concrete, he’s still the subject of trade rumors. Dallas appears to be a potential landing spot.

Greenard was a hot free agent after his 12.5 sack season in 2023. Greenard’s first season with the Vikings was a success, as he recorded 12 sacks and 18 TFLs while generating a 15.1% pressure rate. The arrow was pointing up for Greenard.

Unfortunately, the NFL is a very “what have you done for me lately” league, and any signs of decline or injury, and the NFL stands quickly means “not for long.”

Greenard missed 5 games and managed just 3 sacks over 270 pass rush snaps.

He also has Dallas Turner nipping at his heels, as the up-and-coming edge rusher enjoyed a breakout season in 2025. Turner recorded 8 sacks and 11 TFLs while producing a 14.6% pressure rate. Turner is entering his third year and the prime of his career.

Turner’s emergence and Greenard’s demand could make Greenard’s spot on the Vikings’ roster a fleeting moment.

Budda Baker, S, Arizona Cardinals

I know, you’re probably thinking, “Wait, what?” Yeah, the NFL is a cruel mistress. Budda Baker is entering his age-30 season, and players typically enter their decline after 30. They aren’t getting younger.

Baker has appeared in over 8,400 snaps and has logged 1,000+ snaps in five of the last seven seasons. He has been relatively healthy, as he’s missed no more than 5 games in his career. However, your replacement is only a draft away.

Baker has 284 tackles over his last two seasons with 14 TFLs and 10 defended passes, but just one INT. Certainly not a death knell. The Colts and Cardinals explored a trade that included Baker. He has two years and $33 million left on his contract and the Cardinals might want to be free of his cap number.

Baker’s age and contract that might make him expendable. He has a cap savings of nearly $15.7 million as a post-June 1 cut. If I have Baker rostered in dynasty, I might sell to a contender and get ahead of his potential decline.

Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, New York Giants

Kayvon Thibodeaux’s tenure with the Giants has been tumultuous at best. He’s failed to live up to the billing as a 5th overall pick. As a top-5 pick, he was expected to deliver All-Pro seasons and double-digit sack seasons. Unfortunately, he’s failed to deliver an All-Pro season and has just one season with 10+ sacks, and it was pretty fluky, where he delivered a 30% pressure-to-sack conversion rate.

Read the AFC edition

Since then, he has had 8 sacks over the last two seasons and 70 total pressures, averaging just 35 over that span. The Giants added Brian Burns via a trade and drafted Abdul Carter 3rd overall in 2025. Carter led the team in pressures as a rookie with 66 and recorded 18 QB hits.

Thibodeaux has a career 9.55 pressure rate, which doesn’t scream elite, no matter how you try to spin things. It’s pretty clear Carter is the future and the Giants are going to squeeze as much as they can from Burns.

Thibodeaux has been the subject of trade rumors, and with the draft around the corner, those rumors are sure to heat up. At the very least, Thibodeaux’s snaps and usage are in danger. I’d be looking to sell Thibodeaux for whatever I can get.

TJ Edwards, LB, Chicago Bears

The Bears let Tremaine Edmunds walk in free agency after signing him to a big free agent deal; the Bears might follow suit with TJ Edwards.

They have made some tweaks to the roster here and there, especially with the addition of Devin Bush at off-ball linebacker to replace Edmunds. They also re-signed D’Marco Jackson, which could mean something (or not at all). It’s definitely not a small deal.

Edwards has been with the Bears for the last three seasons, but the warts showed themselves last season. He missed seven games with hand/hamstring injuries and then suffered a fractured fibula in the wild card game against Green Bay.

His offseason is in jeopardy with a six-month recovery timeline. The Bears get $8.3 million in savings with a post-June 1, but I don’t see them cutting Edwards. We will see how the Bears truly feel about him at the end of the draft. While the mock experts have the Bears addressing offensive line or safety in the first, I think off-ball LB is in play here.

Edwards’ role might not change in 2026, but his remaining time with the Bears is shaky at best. He’ll be 30 when the season kicks off this fall.

Dre Greenlaw, LB, San Francisco 49ers

As of now, it’s sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows for Dre Greenlaw as he reunites with Fred Warner. However, he only signed a one-year deal. Although it’s a $7.5 millon deal, I don’t think it guarantees him any snaps, and he’s joining a defense with a new coordinator and scheme. He didn’t seem to fit in Denver, and he even said he wasn’t happy.

Greenlaw said he didn’t adjust from the 43 to 34 change; he might find the same difficulties in San Francisco, as Raheem Morris might be implementing a 34 base. However, he might be more comfortable opposite Warner.

The red flags with Greenlaw are his health and potential scheme fit. He’s appeared in just 10 games over the last two seasons and he may not fit entirely in Morris’s scheme. Dee Winters fits the profile of what Morris looks for in a pass rush LB, so Greenlaw’s snaps could be limited to specific packages, as opposed to a true full-time role.

It’s a shame he suffered that Achilles’ injury during the Super Bowl, as Warner/Greenlaw could have been a formidable Willis/Bowman-type duo.

Malik Hooker, S, Dallas Cowboys

I have never been enamored with Cowboys’ safeties from an IDP standpoint, and Malik Hooker isn’t an exception. Hooker just turned 30 and was part of a defense that was one of the worst in the league. He missed 5 games and didn’t record an INT throughout the year, and will have a new defensive coordinator who’s stressing turnovers, and a new scheme.

Hooker has been an average safety in the NFL, and for IDP, he’s been the definition of “meh.” I think Dallas wants to get younger and more physical, so I think he’s ripe for replacement, especially during the draft. I’ve seen guys like Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Dillon Thinemann gaining momentum in mock drafts.

Frankie Luvu, LB, Washington Commanders

Frankie Luvu is another off-ball LB who’ll be hitting his age-30 season come this season. He signed a three-year deal in 2024, and while I don’t think they'll release him ahead of this season, Luvu is entering the final year, and he’s probably going to want a new deal. I don’t see Washington ponying up cash for Luvu, especially with his production on the decline.

After recording 236 tackles over his final two seasons with the Panthers, he notched 185 in Washington and has yet to reach the 100-tackle mark. Luvu’s sack production dipped precipitously, by just over 60% from 2024 to 2025. He’s also a man without a position, as he moved all around the line of scrimmage. He played 43% of his snaps on the edge and the remainder at off-ball. He didn’t seem to fit in either spot. His PFF grades suffered as a result. He earned a 53.7 overall grade and a 58.2 pass rush grade. He missed 21 tackles and earned a 30.2 tackling grade.

These aren’t numbers that scream huge extension. The Commanders already added Leo Chenal in free agency, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone like Jordan Magee see increased usage at Luvu’s expense.

In the draft, they could go with an edge rusher to eat into Luvu’s edge snaps. I’ve also seen Sonny Styles mocked as well. Either way, I think it’s time to sell Luvu and, in redraft leagues, he’s probably off my board.

Demarcus Lawrence, EDGE, Seattle Seahawks

Now that DeMarcus Lawrence received a ring, will he check out? He’s going to be 34 at the end of the month, and accomplished what he set out to do after leaving Dallas: win a Super Bowl ring. Will he retire?

While that question looms, his sack production hasn’t been elite, and he hasn’t produced 10+ sacks since 2018. He’s a consistent source of pressure, however, as he generated a 13.3% pressure rate this past season.

As a group, Seattle’s EDGE unit needs to get younger. Uchenna Nwosu will be 30 at the end of the year, so while the position isn’t a dire need, it could be if Lawrence retires. Plus, the Seahawks might want to get younger and faster at the position. At Lawrence’s advanced age, he’d be the first to get replaced.

I could see Seattle going with someone like Cashius Howell, TJ Parker, or even Zion Young as Lawrence’s eventual replacement.

Byron Young, EDGE, Los Angeles Rams

This one might be controversial. Byron Young is going into his fourth year, but he’s already 28. He’s recorded over 200 tackles and 27.5 sacks over his first three years. However, Young could be looking for a payday for his production and Les Snead may not be willing to hand over that much cash to someone closer to 30.

The Rams drafted Josaiah Stewart in the 3rd round and could be Young’s replacement this year. They may want to limit Young’s snaps, as he’s appeared in nearly 3,000 snaps (regular season and playoffs) and has a 79% snap rate. The Rams may want to insert Stewart into a more prominent role and develop him as an edge rusher alongside Young and Jared Verse. He played through a knee injury late in 2025, which also hampered his production.

I know Young just had a breakout season; however, it’s possible Young’s snaps/usage dip to around 70%, especially if they can’t come to some sort of extension during the offseason. It’s not a demotion, but more of a workload management situation. I still think he’s in the DL2/3 conversation, and I’m not turning down reasonable trade offers.

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Just two weeks until the NFL Draft! Will Sonny Styles go inside the top 10? Maybe top 5, even? Will another linebacker sneak into the back of the first round? I think we may have a total of three linebackers in the 1st round. I can’t wait until we know the landing spots for the linebackers to further inform how we should draft them in fantasy leagues.

I didn’t include Arvell Reese in this list because he was in the defensive line article, but he would have been number one here, too. As an off-ball linebacker, he could be a more athletic Zack Baun.

The dynasty rookie draft valuations below are based on a twelve-team superflex league. For projected NFL draft pick capital, I referenced the past two weeks’ worth of mock drafts from NFL Mock Draft Database. Since almost all mock drafts only cover the first round, I averaged The Athletic’s 3-round mock and NFL.com's 5-round mock for deeper picks.

For fantasy, draft capital and landing spot are crucial pieces of information, so expect this list to change quite a bit by the end of April.

Elite Tier Upside

1. Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Measurables: 6-foot-5, 244 pounds

Age: 21

Path: Played 1 season at Alabama, followed by 2 seasons at Ohio State

RAS: 9.99

Composite draft projection: Round 1, pick 5

Strengths and Shortcomings

Sonny Styles is an intriguing, high-upside defender whose athletic profile points toward a three-down NFL linebacker role. He shows strong play recognition and rarely misses tackles, pairing reliable technique with physicality at the point of contact. His overall production doesn’t fully match his elite traits, maybe due in part to lower snap counts in his senior year (47 per game), so he is somewhat of a projection due to his athletic traits and football IQ.

Styles brings value in both run defense and coverage, with the range and instincts to stay on the field in all situations. He delivers a strong initial strike when taking on blockers, helping him avoid getting stuck early in reps, though he can improve at shedding once engaged. At times, he overcommits while diagnosing plays, and his change-of-direction acceleration can be a bit slow, but his closing speed helps him recover.

First-Look Dynasty Valuation

If his production catches up to his athleticism, he has the tools to become a complete defensive playmaker and a top 12 fantasy linebacker.

Dynasty Rookie Draft Valuation

Early 2nd

2. Jacob Rodriquez, Texas Tech

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 231 pounds

Age: 23.5

Path: Freshman year at Virginia, then played 4 years at Texas Tech.

RAS: 9.61

Composite draft projection: Round 2, pick 4

Strengths and Shortcomings

Jacob Rodriguez is a slightly undersized but highly productive linebacker whose instincts and athleticism consistently show up on tape. A former quarterback, he brings strong football intelligence to the position, highlighted by a breakout 2025 season that included 124 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 7 forced fumbles. His ability to impact both the run and pass game is evident, particularly with an outstanding 92.3 coverage grade.

Rodriguez plays fast and shows good lateral movement, allowing him to work through traffic and avoid blockers effectively. However, his aggressive play style can lead to inconsistency. He has a tendency to take poor angles, overrun plays, and miss tackles, finishing with 20 missed tackles and a 13.9% missed tackle rate. While he does a solid job keeping blockers off him initially, he can struggle to disengage once linemen lock on.

First-Look Dynasty Valuation

If he can improve his discipline and finishing ability, his playmaking traits give him awesome upside. There is a good chance Rodriguez is a top 12 fantasy linebacker at some point in his career.

Dynasty Rookie Draft Valuation

Middle to late 2nd round

Starter Tier Upside

3. Jake Golday, Cincinnati

Measurables: 6-foot-4, 239 pounds

Age: 22.8

Path: 3 years at Central Arkansas before transferring to Cincinnati for his final 2 years.

RAS: 9.85

Composite draft projection:

Strengths and Shortcomings

Jake Golday brings a well-rounded, physical skill set to the linebacker position, highlighted by his overall production and effectiveness as a blitzer. He totaled 101 tackles in 2025 with a solid 9% missed tackle rate, showing reliability as a finisher. As a pass rusher, Golday generated 4 sacks, 5 quarterback hits, and 9 hurries on just 80 pass rush snaps, an impressive 22.5% pressure rate. He wins with strength and quickness rather than shiftiness.

Golday also shows the ability to shed blocks effectively in the run game, helping him stay active around the ball. In coverage, he’s good but not a standout, posting a 77.5 grade in 2025. One area for improvement is his initial trigger, as he tends to hesitate for a beat after the snap. Not sure whether that is due to him processing reads slower than his counterparts or being ultra-patient.

First-Look Dynasty Valuation

He should be a top 24 fantasy linebacker and has a chance to reach the top 12 if he develops quicker read/reaction time.

Dynasty Rookie Draft Valuation

Early 3rd round

4. C.J. Allen, Georgia

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 235 pounds

Age: 21

Path: 3 years at Georgia

Composite draft projection: Round 1, pick 26.

RAS: Didn’t test

Strengths and Shortcomings

C.J. Allen profiles as a steady, dependable inside linebacker who does a lot of things well, even if he lacks standout, highlight-reel traits. A smart and trusted leader, Allen not only handled audibles in college but also took on play-calling responsibilities, reflecting his strong understanding of the defense. He’s effective at disengaging from blocks and consistently puts himself in position to make plays.

Allen recorded 94 tackles in 2025 with just 8 missed tackles (7.8%), showcasing sound technique and reliability as a finisher. While he isn’t particularly fast or quick, he has enough athleticism to hold up at the next level. Coverage remains a concern, as shown by his 55.5 grade, though he is more comfortable in zone than in man situations. As a pass rusher, he adds value with four sacks and nine hurries on 88 pass rush snaps.

First-Look Dynasty Valuation

I think his floor is higher than Golday's, but he has a lower ceiling. I don’t see him as a top 12 linebacker, but there is a good chance he reaches the top 24.

Dynasty Rookie Draft Valuation

Late 3rd round

5. Anthony Hill, Texas

Measurables: 6-foot-2, 238 pounds

Age: 21

Path: 3 years at Texas.

RAS: 9.81

Composite draft projection: Round 2, pick 16.

Strengths and Shortcomings

Anthony Hill is an athletic, instinctive linebacker who plays fast and aggressive, highlighted by his ability to diagnose plays quickly and trigger downhill in a hurry. His burst and change-of-direction skills allow him to cover ground effectively, and when he stays under control, he’s a reliable finisher who rarely misses tackles. However, that same aggressiveness can work against him at times, as he’ll occasionally overrun plays and take himself out of position.

Hill’s overall production has been modest, averaging 6.3 tackles per game, but his traits show potential. As a blitzer, he shows promise with 3 sacks, 2 QB hits, and 11 pressures on 86 pass rush snaps. In coverage, he’s been just average so far, which could limit his snap share early in his NFL career. Still, with his athleticism and play speed, there’s clear upside if he continues to develop in that area.

First-Look Dynasty Valuation

He could have some top 24 seasons as he develops.

Dynasty Rookie Draft Valuation

4th round

Rosterable IDPs

6. Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh

Measurables: 5-foot-11, 220 pounds

Age: 22

Path: 4 years at Pittsburgh.

RAS: 8.83

Composite draft projection: Round 3, pick 8

Strengths and Shortcomings

Kyle Louis is an intriguing hybrid defender whose size and athleticism point toward a potential big nickel role at the next level, using his speed, quickness, and strong play recognition to make plays all over the field. Louis excels at avoiding blocks with his movement skills, though he can struggle to disengage once linemen get their hands on him.

His 2025 production included 82 tackles with a 10.9% missed tackle rate, along with contributions as a pass rusher (3 sacks, 4 QB hits, 11 hurries) and in coverage (2 interceptions and solid grades). While his overall grading profile was good but not elite, his athletic traits give him room to grow, particularly in coverage. His 2024 season was even more productive with 97 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 7 sacks. He has an intriguing ability, and if not for his size, he would be higher on this list.

First-Look Dynasty Valuation

In the right system, he could be a player in the same vein as Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, though I don’t think he plays quite as physically as Owusu-Koramoah did. Depending on how he is played, he could be a top 24 linebacker or top 12 safety.

Dynasty Rookie Draft Valuation

Mid 4th to early 5th round

7. Josiah Trotter, Missouri

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 237 pounds

Age: 20.9

Path: Redshirted 2023 due to a knee injury, played one year at West Virginia, then transferred to Missouri for 1 year.

RAS: Didn’t test.

Composite draft projection: Round 3 pick 28

Strengths and Shortcomings

Josiah Trotter brings a physical, downhill presence to the linebacker position, standing out most for his run defense and ability to deliver big hits. He’s particularly effective as a blitzer, showing a more developed pass-rush arsenal than many linebackers in this class. In 2025, he recorded 3 sacks, 4 QB hits, and 7 pressures on just 53 pass rush snaps, translating to an impressive 26.4% pressure rate.

Trotter finished the season with 81 tackles but did post an 11% missed tackle rate, highlighting some inconsistency as a finisher. That theme shows up elsewhere in his game, as his performance can fluctuate from play to play. Coverage remains his biggest limitation, with a 47.9 grade in 2025, suggesting he may struggle to stay on the field in obvious passing situations early in his career, unless they line him up on the edge.

First-Look Dynasty Valuation

Trotter may only get limited playing time his first year or two as he develops, but I think he can be a top 36 linebacker.

Dynasty Rookie Draft Valuation

Fifth round.

8. Deonte Lawson, Alabama

Measurables: 6-foot-2, 226 pounds

Age: 23.1

Path: 5 years at Alabama

RAS: Didn’t test.

Composite draft projection: Day 3

Strengths and Shortcomings

Deontae Lawson is an athletic linebacker who triggers quickly against both the run and pass, displaying strong reaction time and the closing burst needed to make plays sideline to sideline. Lawson is pretty good at slipping past blockers or bouncing off contact to stay involved in the play, but he doesn’t always take the best route through traffic.

He recorded 87 tackles in 2025 but also had 17 missed tackles, contributing to a 14.5% missed tackle rate across his college career that he’ll need to clean up at the next level. While he is pretty good at avoiding blocks, he tends to struggle with disengaging once linemen lock onto him. In coverage, Lawson is serviceable, but there’s still room for growth in that area. Overall, his athleticism, instincts, and play speed give him an appealing foundation, but improved tackling consistency will be key to unlocking his full impact.

First-Look Dynasty Valuation

I think he has the potential to be a solid linebacker and could have some seasons in the top 36.

Dynasty Rookie Draft Valuation

5th round, but if Lawson truly doesn’t get picked in the NFL draft until the 5th round or later, he is better left for the waiver wire.

Borderline Rosterable Assets

9. Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Texas Christian

Kaleb Elarms-Orr is an athletic linebacker with a 9.33 RAS but needs to work on play recognition and processing.

10. Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State

I love the way Keyshaun Elliot flies around the field and gives effort, but he can tend to get out of position and his pass coverage is not good at all. He is going to have to improve in those areas to be an asset on fantasy teams.

11. Taurean York, Texas A&M

Taurean York is an Ivan Pace Jr.-sized linebacker who would be higher on this list if not for that size. After struggling through the past couple of years waiting for more playing time for Pace, I’m not going to subject myself to that again.

12. Red Murdock, Buffalo

Red Murdock was a tackling machine at Buffalo the last 2 years, averaging 149 combined tackles per year. In 2024, his 156 tackles were second to fellow Buffalo LB Shaun Dolac, who had 168. I want to have him higher, but his average athleticism and the fact that Dolac hasn’t panned out yet have me hesitant.

13. Harold Perkins Jr., Louisiana State

Harold Perkins Jr. is an athletic, undersized linebacker at 6’1, 223, similar to Kyle Louis, but that is where the similarity ends. The play on the field just hasn’t been nearly as good as Louis.

14. Aiden Fisher, Indiana

Aiden Fisher is a smart, productive player, but I worry his below-average athleticism for an NFL linebacker will limit his usefulness for fantasy teams.

15. Owen Heinecke, Oklahoma

Owen Heinecke is another undersized linebacker who has a great motor, but doesn’t have the athleticism of Louis or Perkins. Unless he can put on some good weight, I’m afraid he will be stuck on special teams. He ran a 4.62 40, so there is a chance he could maybe develop into a big nickel type like Louis if he doesn’t add weight.

16. Bryce Boettcher, Oregon

Bryce Boettcher is another linebacker with a great motor, but he is limited athletically. Will likely start on special teams and have to work his way to playing linebacker in the NFL.

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We are a few weeks out from the NFL Draft and team workouts are beginning soon. With that in mind, it’s worth taking a close look at the defensive coordinator changes across the league and what they mean for your IDP leagues in 2026.

Two weeks ago, I broke down the new defensive coordinators in the AFC. This week, I’m taking a look at the new defensive coordinators in the NFC, their defensive schemes, and the specific players worth targeting as a result.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys were one of the worst defensive units in the NFL, and they decided to move on from Matt Eberflus. They were able to steal from a division rival and snag Christian Parker from the Eagles—a Vic Fangio disciple.

Defensive Philosophy

Parker will carry over a similar philosophy and principles from Fangio’s defense in Philadelphia. He’s going to fit the scheme around the players and adapt it to what they do well. As of now, we’re not quite sure what they do well. We do know a core tenet of the defense will be to stop the run and impact the QB.

He’ll bring his 34 base but sprinkle in 43 principles. I’m sure there will be plenty of nickel (4-2-5), but this won’t be a Fangio copy/paste. Like most of the modern NFL defenses, he’ll stress multiplicity. Expect to see simulated/exotic pressures and 5-man fronts. They want to force the QB into mistakes and bad throws.

Defensive Line/EDGE Unit

Parker’s defense will be built up front and there are some solid pieces on the line. This is one of the stronger units, and they can control the pocket. During the offseason, they traded one of their higher upside pieces in Osa Odighizuwa.

They still have Quinnen Williams, who they acquired during the season, to go along with Kenny Clark. They also signed Jonathan Bullard as a depth piece.

To shore up the EDGE unit, they traded for veteran Rashan Gary. They will also be hoping for a significant jump in Year 2 from Donovan Ezeiruaku. Parker is also converting off-ball LB Marist Liufau to EDGE to remain flexible.

Linebacker Unit

The linebacker unit was one of the worst in the league. That’s what happens when Kenneth Murray is your anchor. Due to injuries, they also had to rely on rookie Shemar James. Parker and new LB coach Scott Symons are going to stress physicality. They want to be dominant against the run and physical in their run fits.

DeMarvion Overshown, who’s suffered two significant injuries already, looks to be the LB1. However, he’s played 19 games in his first three seasons, with 2023 being a lost season. However, if he plays like he did in 2024, we could be looking at a big 2026. I am expecting Dallas to address the LB position in the 2026 draft.

Defensive Back Unit

Parker’s scheme is going to put pressure on the defensive backs. They are going to be tasked with playing single-high, deep halves, and being physical in the box and in coverage. I think the nickel will be a key component here.

As of now, it looks like Reddy Steward will be their nickel, so he’s going to be that Swiss Army knife, functioning as a corner, safety, and blitzer. Parker has a decent track record of developing these guys, most recently, Cooper DeJean.

The safety battle will be one to watch. IDP managers should watch the draft carefully. Guys like Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Dillon Thienemann have been mocked to Dallas, which would impact the depth chart. Parker will run single-high, so we’ll see if he has a true box safety, or if Jalen Thompson and Malik Hooker will rotate around.

I would expect a safety to be added in the draft.

IDP Targets in 2026

In DT-required leagues, I think Quinnen Williams will benefit in Parker’s defense. I also think Donovan Ezeiruaku can make that second-year leap as a DL3. Rashan Gary is also a DL3 target. I’m not sure what to make of the LBs, but DeMarvion Overshown is the only one I’m remotely interested in. I don’t think you need to reach for any of the DBs, but Reddy Steward is a sleeper in CB-required leagues.

Green Bay Packers

Green Bay lost its defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley, as he traded the cheese and frozen tundra for the beaches of Miami as the Dolphins’ new head coach. After three years with the Cardinals, Jonathan Gannon moves back to a coordinator role, becoming the DC for the Packers.

Defensive Philosophy

Gannon’s core philosophy is adaptability ahead of scheme. Gannon believes he needs to figure out what his players can do and put them in a position to succeed. He wants a swarming defense that triggers to the ball, out-hits the opposition, and takes the ball away. Turnovers will be key.

As a disciple of the Fangio-tree, he’ll implement a split-safety/two-high shell. He doesn’t necessarily believe in a scheme, but will sacrifice yards to prevent the explosives. In Arizona, he used disguised pressures and changed his defensive identity on a weekly basis. He’s going to rely on his front four to generate pressure. I do think Green Bay will use a 34 base, but live in nickel/multiple fronts.

Defensive Line/EDGE Unit

Gannon inherits a decent defense with key pieces at each unit in place.

I am expecting five-man fronts. Karl Brooks, Devonte Wyatt, and Javon Hargrave are going to be key pieces. I am expecting Hargrave to be more of a 3-tech (head-up on tackle) and control gaps.

Gannon is going to love Micah Parsons, and though he’s coming off an ACL, I’m expecting to continue his edge rush prowess. As a 34 OLB, I’m expecting some clean looks at the QB. Gannon is going to need Brenton Cox and Barryn Sorrell to step up, and Lukas Van Ness will be battling for snaps in the edge rush rotation.

Linebacker Unit

The Packers allowed their long-time defensive captain, Quay Walker, to walk in free agency. I am expecting more nickel/2-LB looks as the shift from 43 to 34 will only have two off-ball LBs on the field.

Gannon’s linebackers need to cover, which is why I was surprised they acquired Zaire Franklin. He struggled mightily in coverage (and overall) in 2025. They need to carry TEs, carry seams, and close windows underneath—all things Franklin had issues with last season. Edgerrin Cooper is going to be asked to carry the group with his athleticism and should be unleashed in Gannon’s system.

Defensive Back Unit

I think you’ll see safeties lining up 10-12 yards deep and playing some quarters. I think you could also see some three-safety looks. He ran cover-4 more than any team in the NFL. You should also see creative alignments and rotations that the QB won’t recognize.

Gannon is going to get creative with Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, and Javon Bullard, and I think his scheme fits all three of their skill sets. I think Bullard plays the nickel role, and McKinney will rotate deep and near the box.

The corners will play with a cushion and read the release, rewarding patience and discipline. I think Keisean Nixon will play more on the boundary, but could rotate with Bullard for nickel snaps.

IDP Targets in 2026

The targets in Green Bay are simple: Parsons, Cooper, McKinney, and Bullard. I’m taking a wait-and-see approach on the LB2, as I don’t trust Franklin’s declining play.

New York Giants

The Giants overhauled their coaching staff after the 2025 season and landed the big fish, John Harbaugh, as their head coach. Harbaugh tabbed Dennard Wilson to replace Shane Bowen as his new defensive coordinator.

Defensive Philosophy

Wilson spent the past two seasons with the Tennessee Titans and will be tasked with improving the 28th-ranked defense. His core philosophy is to attack. He wants violence and an attacking unit that never lets up. He’s physical up front and in coverage. He demands his corners to be aggressive and challenge receivers at the line, eliminating any free throws and disrupting rhythm.

I’m also expecting a zone-heavy defense with Cover-4 as his security blanket.

Defensive Line/EDGE Unit

I would expect to see a six-man front and light boxes. The defensive line should rely on simulated pressures, showing blitz, but only rushing four. He’s selective with his blitzing, as the Titans had a 22.4% blitz rate, so I’m expecting something similar with the Giants, although it might get a tick higher with guys like Brian Burns and Abdul Carter.

Dexter Lawrence (who just requested a trade, so keep an eye on that) should see a lot of attention up the middle, which will open up lanes for Burns, Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. I’m expecting Wilson to deploy Lawrence in advantageous positions to contribute and produce IDP-friendly stats.

Linebacker Unit

The Giants should be in nickel, so I think you should see two off-ball LBs on the field. He wants his guys to set the tone physically and flow to the ball with speed and violence. They need to win at the line and fill gaps. He also needs his linebackers to blow up blocks.

As of now, Tremaine Edmunds and Micah McFadden are atop the depth chart as the off-ball LBs, and I’m projecting Edmunds to wear the dot. One of Edmunds’s traits is processing, which is key in Wilson’s defense.

Defensive Back Unit

Wilson’s defensive backs are aggressive in press coverage. He wants to eliminate the free access throws, and he protects his corners with two-high safeties.

He has two solid corners with Paulson Adebo and Greg Newsome on the boundary, with Dru Phillips as his nickel. They can be aggressive on short routes.

I think whoever gets the line of scrimmage role will be the IDP beneficiary. I think Tyler Nubin gets the first crack, as he played 55% of his snaps on the line last season. Jevon Holland played more of the deep role, so I think he remains one of the deep guys, and Wilson utilizes his ball hawk ability.

IDP Targets in 2026

I’m targeting Lawrence as a DT2 in true position/DT-required leagues. Carter led the team in pressures as a rookie, so I’m excited about his breakout potential in Year 2. Burns is coming off a career-high in sacks and will be a DL1/2 target.

As of now, I’m only targeting Edmunds at LB and waiting for the draft to see if they address the position. I don’t mind Nubin as a high upside DB3, and Phillips has tackle upside as their nickel corner.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are going on their fifth defensive coordinator in five years. It’s been quite the turnstile at the position. Robert Saleh left San Francisco to pursue another head coaching opportunity with the Titans. Kyle Shanahan scooped up Raheem Morris after he was fired from the Atlanta Falcons.

Defensive Philosophy

Morris brings a diverse defense, schematically, and he’s going to mix up fronts, and things will look different than years past. He stresses versatility over scheme, but I’m expecting a shift to a 34 base, but it will be multiple with 5+ man fronts.

Expect blitzing. Morris blitzed his guys at a 36% rate (second in the NFL), which resulted in 57 sacks. He wants to get to the QB as early as and as often as possible.

Defensive Line Unit

Although John Lynch has said we’re a four-man front team, Morris will be given the freedom to change things up. You’ll probably see the defensive tackles in a 4i, and the nose over center. They want to be stout against the run.

CJ Collins and Osa Odighizuwa to play that 4i technique, but Mykel Williams could see snaps there, as well.

Nick Bosa has primarily been a hand-in-dirt player, so there might be some adjustment playing at a two-point stance; essentially, a stand-up edge rusher. I think Morris could adapt and allow Bosa the freedom to play how he’s comfortable. Williams and Bosa are both recovering from ACL injuries, so keep an eye on their status throughout the off-season.

Linebacker Unit

Morris likes hybrid-type linebackers. Versatile enough to blitz and cover while playing multiple alignments. One of Morris’s concepts is walking a linebacker to the edge. In Atlanta, he had Kaden Elliss. In Los Angeles, he had Ernest Jones.

I would expect Fred Warner to be that guy. The 49ers defense looked completely different without Warner last year. Warner is a smart, aggressive off-ball LB who can do anything.

It will be interesting to see how Morris uses Dre Greenlaw and Dee Winters. Winters fits the profile of the “walking” linebacker, as he had 92 snaps on the edge in 2025; however, he earned a 56.4 PFF pass rush grade.

Defensive Back Unit

I think Morris continues to be zone-heavy, as the Falcons were in zone nearly 77% of the time. He did use man around 19% of his snaps, and he inherits a few guys who can play man when needed.

Morris also uses a deep safety to patrol the field, so we’ll see who that ends up being. I think it could be Malik Mustapha, as he spent most of his snaps deep (460). However, he does want versatile players who can play all over the field. I think he uses Upton Stout as a movable piece. He plays the run effectively and can get to the QB.

IDP Targets in 2026

As long as Bosa is healthy, I’m targeting him as a DL2. I still want to see how he’s used, but I still think he’s used a hand-in-the-dirt edge. I’m hoping the ACL injury hasn’t sapped his burst. Warner was almost ready for the playoffs, so I have no doubt he’ll be ready for the season. I do like Stout’s upside as a sneaky DB3/4, and I might even target him as a high upside CB2 in true position/CB-required.

Washington Commanders

The Commanders retained Dan Quinn as their head coach, but moved on from their defensive coordinator. Quinn tabbed Daronte Jones as his new coordinator. He spent the last four seasons as the Minnesota Vikings DB coach and pass game coordinator. Before the Minnesota job, he spent a year as coordinator for LSU.

Defensive Philosophy

Jones is coming from Brian Flores’ aggressive system and will bring that mentality to the Commanders. I think he’ll be scheme agnostic and isn’t going to let the offense dictate the flow of the game. Quinn is giving Jones full reign and I expect the defense to be multiple and come close to Minnesota’s 46.3% blitz rate. Aggressive pressure packages and disguised coverages will be the identity.

Defensive Line/EDGE Unit

The base might be a 34, but I’m expecting multiple fronts and nickel packages to create opportunities for his linebackers and edge rushers. They will rely on the blitz and disguising pressure while executing stunts. You might see the edge rushers drop into coverage a bit more often.

Washington addressed the edge with Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson in free agency. They will also have Dorance Armstrong coming back from injury.

Linebacker Unit

The linebackers must be able to do everything: run stop, blitz, and cover. They need to close space quickly, strike with violence, and carry TEs/shifty backs out of the backfield and down the seam.

Leo Chenal is expected to fit that role and can do everything Jones is asking. He played that role with the Chiefs, albeit part-time, but is a linebacker who can align anywhere asked. Frankie Luvu is still the vet and is an off-ball LB who can get to the QB. It’ll be interesting to see if Jones plays him strictly off-ball.

Jones did call out Kain Medrano and Jordan Magee, but the Chenal addition might cap their snaps.

Defensive Back Unit

The DBs are Jones’ specialty as a DB coach. He’ll be asked to strengthen their coverage schemes while improving communication and discipline. He wants the explosives on his end of the field; turnovers and defended passes. He’s going to expect all of his backs to be able to read and react, and execute multiple roles.

Second-year corner Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil look like scheme fits. Jones is going to rely on a two-high structure and send his DBs on blitzes. They’ll need to play multiple alignments, without tipping off the offense.

Nick Cross is expected to come right in to provide that versatility.

IDP Targets in 2026

I like Oweh on the edge. At linebacker, I’m excited about the prospect of Chenal with a full-time role. Cross has a chance to put up DB1 numbers in Jones’s defense.

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Updated: 4/25/2026

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Free agency has wrapped up and the coaching carousel has stopped spinning. Before draft season kicks into full gear, it’s worth taking a close look at the defensive coordinator changes across the league and what they mean for your IDP leagues in 2026.

Below, I break down the new defensive coordinators, their defensive schemes, and the specific players worth targeting as a result.

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens moved on from John Harbaugh as their head coach and didn’t bring back Zach Orr as their defensive coordinator. The Ravens brought in Chargers’ defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as their new coach, and he brought along Anthony Weaver to head the defense.

What does this mean for the Ravens’ IDPs?

Defensive Philosophy

I’m sure Minter will have his fingerprint on the defense, but Weaver is a solid coordinator who’ll have his DNA all over the defense.

His philosophy is simple: a physical, connected, and flexible defense. Blitzing should be intentional, and not just for the sake of blitzing. The Dolphins had a 30.4% blitz rate, so I am expecting something similar with Baltimore.

He requires a fast and physical defense that is fundamentally sound and swarms the ball. He wants pressure, but not at the sacrifice of fundamentals.

Although these are just a few snapshots, these were his two most deployed lineups with Miami last year.

His system is a multiple-front modern NFL defense, as opposed to a rigid 4-3/3-4. He’s used his base fronts, but will use 4-man/5-man, and heavy disguises.

Defensive Line/EDGE Unit

The Ravens almost acquired one of the top edge rushers in Maxx Crosby, but let’s face it, they got cold feet at the thought of losing multiple draft picks for a player, potentially, on the downswing. However, they landed Trey Hendrickson as the consolation.

Weaver’s scheme should benefit Hendrickson and the returning Nnamdi Madubuike. Mike Green should also benefit from Hendrickson’s presence. Weaver is a former DL coach and will scheme pressure for his line. There’s also TFL upside for the interior, as he helped Zach Sieler become one of the top IDLs in the NFL.

The scheme might create pressure from anywhere, so sack equity might be distributed, but I don’t see deep rotations. I’d expect Hendrickson to have a full-time role, and if Green shows his development, he could be a 60% snap guy.

Linebacker Unit

I think Weaver’s unit will be a benefit for Roquan Smith and whoever wins the LB2 job. Weaver’s defenses were primarily nickel/2-LB defenses with Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson.

His fronts benefit LBs with pressure design and open gaps. However, his fronts could prevent funneling to one off-ball LB. I still think Smith is the alpha here. He’ll also blitz his linebackers, much like he did with Dodson, so there’s upside for big plays (sacks, TFLs).

Defensive Back Unit

Weaver wants DBs who fly around, make hits, and, in some cases, disguise pressures. Safeties and nickels could be the beneficiary here. He also values versatile DBs who can rotate, trigger downhill, and adapt to assignments.

Kyle Hamilton should be one of the biggest beneficiaries, especially since he’ll be reuniting with his former DB coach at Notre Dame. Hamilton should play close to the box and see some slot duties. I think whoever wins the nickel role will also have IDP value.

IDP Targets for 2026

I’m targeting Namdi Madubuike (if he’s healthy), Trey Hendrickson, Mike Green (DL3/4), Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey

Buffalo Bills

The Bills decided they were going as far as they could go with Sean McDermott. So they fired him just after the 2025 season and promoted Joe Brady to head coach. Brady decided against retaining Bobby Babich and went with Jim Leonard as his defensive coordinator.

Although Leonhard doesn’t have NFL experience as a coordinator, he does bring NFL defensive coaching experience as a DB coach, pass game coordinator, and assistant head coach with the Denver Broncos. He served as the Wisconsin defensive coordinator from 2017-2022, so I wouldn’t necessarily call him green.

Defensive Philosophy

Leonhard has stated he’s going to be aggressive. Up front and in the defensive backfield. He’s going to chase the ball and generate turnovers. He also wants to fit his players’ skills, rather than be rigid and force the players into the scheme.

Disruption will be key to turnovers.

It does look like he’ll run a 34 base, utilizing his outside linebackers in both the pass rush and coverage. While I don’t expect them to be in their base, they’ll utilize modern concepts, such as multiple fronts with 5-man pressure. I would also expect a similar blitz rate to Denver’s 32.1% number in 2025.

Defensive Line/EDGE Unit

Overall, I’m expecting big plays, but maybe not as many tackle attempts. Leonhard’s scheme is going to generate pressure and open up those rush lanes. The disguises and confusion will create sack opportunities, even if they don’t win the block.

Bradley Chubb and Gregory Rousseau should benefit on the outside, as they’ll be asked to go get the QB. Rousseau has the length and versatility to fit in this structure. The 34 shift might cap the tackle numbers for Ed Oliver. He might be asked to be more of a space occupier who disrupts the QB and gets the occasional sack.

Linebacker Unit

In Leonhard’s scheme, the outside linebackers generate the pressure, and the interior occupy space, so they’ll have tackle upside. However, if the pressure is consistent, they could lose out on tackle opportunities. More throwaways and scrambles.

Terrel Bernard looks to be the green dot, but I’m concerned for his tackle floor in this scheme. If he is the dot, volume is in his favor. This is more of the scheme projection. Dorian Williams is a risky LB3 in this role, especially if Leonard favors more dime/single-LB packages or favors a rotation on specific packages.

Defensive Back Unit

I think this unit might benefit the most from Leonhard’s scheme (shocker, considering he was a DB himself).

He’ll lean into coverage disguises, versatility, and attacking from the backend. This group is going to be challenged to force turnovers.

Cole Bishop might be the biggest beneficiary here. He led the Bills in tackles (85) and added 3 INTs. Last season’s usage showed his versatility at the safety position, and this is the profile Leonhard can unlock and weaponize.

CJ Gardner-Johnson has a similar profile: a safety who can play physical in the box, cover the slot, and be a ball hawk deep. His floor depends on whether he’s a full-time player or a rotational piece.

Dee Alford could be the slot and have some IDP value in deeper leagues if Leonhard deploys more nickel.

IDP Targets for 2026

In big play leagues, I’m targeting Rousseau and Chubb. Ed Oliver is a DT-required target only at this point. I’m a bit lower on Bernard in this scheme, but if he wins the dot, he’s an LB2/3. I like Bishop as a potential DB breakout; target him as a DB3.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns ended up letting Kevin Stefanski go, and Jim Schwartz decided against returning as the defensive coordinator after the Browns decided to go with Todd Monken as their new head coach.

Monken ended up going with Mike Rutenberg as his defensive coordinator. Rutenberg doesn’t have any coordinator experience, but has defensive coaching experience and has drawn praise around the league as an up-and-coming defensive mind.

Defensive Philosophy

As far as the Browns’ scheme, Rutenberg is going to maintain their four-down, attack-style pass rush. Rutenberg inherits a defense that plays a similar style to his own, so there’s no need to overhaul the unit or scheme.

Rutenberg favors style, attack up front, and play fast and violent. Disruption will be the key to defense. He also stresses communication so the unit plays connected. From a philosophical standpoint, Rutenberg wants to stay aggressive and front-driven. Instead of a whole new document, Rutenbeg is using the ‘Format Painter’ option.

Defensive Line Unit

The Browns recorded 53 sacks in 2025 and were first in TFLs. The line is staying front-driven.

The defensive line still appears to be the engine of the defense, and the good thing is the continuity. There won’t be much of a learning curve here.

Myles Garrett, no matter the coordinator, is going to remain elite. This scheme is ideal for preserving his floor and ceiling.

There will probably be more of a rotation opposite Garrett; however, I think Alex Wright will get most of the snaps. Isaiah McGuire and AJ Epenesa will rotate as the third edge.

Rutenberg’s scheme should continue to create TFL opportunities for Mason Graham.

Linebacker Unit

Carson Schwesinger remains the alpha at the linebacker position after the Browns let Devin Bush walk in free agency. Schwesinger played like a veteran as a rookie with the green dot and ended up winning the defensive rookie of the year. Off-ball LBs should stay clean behind an aggressive front. Rutenberg stresses violence and quickness, which is right in Scwehsinger’s wheelhouse.

Quincy Williams signed in free agency and should be the LB2. He’s still a quick, attacking linebacker and should benefit in the scheme, as well. Rutenberg is familiar with Williams during his time with the Jaguars and the Jets.

Defensive Back Unit

If the Browns remain aggressive up front, that should lead to hurried throws and INT opportunities. Rutgenberg will continue to stress pass-defense efficiency.

Safeties will also have opportunities to clean up tackles.

Grant Delpit is a solid schematic fit here, as he can play around the line of scrimmage. He can rush the passer, play in the box as a run stopper, and play the slot. I’m expecting a bump in tackle production.

Tyson Campbell can take advantage of the mistakes caused by the defensive line. If the ball is in his area, he’ll make a play on it.

IDP Targets for 2026

I think the IDP targets for Cleveland are pretty simple: Myles Garrett, Carson Schwesinger, Quincy Williams, Grant Delpit, and Tyson Campbell.

Mason Graham might be a DT2/3 in DT-required leagues.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers lost their defensive coordinator to the Baltimore Ravens, as he accepted their head coaching position, so they went with a familiar face, hiring their former safeties coach, Chris O’Leary, as the new coordinator.

O’Leary spent the 2025 season as Western Michigan’s defensive coordinator.

Defensive Philosophy

There shouldn’t be too much change, scheme or philosophy-wise, from last year. As the safeties coach in 2024, O’Leary contributed to a defense that allowed just 17.7 points/game and was one of the best red zone defenses in the NFL.

O’Leary said himself, no major changes, and he wants to elevate what we do well. He stresses fundamentals, multiple fronts, and position flexibility. He’ll deploy a Minter-style defense, and take his principles from Western Michigan, and not necessarily shift to a 43/34.

Defensive Line Unit

The Chargers should remain IDP-friendly to edge production. Luckily for Tuli Tuipulotu, Khalil Mack returns for another year.

O’Leary’s scheme should create pressure, as it’s built around creating havoc.

I’ll be interested to see if Kyle Kennard gets a chance to develop and see snaps as a third edge.

Linebacker Unit

Daiyan Henley saw a 29% drop in tackle production from 2024 to 2025. Hopefully, O’Leary can improve the scheme and open more tackle chances for Henley. It should move and force the ball to the second-level, where Henley can see more tackle chances.

Defensive Back Unit

This unit should remain strong under O’Leary, especially since he was the safeties coach in 2024.

O’Leary should allow Derwin James to continue to be the rover and play physical on the line of scrimmage. Under O’Leary’s structure, he recorded 93 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 10 TFLs.

Elijah Molden had a solid season under O’Leary, posting 3 INTs and 7 defended passes. Tarheeb Still is more attractive in DB-required leagues, but there’s tackle upside if he remains the slot corner.

There is turnover opportunity here.

IDP Targets for 2026

I’m targeting Derwin James, Daiyan Henley (LB2), and Tuli Tuipulotu. I think your secondary targets are Elijah Molden and Tarheeb Still. I think I’m targeting Khalil Mack more as a DL3 in 2026.

Las Vegas Raiders

Pete Carroll lasted just one year as head coach, and it was a disaster. The Raiders brought in the offensive-minded Klint Kubiak as their new head coach.

In a bit of a surprise, he retained Rob Leonard and promoted him from defensive line coach/run game coordinator to defensive coordinator.

Defensive Philosophy

Like a lot of the modern defenses, Leonard’s defense will be multiple, physical with a shift to a 34, but will maintain its subpackage flexibility, so I’d expect to see plenty of nickel/2-LB packages. His defense should be focused on keeping pressure alive, and giving the off-ball LBs cleaner run fits; building from the front outward.

He wants his defense to win at the line of scrimmage, control the run, and let the second-level play fast.

Defensive Line Unit

In a twist of fate, the Ravens backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade at the last minute, so the Raiders retain their All-Pro edge rusher, and they signed Kwity Paye in free agency to shore up the unit.

The edge rushers should benefit in Leonard’s scheme. Crosby has been a 7-technique (outside tackle’s shoulder/TE) and played fewer 7 snaps in 2025; he played more 5-technique (on the tackle). I’m expecting his alignment to shift back to 7t, which should benefit him greatly.

Paye has been an inconsistent edge rusher, but is a strong run defender, and has recorded 123 run stops according to PFF. His free agent capital should keep him on the field, but he’ll rotate with Tyree Wilson and Malcolm Koonce to keep him fresh. Speaking of Koonce, he’ll probably remain a pass rush specialist.

Linebacker Unit

The Raiders improved their LB unit greatly through free agency. Gone are Devin White and Elandon Roberts, and incoming are Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker.

Leonard’s 34 scheme should free up the off-ball LBs to make tackles. His scheme flows the ball, specifically, to the second-level. The interior is usually tasked to be gap occupiers and absorb blockers.

The scheme should fit Dean and Walker’s abilities. Dean and Walker are also able to rush the passer.

The big question is who’ll wear the dot? I think free agent capital will have both on the field in full-time roles, but we’ll have to monitor off-season activities to see who’ll call the plays.

Defensive Back Unit

Leonard is likely to use his safeties in rotations and drop from two-high to single high with one walking into the box pre-snap. The goal is to cause confusion for the QBs.

I think Jeremy Chinn remains a top IDP DB and should fit in Leonard’s scheme. He should remain the big nickel/rover and play near the line of scrimmage. Chinn played 36% of his snaps in the box, and that usage should continue, so he still has a solid tackle floor. He can blitz, cover TE, and play in space.

Taron Johnson’s IDP value is tied to his role. If he wins the nickel role, he’s versatile enough to play as an edge blitzer in subpackages. I think he could be a featured piece.

IDP Targets for 2026

Maxx Crosby will be a DL1 in 2026 redraft leagues. I’m targeting both Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean, with a higher priority towards the LB who wins the dot. Jeremy Chinn is a DB1 and Taron Johnson is a sneaky CB2 in CB-required leagues.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are overhauling their coaching staff and are essentially becoming the Green Bay Packers of the South.

Miami hired Jeff Hafley as its head coach, and he brought along his defensive assistant/linebackers coach, Sean Duggan, to be his defensive coordinator.

Defensive Philosophy

So, you’re going to see a lot of the principles from Green Bay’s defense installed in Miami. Duggan has stressed multiple fronts, but within a structure. They won’t be an all-out blitzing team, but stress disguised pressures, attack with four, and confuse with their alignments. The pressure will come from the scheme and confusion.

You can expect a 43/4-2-5 hybrid with nickel being their base.

This was Green Bay’s most deployed lineup in 2025 (and you could see variations in deployment/alignment):

Defensive Line Unit

Under Duggan, the unit will be built on penetration, and not read and react. They’ll be asked to attack upfield, hit their gaps, and disrupt the QB. They’ll show 5-6 rushers, but maybe send 4. This is designed to cause TFLs, pressures, and free runners.

Chop Robinson is looking like the alpha of the unit and could have a full-time role. He’ll be the primary edge and should have a wide alignment and be used as a speed rusher. The scheme should create open rush lanes and isolate him 1-1 with the tackles.

Zach Sieler should remain as the 3-tech/4i and be that full-time interior anchor and disruptor. He’s perfect for the scheme, as he thrives with hitting gaps and stunts. He should see double-digit TFLs once again this season.

Kenneth Grant could have a breakout season. He’s not going to be a traditional nose, but he’ll attack gaps, in addition to absorbing blocks and space. He’ll be asked to be more aggressive, so he has tackle upside. He’ll be a sleeper in DT-required leagues.

Linebacker Unit

I think the linebackers should remain productive in this scheme. They will be asked to attack gaps quickly and not just react to the play. They’ll trust the defenders up front to open lanes and force ball carriers outside, so they can finish plays and tackles. The LBs should have clear run lanes while also hitting their gaps.

Since nickel is the primary base, their defense should feature two off-ball LBs. Jordyn Brooks has been the subject of some trade rumors, but as long as he’s on the roster, he’ll remain an LB1. We’ll see if Tyrel Dodson remains the green dot, but he should be the LB2 of the defense and remain a full-time player.

Defensive Back Unit

You’ll probably see single-high shells and pattern matching; not pure zone and not pure man. The DBs will be assignment-driven, not freelancing. The safeties should be interchangeable, so a two-high look pre-snap with one dropping into the box and one manning the deep middle. Corners will play aggressively with press/match coverage.

There will be opportunities for safeties to play downhill.

I’m sure the Dolphins will address the safety position in the draft, but as of now, Dante Trader should be that line of scrimmage safety.

IDP Targets in 2026

I’m targeting Chop Robinson as a cheap breakout, as his ADP should be suppressed after a disappointing 2025. Zach Sieler is a DL2 target, and Kenneth Grant is a sneaky DT3 in DT/True Position. Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson should see three-down roles. Dante Trader is a DB sleeper, especially if they don’t address safety early in the draft.

New York Jets

Although Brian Duker was hired as the defensive coordinator, he probably won’t be calling the plays, as that will fall on Aaron Glenn.

Duker will probably focus on development and execution.

Defensive Philosophy

The philosophy and scheme will continue to have Glenn’s DNA. Heavy man coverage (30.9% in 2025), multiple fronts, and violent finishers at linebacker, who can also get to the QB. You probably won’t see defined safety labels, as it’s more about using their traits.

Kurt Angle adopted the three I’s; Glenn is adopting the three P’s: press, pursuit, and power. Glenn looks to take a more aggressive approach, stressing turnovers and ball-hawking for his DBs.

It does look like Glenn is shifting from a base 43 to 34, though they won’t live in their base. The trade for T’Vondre Sweat signaled that shift, as he’s ideal for the middle of a 34.

Defensive Line/EDGE Unit

The Jets need some real help here. They ranked 31st in sacks (26), and only the 49ers had fewer (20). They traded Quinnen Williams last season and Jermaine Johnson this offseason. Glenn wants edges with power profiles and two-way players who can set the edge and get to the QB.

Will McDonald and Tyler Baron remain, and they added Kingsley Engabare and Joseph Ossai in free agency. I can see McDonald and Ossai being the first two edges, with Engabare acting as a rotational/third edge.

The front will focus on stopping the run and getting to the QB second. This could be a rotation-heavy line, built for the grunt work, not IDP stats. They’ll be responsible for freeing up the edge rushers and keeping the off-ball linebackers clean to get to the ball carrier.

Linebacker Unit

The linebackers are expected to be able to run downhill and get tackles, and get to the QB. Even though they’ll be a base 34, I’d expect to see them in nickel/2-LB packages for most of the game, so two off-ball LBs should be featured.

Demario Davis returns to the Jets after spending the last eight seasons with the Saints. Davis just turned 37 and has missed just one game in his career. When will the wheels fall off? I’m projecting him to wear the dot this year, and he brings the attitude Glenn’s defense needs. Davis has 120+ tackles in three straight seasons.

Jamien Sherwood should slot into Quincy Williams’s LB2 role. Last season, Sherwood recorded 154 tackles, but struggled in pass coverage; however, he was decent in the run and as a blitzer. Two traits Glenn covets.

Defensive Back Unit

In Glenn’s system, the line of scrimmage safety was the IDP target. They blitzed, dropped in coverage, and were around the ball in run defense.

Malachi Moore played that role as a rookie and recorded over 100 tackles. The Jets did bring in Dane Belton to be a veteran piece in the safety room, and they traded for Minkah Fitzpatrick.

The Jets play more press/man, so their corners will have upside for INTs and breakups. There really isn’t anyone to target for IDP. Maybe Brandon Stephens.

IDP Targets for 2026

From the line, I’m probably targeting Joseph Ossai as a DL3/4, and Will McDonald as a DL3. I’m sure they’ll address edge in the draft. Demario Davis and Jamien Sherwood should have LB2 value, as they should both see full-time roles. The safety room is crowded, and I might take a wait-and-see approach on who’s aligning where.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers found themselves needing a new head coach for the first time in decades and went with Mike McCarthy.

McCarthy tabbed Patrick Graham as his defensive coordinator.

Defensive Philosophy

Graham has multiple limbs from different coaching trees, including Bill Belichick, Steve Spagnulo, and Brian Flores. Graham has taken the principles from Belichick, and take away what the offense does best. He’s mixed in some of Spagnuolo’s exotic fronts and pressures, and sprinkled in some Cover-4.

Graham stresses adaptability, and he says the 34/43 is antiquated, and wants guys who can simply rush the QB, stop the run, and cover. McCarthy said he wants to remain a 34 base with a two-high shell and have a big man or two control the point of attack.

Graham has used simulated pressures, and also freeing up his linebackers to run free. He doesn’t want to sacrifice coverage integrity.

Defensive Line/EDGE Unit

The front is the anchor. Generate interior pressure that frees up everyone else around them. There should be plenty of pressure and sack equity for this group.

Even though Cameron Heyward will be 37 when the season kicks off, he’s still one of the core pieces of the group. Heyward remains the tone setter, but Derrick Harmon and Keanu Benton are expected to develop and contribute.

The edge/OLBs are the engines of the pass rush; the equivalent to the LEO in a 43. The Steelers have three capable pass rushers in TJ Watt, Alex Highsmight, and Nick Herbig. After a down year, Watt is expected to bounce back. However, I think Highsmith and Herbig are the two who’ll benefit. I think Herbig sees a bigger jump in usage. The group, overall, might see fewer coverage and run snaps.

Linebacker Unit

The linebackers could be an IDP-friendly group than in year’s past.

While with the Raiders, Graham coordinated a defense that allowed Robert Spillane to record 306 tackles over two seasons. Devin White enjoyed a career-year with 174 tackles (2nd in the NFL). Graham’s light box keeps them clean from linemen reaching the second-level, allowing them to flow to the ball.

Although they graded relatively poorly, Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson stand to be the beneficiaries in IDP. Maik Harrison and Cole Holcomb are also still on the roster, and it’s possible they address off-ball LB in the draft.

Defensive Back Unit

Graham loves using versatile, hybrid defensive backs and using a big nickel/LB hybrid who can play the run and drop in coverage.

The safety group consists of DeShon Elliott, Jaquan Brisker, and Darnell Savage. I think the name to watch is Brisker. He played that coverage/box role in Chicago and I think he could be the first man up to compete for snaps. Brisker has the athleticism and physical presence Graham looks for.

I would expect Jalen Ramsey to remain as the nickel corner.

IDP Targets for 2026

In 2026, I’m targeting Derrick Harmon as a high upside DT2 in DT-required leagues. Cameron Heyward is still worthy IDP target. Until something changes , I’m expecting Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson to be the key off-ball LBs. I’m targeting Jaquan Brisker as the safety of this group.

Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans brought in Robert Saleh as their head coach, and he’s tabbed Gus Bradley to head up his defense.

Bradley brings a lot of experience and is a disciple of the Pete Carroll/Monte Kiffin tree.

Defensive Philosophy

Bradley builds a fast and violent defense. He’s not going to overwhelm the offense with complex looks, but he stands on execution. He’s not going to have 137 different coverages or 59 different blitzes at the expense of execution.

He tailors the scheme to his players. If his nickel is a run stopper, he’s going to get him in on run fits. Flexibility is key.

Bradley runs a 43 base with Cover-2/3 principles, a Tampa 2/Cover 3 hybrid that he perfected with the Seahawks. It’ll be an IDP-friendly scheme, with a traditional 4-man run and his off-ball linebackers dropping into underneath zones.

Saleh will probably call the plays, but Bradley will develop and install the defense.

Defensive Line Unit

Bradley uses a wide-9 and aggression when it comes to his edge rushers. The goal is speed and getting around the edge at all costs. Get pressures without blitzing by scheming the pressure for your players. He also uses stunts/twists.

The LEO is his centerpiece. It’s the weakside end and is lined up in a wide-9 position to the open side. The goal is simple: pin your ears and get after the QB. The 1/3-techs, and big ends eat the blocks, control gaps, and protect the LEO from double-teams.

Jermaine Johnson is shaping up to be the LEO and has IDP upside (for now). John Franklin-Myers is Bradley’s “Big End.” He’s a versatile lineman who can get to the QB and disrupt the run. In 34 looks, he’ll shift inside. I would imagine they address edge in the draft.

Jeffrey Simmons is the cornerstone of the defense. Bradley’s scheme can generate pass-rush numbers for an elite player like Simmons.

Linebacker Unit

Bradley will probably live in nickel/2-LB defenses, but the LB3 (SAM) will act as another defensive lineman. The MIKE keeps the weak side clean, taking on blocks and chasing down ball carriers.

Cedric Gray should continue to play the weak-side/RILB, and this is usually the playmaker of Bradley’s defense. Tackles are typically funneled to the weak-side. Gray is in a great spot to repeat his 2025 tackle numbers.

Cody Barton, if he remains the green dot, will continue to drive traffic and act as another second-level defender. I’m expecting similar numbers from last year.

Defensive Back Unit

In Bradley’s scheme, the strong safety has been the IDP producer, and it could be Amani Hooker. His zone schemes create box safety roles, and his Cover-3 generates tackle volume.

Nick Cross enjoyed a highly productive season under Bradley in 2025. Amani Hooker is currently set to play that role and carries IDP upside as he could see 100+ tackles.

If the Titans live in nickel, Kevin Winston has tackle upside as the slot.

IDP Targets for 2026

Jeffrey Simmons is a target in all formats, and Jermaine Johnson is a sneaky sleeper as a DL3. I’m targeting Cedric Gray as an LB1. You could get Amani Hooker cheap and have DB2 upside in Bradley’s system, and I also like Kevin Winston.

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Free agency answered a lot of questions. The NFL Draft is about to answer the rest. Before then, with depth charts reshuffled and roster needs now in sharper focus, we gathered three team members—Mike Woellert, Jeff Pomazal, and Evan—to join Adam, Bobby, and Josh for a post-free agency rookie mock draft. This is three rounds and the format is 1 QB, PPR, true position, with Big 3 scoring.

What emerged was a 1st round that feels genuinely unsettled after Jeremiyah Love at 1.01. After that, it’s a wide-open mix of wide receivers, running backs, tight ends, and the first IDP off the board sneaking in at 1.11. The consensus everyone hoped would form after the NFL Combine hasn’t quite arrived, and that makes this exercise more useful than most, because figuring out where you stand on the toss-up picks before your actual rookie draft is exactly the work that pays off in May.

Here’s how the board fell, pick by pick, and why.

Round 1

1.01: Jeremiyah Love, RB (Mike)

I guess I’ll go chalk here. Jeremiyah Love appears to be the best offensive prospect in the 2026 rookie draft and the consensus top overall pick. He’s explosive and added pass catching to his repertoire, with 55 catches over his last two seasons. He’s a big-time runner and a threat to score from anywhere.

1.02: Carnell Tate, WR (Josh)

I think this is a pick that’s going to look better as we get closer to the draft. Carnell Tate has been the most consistently mocked wide receiver inside the top 6 across the major draft sites, and the mock draft database has him going 8th overall. The knock on him is the 4.53 40 time, which was a disappointment, but watch the tape and you’ll see a guy who gets behind defenders anyway, consistently stacking corners with advanced route running rather than raw speed. Yes, he spent his entire career at Ohio State playing second fiddle to generational talents, but that context cuts both ways.

It speaks to his character and his ability to win in a complementary role, and Ohio State’s track record of developing NFL receivers is as good as anyone’s. He’s not going to be the flashiest pick, but he might be the most complete wide receiver in this class.

1.03: Makai Lemon, WR (Evan)

It’s hard to go wrong with any of the big 3 WRs. I prefer Makai Lemon over Jordyn Tyson, but the margins are incredibly slim. The obvious ceiling comparisons for Lemon are Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, two players who were initially billed as slot-only but have since developed into dominant all-around WRs.

I believe Lemon could follow in their footsteps to fantasy stardom, as he has the route-running, body control, and elite YAC ability to make any play you need. His advanced metrics profile is also incredibly strong, dominating against both man and zone coverage. This is a potential star in the making.

1.04: Jordyn Tyson, WR (Adam)

I love getting Jordyn Tyson at 1.04. The talent is undeniable—he’s a smooth route runner who reminds me of Doug Baldwin, a player I think deserves more credit than people give him. What concerns me is the injury history, and I’m not going to pretend it doesn’t. He’s dealt with a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL, a broken collarbone in 2024, and a lingering hamstring injury that kept him out of the NFL Combine and his pro day entirely. Every time he gets healthy, there’s another concern waiting. But if he can put it together, another player he’s reminiscent of is Keenan Allen: a guy who can catch a hundred balls in the NFL. That upside at 1.04 is worth the risk.

1.05: Omar Cooper Jr., WR (Jeff)

This is where the draft will begin in most leagues. The top 4 feel like the top 4 and landing spot will play a role in who is going to be selected here. Pre-draft, I am hitching my wagon to Omar Cooper Jr. He has improved every season in college and has been gaining a lot of 1st round buzz since the Combine. He will go late 1st, so landing on a team with an established quarterback could very well be in his future.

Cooper is an ideal build for the slot, and in a PPR league, that position is incredibly important. Last season at Indiana, Cooper played 324 of his 389 snaps from the slot position and posted an 87.4 PFF score, putting him easily in the top 10 in the country. His short-area quickness makes him tough to cover against man-to-man, and he has the spatial IQ to win against zone. Cooper landing in San Francisco could jump him ahead of one of the top 3 WRs in this draft, depending on their landing spot.

1.06: Mike Washington Jr., RB (Bobby)

I’ve been gravitating toward Mike Washington Jr. for a while now, and the post-Combine hype feels justified. He ran a 4.39 at the Combine, had over 2,900 total yards across five years at Buffalo, New Mexico State, and Arkansas, and that senior year at Arkansas—1,000 rushing yards, 8 touchdowns, 28 receptions—was legit production in the SEC. Brian Baldinger has been tweeting about how much he loves the way this guy runs and catches the ball. I’ve been hearing some 1st-round buzz, including a possible landing spot as late as Seattle at 32, which would change his dynasty value considerably. This might be running a little progressive at 1.06, but these are the spots where you put names on people’s radars.

1.07: Denzel Boston, WR (Mike)

Denzel Boston might be the last WR in the first tier. A downfield playmaker, he posted back-to-back seasons with 830+ yards and 9+ TDs. He had a 14.4 aDOT and can stretch the field. He’s tall with long strides and great footwork. He has good hands with single-digit drop rates over two seasons and a 63% contested catch rate. He’s a playmaker.

1.08: Kenyon Sadiq, TE (Josh)

I went with Kenyon Sadiq here because the athleticism here is genuinely freaky: a 4.39 40-yard dash at 241 pounds, a 43.5-inch vertical, and a 133-inch broad jump gives you a 9.59 RAS that rarely shows up at the position. He spent two years behind Terrance Ferguson, so the volume suppression is entirely a context issue rather than a reflection of his ability. When he finally got the TE1 role in 2025, he broke out with 51 catches, 560 yards, and 8 touchdowns, leading the nation at the position in touchdowns. There are real concerns about drops and contested catch inconsistency, but this is a 62% slot alignment rate that translates cleanly to fantasy. The consensus big board has him at 16 overall, so he should get substantial draft capital. That plus the top-tier athleticism has me willing to take a swing on Sadiq at 1.08.

1.09: K.C. Concepcion, WR (Evan)

K.C. Concepcion is my current 1.05 in this format, so getting him 4 spots later is pretty sweet. Concepcion is a versatile inside-outside WR who especially excels after the catch, but can win in a variety of ways versus both man and zone coverage. His main issue is drops, which are generally not predictive, so I’m not overly concerned. Two WRs that come to mind are Doug Baldwin and Stefon Diggs: quick, shifty technicians who had quite successful NFL careers.

1.10: Jonah Coleman, RB (Adam)

I was on the fence about breaking the seal on IDPs, so I settled on Jonah Coleman because I’m not that excited enough about any of the running backs remaining. He’s a bowling ball at 5’8” and 220 pounds with great balance, patience, and a good jump cut. He was also one of the better receiving backs in this class, putting up over 350 yards through the air last season at Washington. He won’t kill you with speed, but he’ll grind out runs and translate that into real fantasy production. He’s sitting around 92 overall on the consensus big board, so late-third NFL draft capital is realistic, and if he lands in a situation with a path to touches, this range looks like a bargain.

1.11: Sonny Styles, LB (Jeff)

I usually hate to be the first one to take an IDP in a draft, but the chance of landing a potential HOF at the end of Round 1 seems too good to pass up. Styles checks, double checks, and triple checks all the boxes of an NFL prospect and blew the doors off the Combine with his performance. There is some buzz that he goes top 5, which, in today’s NFL, where the linebacker position is apparently undervalued, screams not only to Styles’ ability but also the talent around him in this draft, making him more of a for sure thing than other possible picks at this point with the way the board has fallen. If I am picking 11th, I probably don’t need a QB, so Mendoza doesn’t really get me too excited. I thought about Stowers here, but if I can get a lockdown stud for my team for the next 8 seasons at the 11th pick, sign me up.

1.12: Eli Stowers, TE (Bobby)

I know the transition from quarterback to tight end raises eyebrows, and the blocking is far below average… but we don’t care about blocking in fantasy football. Eli Stowers is a pass-catching tight end who is still ascending, and I think after the NFL draft gives us landing spots, we’ll have a much better sense of what his ceiling looks like. He had a great Combine, and at 6’4” and 239 pounds, the body is there.

In a PPR league, you want pass catchers, especially at TE. There’s also a path here where Stowers migrates into more of a slot-hybrid role at the next level. He may rise quite a bit once teams start signaling how they intend to use him.

Round 2

2.01: Jake Golday, LB (Mike)

If you’re picking first in a dynasty, you probably need a bit of everything. After the 1st round, however, the top-end offense talent is diminished. For me, the 2nd round begins the “get your guys” portion of the rookie draft. If I am looking at it as get your guy, I’m going to take Jake Golday. I’ve got Rodriguez and Styles ranked higher, but there’s not a big gap between them. Golday had a big Combine, has a history of production, and if he’s drafted in that perfect landing spot, his IDP upside is huge. I’ve seen him mocked to the Colts in a few drafts. Golday fits the mold of the modern off-ball LB with his size, athleticism, and traits.

2.02: Jadarian Price (Josh)

Jadarian Price was the No. 2 back behind Jeremiyah Love on a national championship team, but he actually outpaced Love in yards per carry in 2024, and in 2025, he averaged 6 yards per carry with 11 touchdowns on just 113 carries. ESPN ranked him 2nd in this class in yards after contact at 4.13. The receiving profile is the legitimate question mark, with just 15 career receptions compared to Love’s 63, and that ceiling of a true three-down role probably isn’t there yet. But with the Seahawks losing both of their top running backs this offseason, the consensus big board already has him most commonly mocked to Seattle at the end of the 1st round. If that draft capital materializes, I don’t expect this pick to stay in the early 2nd for long.

2.03: Elijah Sarratt (Evan)

Elijah Sarratt is a big, physical X receiver who can be a quarterback’s best friend at the NFL level. He has great hands (10 inches) and excels in terms of late separation at the catch point. Sarratt also has the highest First Downs Per Route of any WR in the class, demonstrating his reliability in the short-to-intermediate area of the field. His playstyle is very similar to Jauan Jennings. Sarratt may not have the highest upside, but he will have a productive career as a WR2.

2.04: Arvell Reese (Adam)

Don’t back me into a corner and tell me I have to draft Arvell Reese, because I’ll do it every time. I passed in the late 1st and he was still sitting here at 2.04, which feels like the right range for what we know right now. The buzz is building that teams intend to line him up at edge rusher rather than linebacker, and at 21 years old with elite athleticism, the projection window is wide open. He reminds me of a souped-up Dallas Turner, and we saw what that kind of profile looks like when it works. The landing spot will drive everything here. Landing in Tennessee with Robert Saleh would be ideal: a stable coaching situation and a real path to snaps. Wherever he ends up, though, the upside here is the highest of any IDP in this class.

2.05: Fernando Mendoza (Jeff)

I’m going to end the slide for the one and only QB in this year’s draft class. Fernando Mendoza is hyper accurate and has some underrated rushing upside as he put up almost 300 yards and 6 TDs last season, and he has the frame that can hold up to it. Hopefully, the Raiders can get him a big-time WR to pair with Brock Bowers, and allow Mendoza to have a productive season as a bye week QB in his rookie season.

2.06: Kaytron Allen (Bobby)

I like Kaytron Allen over his running mate, Nicholas Singleton, in rookie drafts. That senior year at Penn State was legitimate: 1,300 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on a good team, year in and year out. He catches the ball too, with 70 receptions and 4 touchdowns over 4 seasons. His running style is physical and decisive, and I think he profiles as a guy who can develop into a real NFL starter. At 2.06, I’m not planting any flags. I just like Allen, and I think he’ll show up as a value once the draft capital locks in and we see who’s willing to invest in him on Day 2 or 3.

2.07: Jacob Rodriguez (Mike)

I’ll take my LB1 of the class here at 2.07. Jacob Rodriguez is one of the best run defenders and coverage LBs of the class. I’ve seen him going on Day 2, and he’s even been mocked in the 1st, so I’m hoping for solid draft capital.

2.08: Nicholas Singleton, RB (Josh)

Nicholas Singleton is Penn State’s all-time touchdown leader, a five-star recruit, and his kick return resume is elite: a class-high 1,138 career return yards, which tells you something about how this guy plays in space. The receiving profile is a real asset too, with a 102-987-9 career receiving line over 53 games (a legitimate sample).

The concerns are real, though: he broke his foot at the Senior Bowl, didn’t participate in the NFL Combine, and his stats regressed from 1,099 yards and 6.4 yards per carry in 2024 to 549 yards and 4.5 yards per carry in 2025. His missed tackles forced per rush ranks in the 20th percentile of FBS backs, so the elusiveness isn’t going to wow you. He also spent all four years sharing the backfield with Allen, which suppressed his touch count throughout. Bobby got Allen at 2.06, and these two guys running together made both of them hard to evaluate, but I like the upside here at this price.

2.09: Rueben Bain Jr. (Evan)

I think Rueben Bain Jr. could easily end up as the best EDGE from this class, but he will be discounted in every draft because of the arm length concerns. While valid, I’m not too worried about his length, due to his well-rounded skillset and impact. Throughout Miami’s run to the national championship, Bain was consistently dominant against some of the best tackles in the country. From an advanced metrics perspective, he’s one of the best EDGEs in the class in terms of both pass rush and run defense, which I believe gives him a higher floor than guys like Bailey or Reese.

2.10: Caleb Downs (Adam)

I’m blocking out all the noise on Caleb Downs: the degenerative knee concerns, the Combine opt-out, the Thieneman buzz, and just betting on a football player. He’s proven to be a good tackler, proven to be good in coverage, proven to be the kind of versatile safety who can align anywhere you need him. The Antoine Winfield Jr. comp I’ve heard floating around is exactly the profile I’m buying. Yeah, he might be drifting down the real draft board in a direction that pushes him to the mid-2nd in rookie drafts, but I’m happy to scoop up the value at this point if that happens.

2.11: Chris Bell (Jeff)

I’ll take a shot at a top WR in this class at a discount price due to injury. Chris Bell is everything you want in a WR: high-level, ascending production and a large athletic frame. He was a 1st-rounder for sure this season before the injury, but maybe he still finds a way to hear his name called on Thursday night of the draft.

2.12: Emmett Johnson (Bobby)

My strategy: collect all the running backs like Pokémon and wait for one of them to hit, because when they do, it’s glorious. Emmett Johnson is a dart throw, pure and simple, but at 2.12, that’s what you’re supposed to be throwing. Four seasons at Nebraska, 1,451 rushing yards as a senior, 12 touchdowns, and he catches the ball at a real clip—39 receptions his junior year, 46 his senior year, 702 receiving yards over his career. Not all of them pan out, but you need running backs in this game, and if you draft four or five of these guys at this range, you’re going to get at least one hit.

Round 3

3.01: Germie Bernard, WR (Mike)

Germie Bernard is a dependable receiver with good hands. He’s versatile and can play multiple alignments with steady production increases over each season.

3.02: David Bailey, EDGE (Josh)

I held off on David Bailey through the first two rounds, and I think that was the right call. Getting him at 3.02 feels like genuine value. The testing numbers are outrageous, and his first-step explosion is arguably the best in this entire class. He posted 13.5 sacks and a 23.4% pressure rate against Big 12 competition. Jason King comped him to Vic Beasley, which captures both the ceiling and the risk: elite explosion and pass-rush production, but the kind of player who has to develop to sustain that production at the next level. Run defense is the clear weakness, so I’m not planning to plug him into my lineup Week 1. But as a best ball dart or a dynasty stash in Year 1 while he develops, the athletic profile is too good to pass on here.

3.03: Zachariah Branch, WR (Evan)

I’m not the biggest believer in Zachariah Branch, but this is good value for a WR who likely goes in Round 2 of the NFL draft. Branch is a small, explosive athlete who is difficult to bring down in the open field. His per-route metrics stack up nicely with any WR in the class. However, in order to deliver for us in fantasy, Branch will need to develop as more of a real WR and land with a team that plans to feature his skillset. He has “gadget player” written all over him, but he also possesses the talent to turn into a star.

3.04: Dillon Thieneman, S (Adam)

Dillon Thieneman is one of the best tacklers in this class at any position, and what I love about his profile is the trajectory: he played less and less free safety as his college career went on, transitioning into more slot and box work, which is exactly the role that translates to fantasy production at the next level. He’s versatile enough to align deep, in the box, or over the slot, and I expect him to settle into that 60-70% sweet spot range in terms of snap rate close to the line of scrimmage. The 9.71 RAS is elite. Getting him at 3.04 in a class this thin on offense feels like a steal.

3.05: CJ Allen, LB (Jeff)

Stop me if you heard this one: here’s a Georgia linebacker who is a solid NFL prospect. CJ Allen is an imposing presence as a defender (6’1,” 235 lbs) who was built to play linebacker on Sundays. He is an incredibly smart player who wore the dot on defense, and more than likely will be quickly doing that too on the NFL team that drafts him. I have yet to see him not be taken in the 1st round mocks that I have seen, and getting him in the 3rd round of our rookie draft is grand larceny. He should have been selected a whole round sooner, in my opinion, as he is my LB2 in this draft behind Styles, and the gap is not this massive.

3.06: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S (Bobby)

I like Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, and I’ve liked the way he plays throughout this process. He’s a big, physical safety out of Toledo (6’3”, 9.13 RAS) who played more and more in the slot and box as his college career progressed, which tells you something about how NFL teams will want to use him. Over 200 tackles at Toledo, a couple of interceptions, dependable production. He’s the third safety off the board in what is a genuinely loaded safety class, so at 3.06, getting a guy with 1st-round NFL draft capital who’s going to produce at the next level is a pick I’m willing to make.

3.07: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR (Mike)

Ja’Kobi Lane had a solid Combine with a 4.47 40 and 40” vertical, showing off his hands in the gauntlet. He can make spectacular catches and the simple ones with a wide catch radius. He’s big in the redzone and boxes his opponents out like a power forward. He creates separation, runs clean routes, and more importantly, doesn’t drop passes. Lane had 8 total dropped passes over three seasons with the Trojans.

3.08: Chris Brazzell II, WR (Josh)

Chris Brazzell II is a dart throw, but I’m one I’m fine to make at this point. The size-speed combination is intriguing: 6’4”, 198 pounds, 4.37 40-yard dash, and an 80-inch wingspan. The production finally showed up in 2025 with 62 catches for 1,017 yards and 9 touchdowns, earning him first-team All-SEC honors. The concerns are real: Tennessee skill players carry an inherent uncertainty because their offense is so unlike anything being run at the NFL level, his career-worst 3.6 yards after the catch is the lowest in this wide receiver class, and there were also some effort questions earlier in his college career. At 3.08, I’m betting that the size, the speed, and the breakout year are enough to get Brazzell drafted in a spot where he can develop.

3.09: Skyler Bell, WR (Evan)

My preferred WR dart throw is Skyler Bell out of UConn. Usually, I would be taking a running back in this range, but this year’s RB darts will be entirely dependent on draft capital and landing spot. Bell had an excellent 2025 season, ranking 1st in the class in both Targets Per Route and Yards Per Route, albeit as a 5th-year player against weaker competition. He also has speed and explosiveness on his side, with a 97th percentile RAS.

3:10: Bryce Lance, WR (Adam)

Trey Lance’s brother has an impressive profile: 6’3,” 204 pounds, 9.98 RAS, 4.34 40, 41.5-inch vertical. He put up 51 catches for 1,079 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2025 at North Dakota State, which has become a legitimate pipeline for NFL talent at this point. The Christian Watson shades are real: same school, same position, same kind of elite size-speed profile. At 3.10, I’m not expecting a plug-and-play starter. I’m buying into the athleticism and the upside, and trusting that if he lands with a team that develops him properly, this is a field-stretching receiver with upside.

3.11: Adam Randall, RB (Jeff)

Adam Randall is a great dart throw RB at the 3.11. He’s got good size at 6’2” and 235 pounds, and just came off a terrific pro day where he ran a 4.50 40-yard dash.

3:12: Michael Trigg, TE (Bobby)

Michael Trigg put up 50 catches for 694 yards and 6 touchdowns at Baylor last season after a 33-395-3 line as a junior, which shows growth. We’re now firmly in dart-throw territory, and tight end darts at the end of Round 3 are worth taking in this class. If the landing spot is right, Trigg has a chance to sneak up on some people.

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NFL free agency has a funny way of accelerating the clock. A big signing here, a rookie contract extension there, and suddenly a player who was your LB1 last season is staring down a depth chart that didn’t exist six months ago. Free agency creates as many roster holes as it fills, and the veterans who land on the wrong side of that equation often don’t see it coming until it’s too late.

That’s what this article is about: veterans at risk of being replaced. This week, we’re looking at the AFC. The draft is about six weeks away, and with it comes another wave of young, fast, cheap talent ready to push for jobs. Some of the names below are aging gracefully but running out of runway. Others are already showing signs of decline. A few are simply stuck behind a new arrival that the front office values more than them. In dynasty, the window to sell high on a veteran is almost always before the draft, not after. Here are the AFC IDPs you might want to move.

Drue Tranquill, LB, Kansas City Chiefs

Drue Tranquill just restructured his contract to avoid the chopping block and free up some salary cap space, but I still think he’s in danger of falling victim to a younger LB.

Tranquill is entering his age-31 season, which is the age NFL teams treat their players like Woody from Toy Story: drop them in the trash. Is it fair? No, but that’s the reality of the league.

Now, Tranquill has been durable, playing in at least 16 games over the last four years, resulting in over 3,200 snaps, with an average of 105 tackles, 3.4 sacks, and 7.8 TFLs. That’s solid production, all while earning a 76.2 PFF defense grade with run defense and tackling grades in the high 80s. But it’s fair to ask: when will the miles catch up?

He already has Jeffrey Bassa (5th round 2025 pick) in-house for competition, and there’s the possibility the Chiefs may want to get younger and faster in the draft.

Alex Singleton, LB, Denver Broncos

Alex Singleton just signed a two-year deal to stay in Denver, but he’ll be hitting 33 by the time the season ends.

Singleton’s 2024 season ended early with a torn ACL, and in 2025, he ended up playing in 16 games, recording 135 tackles and 4 defended passes. Singleton missed a game due to a cancer diagnosis, which is a long-term concern, but thankfully, he’s been given a clear bill of health and only missed one game after his surgery.

He was still a dependable run stopper and tackler last season, with just a 7.5% missed tackle rate. Coverage is still a weakness, though.

While the phase-out won’t happen this year, it could start next year. I have seen mocks with Denver taking CJ Allen with their 1st-round pick. The writing seems to be on the wall, which means it might be time to sell Singleton.

Jacob Martin, EDGE, Tennessee Titans

How can someone who just signed with a team be replaced? Well, because Jacob Martin was signed merely as a depth piece and not a focal point of the defense.

Martin produced a career-high in pressures (45) and sacks (5.5) in 2025. He generated an 11% pressure rate and 16.1% win rate. He ended up tying with Bobby Wagner for the most quick pressures (10) in Washington. Martin is also in his age-30 season and will be 31 by the end of the year. It’s usually eye-opening when defenders have career years at the end of their careers, but this spike was purely volume-based for Martin. He appeared in 700 snaps, his highest since 2021.

It’s possible he doesn’t see that kind of volume in Tennessee. The Titans added Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin-Myers, and I suppose he may play more of a SAM role, but the Titans might live in nickel. A lot of mock drafts have Tennessee addressing EDGE with guys like Rueben Bain or David Bailey.

Cameron Goode, EDGE, Miami Dolphins

I know what you’re thinking: ummm… who? But after the Dolphins released Bradley Chubb, Cameron Goode becomes a potential bookend to Chop Robinson.

Miami has added Josh Uche and David Ojabo, but they appear to be playing the SAM/LOLB role with Robinson/Goode as the DEs. I wouldn’t get excited about the Miami edge rushers outside of Robinson, as Goode doesn’t appear long for a significant role. Goode has 7 career QB pressures over 101 pass rush snaps.

The Dolphins are switching from Weaver’s base 34 to a 43 under Jeff Hafley; however, Hafley has stressed multiple fronts and is living in nickel. It’s possible Ojabo and Uche also see snaps on the edge.

Of course, Miami could also address EDGE in the draft. Guys like Gabe Jacas, Malachi Lawrence, and R Mason Thomas are in play as Day 2 or Day 3 picks. If you’re combing the depth charts, mining for diamonds, I think you’ll find nothing but coal here.

Foyesade Oluokun, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars

This one might be a hot take, but Foyesade Oluokun is going to be 31 by the time the year kicks off. I will say, Oluokun has proven to be durable, as he’s played in at least 15 games in seven of his eight seasons. He hasn’t had fewer than 108 tackles since 2019 when he was with Atlanta.

But the NFL is a fickle mistress and doesn’t care who you are. Any signs of decline or slowdown, and you’re being replaced by someone younger and faster. I think a prime example was Zaire Franklin. He was a team captain, productive, but as soon as he started showing his age, he was shipped off.

While I don’t see this in 2026, I do think the time is coming. They have Jack Kiser on the roster, who I think could be a green dot candidate. They could also address the LB, once again, in the draft. I’ve seen Deontae Lawson mocked here.

If I’m an Oluokun manager, I might be looking to sell, especially if I’m in a rebuild.

Cody Barton, LB, Tennessee Titans

Cody Barton has been living on a prayer over the last few seasons. He’s been signed into opportunistic landing spots where he’s earned the dot and three-down role. But Barton is now entering his age 30 season, and 2025 was the first time since 2021 that he failed to reach 100 tackles as a full-time player.

Not only did he not reach 100, but he didn’t even hit 90. Barton was the least efficient three-down LB, producing a 7.6% tackle rate over 1,061 snaps, resulting in just 81 tackles.

This can be attributed to Cedric Gray’s breakout season, as he dominated the tackle share, but Barton looked a step slow, late to plays, and blocked out of his run fits. His run defense suffered, as he had a 46 PFF grade.

This is an athletic LB class, so I can see Robert Saleh and Gus Bradley going younger in the draft.

DeShon Elliott, S, Pittsburgh Steelers

DeShon Elliott missed 12 games in 2025, and the phasing out could already be starting. Pittsburgh signed former Bears safety Jaquan Brisker to shore up the back end of their defense. Brisker is still young—just 27 by the time the season starts. He is a similar safety archetype to Elliott.

Brisker can play in the box, man the slot, and will provide help deep. Elliott could find himself playing more deep snaps, and there might be more three-safety sets with Darnell Savage.

Of course, there’s the draft, as the safety position is still a position of need, even with the addition of Brisker. The safety position is deep in 2026, and it’s a talented class. I’ve seen Zakee Wheatley mocked to Pittsburgh.

Elliott is probably someone I’m shopping in dynasty trades, and probably won’t be on my radar in 2026 redraft leagues.

Terrel Bernard, LB, Buffalo Bills

Terrel Bernard is entering his 5th season and is still just 26 years old, but is a grizzled vet at this point. Bernard has played in 2,479 defensive snaps; however, after playing in 999 snaps in 2023, he hasn’t eclipsed the 800-mark in consecutive seasons due to various injuries.

In the NFL, your key ability is availability. Bernard has missed at least 4 games in consecutive seasons, and his three-down role could be in jeopardy heading into 2026 (and beyond). His 2026 season will probably be a pivotal season for him, as he needs to prove he can stay on the field for a full 18-week season.

Bernard carries a $13.7 million dead cap hit, but if they do designate him a post-June 1, the Bills can save $4 million. I don’t see him being cut, but Buffalo addressed the WR position with the acquisition of DJ Moore, so Buffalo could go off-ball LB in the draft. In a recent ESPN mock, CJ Allen was mocked to Buffalo at 26. That would send a clear message to Bernard.

Jordan Battle, S, Cincinnati Bengals

Jordan Battle has had a rocky tenure with the Bengals, and while he had a decent season, he still battled (no pun intended) inconsistent play throughout the 2025 season.

Battle played 31% of his snaps in the box, recorded 125 tackles, and produced career-highs in INTs (4) and defended passes (6). Of his tackles, 64% came from deep, while the remainder were made near the line of scrimmage.

He missed on quite a few tackles (13.7% miss rate) and was well below average in coverage, earning a 54.5 PFF coverage grade in 2025.

Battle is still young, as he’ll be 26 when the season ends. However, the Bengals are drafting 9th and their pick could go in several ways. Caleb Downs has been a popular pick at their spot, and if that’s the case, I do believe Battle’s days are numbered. With the variance at the DB position, Battle is a sell-high candidate.

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With much of the dust from the fury of NFL free agency seemingly settled, we’re taking a quick break from the defensive positional overviews to talk current team personnel needs and fits from the rookie class.

Granted, at the time of this writing, there are still some potential impact IDPs among the pool of free agents, and the ultimate landing spots for the likes of Bobby Okereke and Bobby Wagner can change things. But for now, it’s nice to have in mind which landing spots make the most sense for our IDP rookie prospects.

Team and draft capital should and will have an impact on how we view this crop of IDPs, and we don’t want to invest heavily in any IDP who won’t see the field for a while due to a quality depth chart ahead of him, or is saddled with the undue burden of being a late Day 3 pick or an undrafted free agent.

For each of the position groups, I’m offering prospects from my top 25 defensive fantasy rankings, and pairing them with a needy team that offers a schematic fit and has the realistic draft capital to make the match work.

Note: Pressures and alignment data are courtesy Pro Football Focus.

Top EDGE Prospects

1. Arvell Reese, Ohio State

2. David Bailey, Texas Tech

3. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

4. Akheem Mesidor, Miami

5. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M

6. Keldric Faulk, Auburn

7. Zion Young, Missouri

8. Derrick Moore, Michigan

9. Malachi Lawrence, Central Florida

New York Jets: Arvell Reese

I really don’t mean to insinuate that the Jets are an ideal landing spot for any rookie. Even with the retooling made by Gang Green during the free agency period, this team was such a hot mess last season that it’s hard to see it turning around to the point that Aaron Glenn keeps his job. Still, an impact EDGE is a real need for any team that doesn’t have one, and New York is one of those clubs.

After trading away Jermaine Johnson to shore up the defensive interior with T’Vondre Sweat, the Jets’ viable options are Will McDonald and newcomers Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare. The Jets have until May 1 to decide whether to exercise the fifth-year option on McDonald, a 2023 1st-round pick. Still, he’s not under contract for the long-term, and best fits as a No. 2. Ossai, whose three-year deal is in reality likely a two-year pact, is a good rotational piece and ideal No. 3 option. Enagbare (on a one-year deal) is a solid depth option but nothing more.

Enter Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, the odds-on favorite to be New York’s pick at No. 2 overall. While this is indeed a deep EDGE class, the list of impact rushers with elite upside probably stops at Reese and David Bailey. Reese, of course, played more off-ball than on the line of scrimmage, but he has youth (21 when the season kicks off) and athletic tools on his side. He just needs refinement and experience, something he’ll get in year one as he rotates with McDonald, Ossai, and Enagbare.

Miami Dolphins: David Bailey

Miami hit the franchise reset button, and naturally has a lot of holes to fill with a new defensive-minded head coach (Jeff Hafley) in charge. EDGE should be a priority, given the importance of the position and a lack of proven difference-makers in the current position group. Chop Robinson, who showed high-level promise as a rookie, bombed in Year 2 but still represents the best hope at the position given the other current options: Josh Uche and Robert Beal Jr. Both veterans signed one-year deals, and the better of the two (Uche) is at best suited to be a third or fourth option.

The Dolphins would have to trade up from No. 11 overall to get Texas Tech’s David Bailey, but with five picks in the top 90, they could pull it off should Bailey still be available at No. 5. This is an ideal scenario, as Bailey offers elite fantasy upside, and Miami offers the easiest path to snap volume.

Philadelphia Eagles: Rueben Bain Jr.

Philadelphia was one of the teams reported to be “in” on Trey Hendrickson, and you can’t blame them given the advantage that comes along with having an elite pass rusher outside the tackle. After striking out on Hendrickson and losing Jaelan Phillips, it makes sense for the Eagles to look to add a potential future No. 1 to pair with Jalyx Hunt, who broke out in Year 2 with 60 pressures on 360 pass rush snaps. This room also includes former 1st-rounder Nolan Smith and free agent addition Arnold Ebiketie, but both could hit free agency next offseason.

Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. would be a swing-for-the-fences pick given his power, quickness, and inside-outside versatility. The sub-31-inch T-Rex arms are a big red flag, but neither the franchise nor the defensive coordinator (Vic Fangio) has ever been deterred by shorter-than-ideal arm length. Granted, Bain is an extreme case, but the flexibility to align at multiple techniques should help Fangio mitigate Bain’s Achilles heel.

Detroit Lions: Akheem Mesidor

The Lions have arguably the best EDGE in the game with Aidan Hutchinson, and nothing else to speak of outside of hybrid EDGE/off-ball Derrick Barnes. Maybe the plan is to move Barnes to EDGE full-time, but even if that’s the case, Detroit has plenty of snaps to feed a rookie.

Akheem Mesidor (Miami) isn’t without his warts—he’ll be 25 when the season kicks off, hasn’t shown a consistent power element despite his 259 pounds, and may be maxed out from a development perspective—but he’d make a great complement next to Hutchinson given his ability to line up on both the left and right sides, and quick-win ability on pass rush snaps. Hutchinson’s presence helped journeyman Al-Quadin Muhammad look good last season; this would be a plum assignment for any rookie EDGE.

New England Patriots: Cashius Howell

New England isn’t the same level of landing spot as Detroit or Miami given the presence of Harold Landry for another one to two years, as well as free agent addition Dre’Mont Jones. The latter is a bit of a bigger body (6-foot-3, 281 pounds) with some versatility to slide inside though, and Landry is entering his age-30 season. I’d expect the Patriots to explore a rookie outside rusher with juice.

At 6-foot-2 and 253 pounds with an elite 10-yard split, Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) offers that explosion, and his athletic profile is similar to Harold Landry as a prospect. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, of course, was just starting his tenure as Tennessee’s head coach when the Titans drafted Landry in the 2nd round, so there’s some limited history of Vrabel liking this archetype.

The knock on Howell, of course, is the historically short arm length (like Bain, they measured less than 31 inches). That heightens the risk of a bust, which is why Howell is likely to be selected on Day 2, and it’s not hard to imagine him still being on the board when New England turns in the card with pick No. 63.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keldric Faulk

Tampa Bay isn’t an obvious landing spot for an EDGE given the depth chart includes YaYa Diaby, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Anthony Nelson, and Chris Braswell, plus the intriguing David Walker. Diaby, Muhammad, and Nelson are all playing on one-year deals, however, setting the stage for a rookie to join the room as a rotational option before assuming a much larger role in year two.

This is the type of situation that sets up well for LSU’s Keldric Faulk, who is going to tempt many a front office with his 6-foot-6, 276-pound frame, 34-plus inch arms, explosive Combine jumps, and age (he can’t buy an adult beverage until September). Pass rush productivity is a projection, as Faulk tallied just two sacks and 30 pressures on 556 snaps in his third and final season at Auburn. A part-time role to start combined with a full professional offseason in 2027 should help him refine his strength and repertoire of moves.

Kansas City Chiefs: Zion Young

Kansas City bid adieu to both Charles Omenihu and Mike Danna this offseason, and while rising sophomore Ashton Gillotte showed adequacy over his 485 snaps, the Chiefs need bodies and upside to complement George Karlaftis.

The Chiefs added a second 1st-round pick (No. 29) in the trade that sent Trent McDuffie to the Rams, and also own the 40th overall pick. Either selection is in the projected draft range for Missouri’s Zion Young, who played collegiately just two hours east of Kansas City. Young to the Chiefs would be a crowd-pleaser and a fit, putting a powerful pocket-pusher and solid run defender opposite Karlaftis.

Green Bay Packers: Derrick Moore

The Rashan Gary trade really left Green Bay thin at EDGE considering star Micah Parsons tore his ACL on December 14. Even if your cheesehead believes the Lukas Van Ness breakout is coming in Year 4, the Packers need help in the immediate and the future. Michigan’s Derrick Moore is a solid option given his quickness and power, and he should be on the board when Green Bay’s first pick rolls around at No. 52.

Los Angeles Chargers: Malachi Lawrence

Khalil Mack won’t play forever, will he? With Mack and top backup Bud Dupree both on one-year deals, it’s time for the Chargers to address the long-term need opposite Tui Tuipulotu. Central Florida’s Malachi Lawrence offers tantalizing athleticism (a 95th percentile Speed Score and a 97th percentile Burst Score) in a 6-foot-4, 248-pound frame, and he sports a junk drawer full of raw moves. He might be too tempting for Los Angeles to let slide past pick No. 55.

Top IDL Prospects

I’m not going too deep here because, quite frankly, it’s a poor interior draft, especially for fantasy purposes given we aren’t interested in two-gapping nose pluggers.

1. Peter Woods, Clemson

2. Caleb Banks, Florida

Minnesota Vikings: Peter Woods

The Vikings took swings on the interior last offseason with veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, both of whom are now on different teams and counting against Minnesota’s dead cap. So what’s left? Nothing, outside of 2023 undrafted free agent Jalen Redmond (who led the group with 35 pressures) and 2024 seventh-rounder Levi Drake-Rodriguez. This team not only needs several veterans to fill out the room. It needs an infusion of young talent.

Clemson’s Peter Woods fits the bill. He’s shown the ability to play at different weights (roughly 300 pounds in 2025 vs. 330 in 2024), and is powerful enough to two-gap. He’s at his best as a 3-tech, though, where he can use his off-the-snap explosion and lateral quickness to penetrate gaps. Minnesota offers the best opportunity for immediate snaps and long-term volume.

Las Vegas Raiders: Caleb Banks

Somewhat lost in the storyline of the failed Maxx Crosby trade is the Raiders’ commitment to improving their defense during free agency. With Kwity Paye joining Crosby and Macolm Koonce on the edge, Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean at the off-ball spots, and run support slot defender Taron Johnson, Las Vegas is making strides at upgrading a poor unit at stopping the run. The interior line, unfortunately, still looks the same, with 2025 snap leaders Jonah Laulu and Adam Butler—both of whom grade poorly as tacklers and as run defenders, and as below-average pass rushers—anchoring the depth chart.

Florida’s Caleb Banks could change that in time. A “Planet Theory” specimen—few people on Planet Earth possess his size and length (6-foot-6, 35-inch arms, 327 pounds), and quickness and strength—Banks very well may slip to the Raiders’ second pick at No. 36 given recent news that he’ll be sidelined until June by a foot fracture he suffered at the NFL Combine. Las Vegas won’t be pressured to field a winner in Fernando Mendoza’s first year, lessening the pressure on Banks to provide an immediate impact.

Top LB Prospects

1. Sonny Styles, Ohio State

2. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

3. Jake Golday, Cincinnati

4. Kyle Louis, Pitt

5. Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State

6. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

7. CJ Allen, Georgia

Arizona Cardinals: Sonny Styles

A new head coach (former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur) and a new quarterback (TBD) indeed mark a new era for Arizona, but this isn’t as hard a reset as it seems. Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis returns, providing some continuity on our preferred side of the line of scrimmage. You can easily argue for the Cardinals to address the offensive line at No. 3 overall, but I’d argue this team needs an upgrade in talent, and there’s arguably no greater talent than Ohio State’s Sonny Styles.

A playmaker with All-Pro upside, Styles would provide Arizona with a succession plan in defensive leadership from Budda Baker, who is entering his age-30 season. And Styles would elevate the second level of the defense from a room led by Mack Wilson (entering the final year of his contract) and rising second-year off-ball Cody Simon. Linebacker may not be a dire need in the desert, but elite-level talent is.

Dallas Cowboys: Jacob Rodriguez

If you’re still suffering from indifference or disdain for the Cowboys’ linebacker corps, it’s understandable. Forgiveness can be hard to grant in this case considering the Cowboys trotted out Kenneth Murray, Logan Wilson, Jack Sanborn, and Maris Liufau for a combined 1,500 snaps in 2025. But other than Liufau, they’re all gone, as is former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. New DC Christian Parker arrives from Philadelphia, and I’m expecting a strong two-linebacker package featuring holdover DeMarvion Overshown with someone not named Shemar James or Liufau.

Jacob Rodriguez would erase any contempt we have for the Dallas off-ball group. He may seem like a reach at No. 20, but it’s not considering the Texas Tech All-American blew the doors off the NFL Combine on the heels of a senior season that saw him post 128 total tackles with 7 forced fumbles and 4 INTs. Dallas fans would love to see this happen given that Rodriguez played high school and college football in Texas. IDP aficionados would be equally thrilled, as Rodriguez could man the middle of the defense and form a fantastic one-two off-ball punch with Overshown, a Texas native.

Denver Broncos: Jake Golday

Denver welcomed back both Alex Singleton (two years) and Justin Strnad (three years), and released the disappointing Dre Greenlaw. Singleton is 32, though, and Strnad’s reported contract pays him like a third linebacker. The team could use a high-pedigree pick both for now and the future.

Jake Golday fits the mold in size, length, and athleticism (6-foot-4, 239 pounds, 32-inch arms, and a 9.73 RAS) of what Vance Joseph has looked for in other recent off-ball draft picks, notably Drew Sanders (2023 3rd round by Denver) and Isaiah Simmons (2020 1st round by Arizona). Neither has lived up to the draft position, but that’s not Golday’s fault and shouldn’t be held against him.

Indianapolis Colts: Kyle Louis

After riding with Zaire Franklin and Germaine Pratt for most of 2025, Indianapolis has been quiet at the off-ball spot since sending away Franklin in a trade with Green Bay. The two names currently under contract—Jaylon Carlies and Austin Ajiake—both weigh in at less than 230 pounds. I can say with certainty that the Colts are not trotting out two starting off-balls who have little experience and little weight. So expect a veteran (perhaps Pratt) to join this room later this offseason.

But given that both Carlies and Ajiake are on the small side, we have evidence that Indianapolis is OK sacrificing bulk for speed and quickness at off-ball. And any team taking Pitt’s Kyle Louis has to be OK with that, since he’s all of 6-feet, 220 pounds. He’s a smart linebacker with a 96th percentile Burst Score and a 6.97 3-cone to his name, so if the size becomes an issue, Louis can maybe slide to strong safety (which also happens to be a need in Indianapolis).

Kansas City Chiefs: Keyshaun Elliott

The Chiefs don’t have a glaring hole at off-ball even after Leo Chenal’s departure for Washington, but the room definitely thinned. Nick Bolton remains the leader in the clubhouse, and Jeffrey Bassa could possibly develop into a third linebacker. Drue Tranquill is the No. 2 option for 2026, but he’s entering the final year of his contract and his age-31 season. It wouldn’t hurt Kansas City to start grooming a replacement.

Arizona State’s Keyshaun Elliott is a draft favorite of mine and will likely be available for picking early on day three of the NFL Draft. A mature leader who happens to hail from the Kansas City area, Elliott answered some questions about his athleticism at the Combine with an 87th percentile Burst Score. Even if you still question the straight line speed, understanding what’s happening in front of you is the most important trait for an off-ball, and Elliott scores well in that department.

Atlanta Falcons: Anthony Hill Jr.

Like Arizona, Atlanta swapped out its head coach but retained its defensive coordinator, which is a good thing given Jeff Ulbrich is a former NFL linebacker and a strong developer of off-ball talent. The Falcons lost Kaden Elliss, but brought in former Texan Christian Harris to compete for a starting gig next to Divine Deablo. JD Betrandt and Channing Tindall are also here, but neither has long-term starting upside.

Given Harris has never been able to stay healthy long enough to establish himself, and both he and Deablo aren’t contracted past 2026, it makes sense for the Falcons to consider adding a high-end rookie to the room. Texas’ Anthony Hill Jr. makes sense in an Ulbrich scheme given ideal size for a modern off-ball, elite athleticism (a 9.83 RAS), ability as a blitzer, and understanding of what he sees in front of him. And he should be attainable on day two, which is good since Atlanta doesn’t have a 1st-round pick.

New York Giants: CJ Allen

After releasing Bobby Okereke, the Giants looked like a prime spot for Sonny Styles at No. 5 overall. But after Big Blue signed former Bear Tremaine Edmunds to a multi-year deal and re-signed Micah McFadden for 2026, the urgency to address the position with prime 1st-round real estate is diminished. That shouldn’t stop the Giants from seeking a long-term upgrade on McFadden, though, and Georgia’s CJ Allen would represent that upgrade. Though somewhat limited in his movement skills, Allen effectively fills run gaps and can serve as an on-the-field general. Plus, after undergoing surgery to repair a meniscus injury in November, a landing spot in the Meadowlands should allow Allen additional time to recover.

Top S and Slot Prospects

1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State

2. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

4. AJ Haulcy, LSU

5. Treydan Stukes, Arizona

6. Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina

7. Kamari Ramsey, Southern Cal

Kansas City Chiefs: Caleb Downs

The Chiefs have bigger needs at wide receiver and outside corner, but given the importance of safety play in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, Ohio State’s Caleb Downs might be too good to pass up if he falls to No. 9 overall. After losing Justin Reid one year ago and Bryan Cook during this cycle of free agency, the Chiefs are left with Jaden Hicks (coming off a mostly disappointing second season), underwhelming slot defender Chamarri Conner, and former Charger and Raven Alohi Gilman, who signed a multi-year deal earlier this week. A defense in need of a jolt would get it in Downs.

Dallas Cowboys: Dillon Thieneman

After shoring up the EDGE room with a trade for Rashan Gary, Dallas needs second- and third-level help, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Cowboys use both of its 1st-round picks (Nos. 12 and 20) to do so. If Rodriguez (above) could be the second-level answer, could Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman bring stability and playmaking ability to the safety spot?

This is not the position of desperation it was a week ago, with Dallas signing Jalen Thompson to a multi-year deal to join Malik Hooker in the starting lineup. (The Cowboys also have holdover Markquese Bell and former Bronco PJ Locke as backups.) But Thompson is perhaps most effective when he can play over the slot, and he and Thieneman can be interchangeable in that role.

Philadelphia Eagles: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren

Reed Blankenship’s departure left the Eagles with promising second-year safety Andrew Mukuba and Sydney Brown, who is somehow already entering the final year of his rookie contract. Brown is probably best-suited to be a backup safety/slot defender, so a starter could come in the form of Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. The Toledo star is a nice combination of rangy speed and physicality, and would pair well with Mukuba for the next few years.

Chicago Bears: AJ Haulcy

No team saw safety room turnover like Chicago, which lost Kevin Byard (New England), Jaquan Brisker (Pittsburgh), CJ Gardner-Johnson (Buffalo), and Jonathan Owens (Indianapolis). The Bears brought over a starting deep safety in Coby Bryant (Seattle), but they need someone who can withstand consistent work close to the line of scrimmage.

At 6-foot, 222 pounds, AJ Haulcy is a big boy who can quickly read what’s in front of him and trigger downhill in a hurry. He also had a knack for creating turnovers, with 10 INTs and 4 forced fumbles over his four-year college career that included stops at New Mexico and Houston.

Miami Dolphins: Treydan Stukes

We know from his time as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator that new Miami coach Jeff Hafley values defensive backs who can be deployed in a variety of positions and understand zone responsibilities. And we know Miami has a big need at safety and over the slot, with the currently under contract options restricted to 2025 rookie Dante Trader Jr. and free agent signee Lonnie Johnson Jr. (Las Vegas). Versatile and capable bodies are wanted, and Arizona’s Treydan Stukes would fit in well as the primary slot defender with the ability to hold down a split or box safety spot if needed.

Indianapolis Colts: Jalon Kilgore

Colts fans were surely sad to see Nick Cross depart for Washington. After a slow start to his career, Cross became one of the strongest run support safeties in the league over the past two seasons. Without him, Indianapolis is left thin at the spot with free safety Camryn Bynum joined by free agent signing Jonathan Owens and holdover Daniel Scott, both signed to one-year deals, and rising second-year safety/linebacker Hunter Wohler.

If those options aren’t exciting enough, can I interest you in South Carolina’s Jalon Kilgore? We know General Manager Chris Ballard loves to draft great athletes, and Kilgore scored a 9.67 RAS at the Combine. He profiles as a downhill box safety with strong tackling skills, a perfect complement for Bynum.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Kamari Ramsey

Jacksonville actually got quality safety play in 2025 from a group led by Antonio Johnson, Eric Murray, and Andrew Wingard. While Johnson (one year remaining on his rookie contract) looks like a long-term keeper, Murray (32) is getting long in the tooth, and Wingard is now wearing Cardinal red.

Southern Cal’s Kamari Ramsey is a smooth operator who can plug in at split safety or over the slot, and provide an upgrade over Murray.

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NFL free agency rarely moves slowly, and this year was no exception. Big contracts, surprise destinations, and a few head-scratching overpays reshaped the IDP landscape before the league year even officially opened. Some players landed in situations that should maximize their production: full-time roles, scheme fits, and thin depth charts ahead of them. Others signed deals that look good on paper but could limit their fantasy upside in ways the price tag doesn’t reflect.

Here are some of the best and worst landing spots from an IDP perspective, along with what each move means for your IDP rosters heading into 2026.

BEST: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, New York Giants

When Bobby Okereke was released, the Giants immediately became a premier destination for an off-ball LB. Over 1,100 snaps and the green dot were up for grabs.

That spot was claimed pretty quickly—Tremaine Edmunds signed a three-year contract worth $36 million and immediately became one of the best off-ball LBs on the roster before even playing a down. Edmunds has been relatively durable during his career, missing a few games here and there, but not suffering any major, season-ending injuries.

Since entering the league, Edmunds hasn’t had fewer than 100 tackles with a career 12.5% tackle rate. He was on his way to a career-year in 2025 before an injury caused him to miss 4 games. Edmunds produced a 13.8% tackle rate and was on pace for 146 tackles. He’s not going to overwhelm you with big plays, but he’ll provide the occasional INT and defended passes, which gives you a safe LB3 weekly floor.

Dennard Wilson’s defenses are designed around linebackers who can hold up against the run and in coverage. He’s best when he plays downhill with vision and uses his length to disrupt the QB. He’s likely to start and wear the dot, which, at volume alone, puts him in the LB2 conversation in redraft leagues.

BEST: Devin Bush, LB, Chicago Bears

As a Browns fan, I don’t like this. Selfishly, I wanted Devin Bush to stick around; however, I can’t blame him for cashing in on his career year.

All signs were pointing up for Bush after his rookie year, when he tallied 109 tackles, 9 TFLs, and 2 INTs. A torn ACL in 2020 ended his season after 5 games and he never really found his footing or a full-time role since that injury. He’d play 71% of the snaps over his next two seasons with the Steelers before landing with the Seahawks in 2023. He appeared in 13 games, but played just 27% of the snaps.

He found his way in Cleveland, and while he played 49% of the snaps in 2024, an injury to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah opened a full-time role for him in 2025. He appeared in 871 snaps and produced a 14.5% tackle rate, resulting in 125 tackles. Bush also produced 3 INTs, 8 defended passes, and 7 TFLs.

Bush should fit well in Dennis Allen’s scheme as a run and hit WILL/RILB, who can scrape, blitz, and carry opposing TE/RB in space. Allen should allow him to trigger downhill and run through lanes. With Tremaine Edmunds gone, Bush has the potential to slide in opposite TJ Edwards in their nickel-heavy defense, which features two off-ball LBs.

In most scoring formats, Bush finished as the LB17, so I think he can be drafted as an LB2/3 in most formats.

WORST: Jalen Thompson, S, Dallas Cowboys

Jalen Thompson has been a decent IDP option at DB over the last several seasons with the Cardinals, especially playing alongside Budda Baker. He’s recorded 95+ tackles over four of his last five seasons, and while he’s gone two straight years without an INT, he has 9 career picks and 37 defended passes (including 9 over the last two seasons). He has a career 10% tackle rate and a 2:1 solo-to-assist ratio.

So, why am I hating on the landing spot?

The Dallas Cowboys’ safeties haven’t had the reputation for being IDP producers. Last season, Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker combined for 123 tackles and just 2 INTs. In 2024, Wilson and Hooker each recorded over 80 tackles, but only managed 3 INTs between them. Since 2020, only safety has gone for over 100 tackles (Wilson in 2022). Historically, Dallas’ defenses don’t rely on their safeties to make tackles.

I don’t think Christian Parker’s addition as DC is going to change anything. Parker stresses interchangeability among safeties and two-high/split structures, so they won’t be locked into one role/alignment. Thompson is a solid run defender who can also match underneath routes. The split safety might cap his upside, especially as a box safety. He’s a versatile safety, but I’m not expecting the high tackle volumes from his Arizona days.

BEST: Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Baltimore Ravens

What a wild saga this one turned out to be! It looked like Baltimore traded for Las Vegas EDGE Maxx Crosby. But fate is not without its sense of irony—the Ravens backed out of the deal, presumably due to a failed physical.

So, like Sonny Weaver, the Ravens and Eric DeCosta get their draft picks back. Then, about an hour later, they inked Trey Hendrickson to a four-year deal.

The Ravens, uncharacteristically, were one of the worst teams in terms of pressure rate (28.4%) and sacks recorded (30) in 2025. Hendrickson should provide a boost to that number. During his tenure with the Bengals, he amassed 61 sacks, including three seasons of 14+. He also created havoc at the line of scrimmage with 56 TFLs.

Although the Ravens, in the past, have run a 34 base, they’ve always used multiple fronts and nickel looks. They have also fit the scheme to the player, as opposed to the player into the scheme. Jesse Minter and Anthony Weaver will probably implement the same multiple fronts with some disguised pressures.

Their defense should allow Hendrickson to focus on rushing the passer and not force him into off-ball or coverage duties. He’ll be used as a stand-up/hand-in-the-dirt, while protecting him in run situations, as he had an average 54.7 PFF run defense grade. I’d consider him a borderline DL1, but might pair him as a DL2 with a top edge.

BEST: Nick Cross, S, Washington Commanders

Nick Cross enjoyed two highly productive IDP seasons with the Colts, recording 266 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 4 INTs. He left the Colts for the Washington Commanders, who signed him to a team-friendly deal: 2 years/$14 million for the 24-year-old. Quan Martin is likely to be the casualty here, as Cross should slot into a starting role in the back end of their defense.

Cross brings solid IDP metrics to the table, as he’s produced an 11.7% tackle rate over the two seasons he was a full-time starter, playing the friendly line of scrimmage role. He played 75% of his snaps in 2025 near the line and had a 50% box rate.

Like the modern defenses, Jones will not force him into a static spot; however, if you want to maximize Cross, it’s best to keep him near the line of scrimmage and use him as a physical safety who can fit gaps, play in the alleys, and clean up the perimeter. Pre-snap, he might look deep, but he will creep up. However, he’s versatile enough to handle slot duties. In coverage, as a slot, that’s where he produced his INT and allowed a 46.8 QB rating when targeted.

We know there’s variance involved with the DB position, but Cross is likely to be a DB1 once again in Washington’s system.

WORST: Alontae Taylor, CB, Tennessee Titans

Alontae Taylor has been a solid IDP producer over the last few seasons with the Saints. Last season, he played 54% of his snaps in the slot and finished with 83 tackles, 2 INTs, and 11 defended passes. He also had an impact near the line of scrimmage (LOS) with 2 sacks and 7 TFLs.

In 2024, Taylor was more of an outside corner, but played 36% of his snaps in the slot. 2024 was a career year with 89 tackles while contributing 4 sacks and 7 TFLs.

This versatility is probably why Tennessee offered him a three-year deal and threw him $42 million guaranteed. With a bag like that secured, what makes it a bad landing spot?

I think the Titans have their nickel in Kevin Winston and he should slide back into his LOS role heading into his second season and see more time in the box. This is going to move Taylor back to the boundary as an outside corner, which lowers his IDP floor. If you look at his 2022 season, he played 575 snaps outside. The result was 49 tackles and 11 defended passes.

Without those potential slot snaps, I think he loses his IDP appeal and is more of a target in CB-required leagues, as opposed to DB-general leagues.

BEST: Odafe Oweh, EDGE, Washington Commanders

Odafe Oweh was toiling in Baltimore until a mid-season trade to the Chargers seemed to unlock his potential under then defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter. Through 4 games with the Ravens, Oweh managed just 12 total pressures and 0 sacks. Over 12 games with the Chargers, he produced 35 pressures, resulting in a 15.2% pressure rate and an 18.4% win rate, and he finished with 7.5 sacks.

His trajectory is on the upswing after landing in the perfect spot with the Commanders. Washington was bereft of any pass-rush talent outside of Dorance Armstrong and Von Miller in 2025, and once Armstrong went down, that void became even more apparent. Armstrong appeared in just 6 games, and was still 2nd on the team in sacks at 5.5. Shockingly, the Commanders weren’t last in sacks.

However, they do need help in the pass rush. That’s what they got with Oweh. He fits as an athletic EDGE in Daronte Jones’s pressure-oriented defense. He’ll disguise pressures and scheme his guys free. That should maximize Oweh’s speed and athleticism. Jones has said he wants to deploy speed and aggression and fit the player with the scheme, which is in Oweh’s wheelhouse. If Oweh sees close to a full-time role and cleaner rush paths, he has double-digit sack upside in 2026.

BEST: Devin Lloyd, LB, Carolina Panthers

Although Devin Lloyd failed to reach 100 tackles in 2025, he did look comfortable in Anthony Campanile’s defense. He turned his 2025 season into a three-year deal worth $45 million with the Panthers. This is a win-win, as Lloyd gets the bag and the Panthers address the off-ball position with a solid player.

Lloyd produced his best PFF coverage grade (78.9), which resulted in a career-high in INTs (5) while adding 7 defended passes. Although it was his first season failing to reach 100 tackles, it was his coverage that stood out, and it will be a major upgrade for Carolina.

Ejiro Evero should utilize Lloyd in a similar way, as he improved their defense considerably in 2025. Although they’re listed as a 34 base, they played more nickel. Carolina called out their need to improve in coverage over the middle. They also want to play faster.

Lloyd’s traits and instincts should translate to Evero’s defense, and he looks to have a path to a three-down role, and possibly the green dot. Lloyd has a career 12.5% tackle rate, so I look at him as a strong LB2 just based on the potential volume.

WORST: Jaylinn Hawkins, S, Baltimore Ravens

Jaylinn Hawkins had a really good season with the Patriots, notching his second-highest tackle total since 2022 (71), while adding a career-high 4 INTs and 6 defended passes. So, after two seasons, Hawkins was set to test the free agent market.

Unfortunately, he lands with the Baltimore Ravens, who already have a safety with Hawkins’ archetype in Malaki Starks, the 1st round pick from 2025 who is entering his second year with some promise after playing in 94% of the Ravens’ snaps as a rookie.

Starks played 618 snaps as the deep safety, which is just under the amount Hawkins played at 682. So, they are playing similar roles. Most likely, Hawkins comes in as a 3rd safety and deep rotational safety.

Although Baltimore plays three-safety looks, I think Hawkins’ IDP floor is pretty low, especially if Hawkins is going to be more of a rotational safety and depth piece. He’ll have a weekly role, but I don’t see him playing 90% of the snaps.

BEST: Leo Chenal, LB, Washington Commanders

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: another solid landing spot in Washington. The Commanders are having a solid free agency, adding and upgrading some key spots.

Leo Chenal has been trapped in Kansas City’s defense since being drafted and has been primarily used in their base packages. Over his first three seasons, he never played more than 41% of the snaps, while in 2025, he saw 53% of the snaps; however, it only resulted in 441 snaps.

Chenal has been a solid overall defender. In 2025, over 14 games, he produced a 13.2% tackle rate, 2 sacks, and an INT. He’s a good run defender (76.2) and dependable in coverage (72.6). He won’t miss tackles either, as he has a career 8% missed tackle rate.

As long as the Commanders don’t bring back Bobby Wagner, it appears Chenal will finally have a full-time role. Jones will bring some of Brian Flores’ elements and philosophy, and Chenal could be his Eric Wilson. Chenal’s big plays from 2025 came from the WILL/RILB spot and given downhill spots.

He may not get the dot, but he should see a starting role (85% snap rate) where his tackling and instincts will be deployed. I like Chenal as an LB2 in Washington.

BEST: Quay Walker, LB, Las Vegas Raiders

Quay Walker had a productive four-year run with the Packers. Although he battled some injuries here and there, he never played in fewer than 13 games.

Eyebrows were raised when Green Bay didn’t pick up Walker’s fifth-year option, as he was the defensive captain. The writing was on the wall when they traded for Zaire Franklin, who is a similar player to Walker (albeit older and slower).

Over his four seasons, Walker was a dependable IDP producer, as he recorded a 14% tackle rate, while adding 29 TFLs, 9 sacks, and 17 defended passes, averaging 117 tackles per season.

So Walker joins the Raiders, a team bereft of any LB talent, as Devin White and Elandon Roberts are both free agents. Plus, they also added Nakobe Dean, with Tommy Eichenberg and Cody Lindenberg (who I really liked) currently on the roster.

Las Vegas might be running more of a 34 look and is building the defense around the linebackers, so he projects as one of the off-ball inside linebackers. Leonard will utilize his speed and blitz ability. Walker has 5 career pressures over 301 rush snaps, resulting in an 18.3% pressure rate. He has looked his best when he can be a stopper, scrape, and attack.

There is a bit of caution with the addition of Dean; however, Walker received the higher free agent contract, so he could have a leg up on the green dot and three-down role.

WORST: Dane Belton, S, New York Jets

Dane Belton is coming off an out-of-nowhere career year. He more than doubled his tackle output from 2024 to 2025 with 120 tackles, and added 2 sacks and an INT. The production was due in part to the increase in snaps: 705 snaps in 2025.

He played 56% of his snaps split between the slot and box, which is a role currently held by Malachi Moore on the Jets. Moore had his rookie struggles, but there is some upside waiting to be realized heading into Year 2.

Now, the question will be if Belton retains his role or if he plays a more split role with Moore in New York’s scheme. Aaron Glenn will use his safeties interchangeably and Belton is a physical DB. Belton might be best used as a third safety, big nickel type, but I fear his tackle floor might be lowered with this landing spot.

BEST: Alex Anzalone, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Alex Anzalone had been a staple of Detroit’s defense since signing in 2021. He’d averaged a 93.4% snap rate and was the green dot of the defense up until last season.

Then, Jack Campbell took over the playcalling duties, and Anzalone was vocal about the decision. He still appeared in over 1,000 snaps, but his tackle efficiency was below his previous averages at just 9.5%. It seemed clear that a change of scenery was necessary.

Anzalone signed with Tampa Bay on a two-year deal with $17 million. He brings leadership and production to the Tampa Bay linebacker room, while being a decent all-around player who can cover and rush the passer.

Conspicuous by his absence is Lavonte David, who, as of this writing, has yet to sign or even make a decision on his NFL future. We’re making the assumption that David doesn’t return. Anzalone is a clear upgrade over SirVocea Dennis, who finished with a 49.1 overall defense grade and 30.5 coverage grade.

Anzalone looks to be a nice scheme fit. Todd Bowles asks his linebackers to do a lot of everything: maintain their run fits, drop in coverage, mirror TEs and RBs, and blitz the gaps. Tampa Bay also runs zone over 73% of the time, which is typically an IDP-friendly coverage scheme.

Anzalone is currently shaping up to be a three-down player with a path to be a strong LB2 tackle volume if he wins the green dot.

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NFL free agency is kicking off next week, which means many of the offseason questions we’ve had will be answered in short order. On the IDP side, our offseason “one question” series concludes this week after highlighting the AFC/NFC North, AFC/NFC East, and AFC/NFC South. In this article, I’m focusing on the AFC and NFC West and answering one question for these eight teams in 2026.

AFC West

Denver Broncos

Will Dre Greenlaw be back with the Broncos in 2026?

It was clear the Broncos didn’t want to rush Dre Greenlaw back from a quad injury that magically came up during the 2025 offseason. Greenlaw played just 2 games in 2024 and was shut down due to a calf injury. In April, it was reported that he suffered a calf injury and that the Broncos were aware of the injury and that he’d be ready for the opener. Well, that didn’t happen. He didn’t return to the field until Week 7. He missed a few games in December before returning for the playoffs.

One of his best games came against Houston. He showed good instincts and processing. On this play, he hits the gap to stuff Nick Chubb:

As you can see, he also still has burst.

However, the Broncos might look at Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad as priorities. A post-June 1st cut would save Denver over $8 million, and they’d eat around $2 million in dead money. It’s a shame Greenlaw’s injuries crept up again, and it could cost him a spot, especially with Denver’s Super Bowl window open.

Since 2021, Greenlaw has appeared in 43 total games. It would not surprise me to see Greenlaw become an free agent again.

Los Angeles Chargers

What kind of defense can we expect from Chris O’Leary?

The Chargers lost their defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, to the Ravens’ head coaching job. Jim Harbaugh turned to a familiar face to head up the defense in Chris O’Leary, who was the safeties coach in 2024, and then left to lead Western Michigan’s defense in 2025.

I don’t think O’Leary is going to re-invent the wheel. He’s going to keep the same language/system that’s been working but with his tweaks. His core philosophy is fundamentals and physicality, and to play violent and fast while putting his guys in favorable matchups. He’ll use a base 34 but with multiple/flexible fronts and two-high shells. I’m also expecting match-style zone principles.

While he’ll have Tuli Tuipulotu, Odafe Oweh and Khalil Mack are free agents. Bud Dupree is 33 and it might be too much to ask of Kyle Kennard to shoulder the pass rush load opposite Tuipulotu. Kennard saw just 49 snaps as a rookie. I’d expect O’Leary’s pass rush group create pressure with discipline and disguises. Stay in attack mode without the need to over-blitz.

The linebacker room is just as in-flux as the DL group. Daiyan Henley is the lone full-time LB as of now. Denzel Perryman is expected to hit free agency, which leaves Troy Dye, Marlowe Wax, Del’Shawn Phillips, and Junior Colson. Colson missed 2025 due to injuries, while Dye and Phillips aren’t three-down guys. Wax has just 39 defensive snaps under his belt. Here’s hoping O’Leary’s scheme can keep Henley clean.

Derwin James and Elijah Molden are interesting pieces in O’Leary’s scheme, and RJ Mickens could see time as a third safety. He stresses movable roles to solve the offense and take advantage of his players’ instincts.

As of now, the IDPs to target are Tuipulotu, Henley, and James. We’ll see what happens during free agency and the draft.

Kansas City Chiefs

Can Ashton Gillotte step in as the EDGE2?

Ashton Gillotte had a pretty significant role in 2025. He was 10th among the defense in snaps (458) and was third in pass rush snaps (268) behind George Karlaftis and Charles Omenihu. Gillotte was just as productive as Omenihu in 115 fewer pass rush snaps. He finished with a 9% pressure rate and 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 5 QB hits, and 3 TFLs. Overall, not a bad season, and he was named the Chiefs’ best rookie by his teammates.

What kind of usage could we expect in 2026?

Omenihu and Mike Danna each recorded pressure rates less than 9%, while Danna barely hit 5% (4.6%). Omenihu is slated to hit free agency, and didn’t particularly “wow” anyone with his pass rush prowess. At least not enough to warrant any type of payday.

I thought this was a solid rep from Gillotte. He takes on the block and disengages. He runs down the QB and gets the hit:

The Chiefs spent meaningful draft capital on Gillotte. A 3rd round pick is where teams look to find starters and high-end role players, and the team sees a path to snaps. In his final year at Louisville, Gillotte was 8th in pressures in 2024 (57), so he has on tape the ability to be a consistent pressure generator.

I think he’s a good buy-low in dynasty and has a path to snaps in 2026. For redraft, he’ll be a matchup streamer with the potential to graduate to a roster spot if he develops and sees significant snaps in the rotation.

Las Vegas Raiders

What are the plans at EDGE if the team trades Maxx Crosby?

If Maxx Crosby is dealt, a huge hole opens up on the edge. Imagine Cleveland trading Myles Garrett or Detroit trading Aidan Hutchinson. Also, look at Dallas and what has happened post-Micah Parsons.

If the Raiders do move on from Crosby, you’d expect a huge return. At minimum, you’d need two 1sts, with the Parsons deal serving as the blueprint. It’s truly the “mystery box” scene from Family Guy. You already have the elite pass rusher, so why gamble on the unknown with a package of draft picks?

The Raiders have needs all over, especially at LB, so they’d be creating one with this trade, but if the Raiders draft Francisco Mendoza with the 1.01, here are some of the edge rushers they could potentially draft in the 2nd:

• R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma

• Zion Young, Missouri

• Romello Height, Texas Tech

The Raiders have nearly $88 million in cap space. If you use the Patriots as a blueprint, they could use some of that money to bring in an EDGE to replace Crosby, an interior defender, and a linebacker. Last offseason, New England brought in Harold Landry, Milton Williams, and Robert Spaillane with their free agent bounty.

The only issue is whether the Raiders are seen as an ideal destination spot. Can they attract a player like Trey Hendrickson? Or even middle-tier edge rushers like Odafe Oweh, Haason Reddick, or Boye Mafe?

Money talks, and someone like Mafe might want a payday now that he has a ring.

There’s no way they can enter OTAs with Tyree Wilson, Jahfari Harvey, Charles Snowden, and Tonka Hemingway as their EDGE group. I’d do what I can to keep Crosby, but the plan would be to replace his production with volume, which is a risky proposition. The Raiders look to be in rebuild mode, so they can afford to make some swings with some picks and add a vet.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

Is a Walter Nolen breakout season on the horizon in 2026?

Walter Nolen suffered a knee injury near the end of the 2025 season that ended his rookie year early. It’s unknown whether he’ll miss time in 2026. Either way, he’s on the trajectory to stardom.

An underrated hire during this cycle was Pete Kwiatkowski as defensive line coach. Kwiatkowski was the Texas defensive coordinator while T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy were on the team, and had a hand in their development. Sweat has turned into a solid IDL for the Titans, while Murphy is coming off a breakout year for the Seahawks.

Nolen’s presence impacted the opposing offense. Even as a rookie, he drew double-teams in the run; however, he had some issues with pad level and shedding blocks. Nolen exceeded expectations as a pass rusher with an 80.1 PFF grade while generating a 15.1% pressure rate and 16.7% win rate.

I thought this was a good rep against a decent 49ers’ offensive line. He uses his hands well and almost gets the sack on Brock Purdy:

I think Kwiatkowski will develop Nolen’s pass rush game and help improve his run defense. Keep an eye on Nolen’s knee rehab, and if he’s ahead of schedule, I like Nolen as a potential year two breakout in DT-required leagues.

Los Angeles Rams

Can Jared Verse be a 10-sack edge rusher in 2026?

Jared Verse increased his sack production by 67% from his rookie year to his sophomore year (7.5). However, that still wasn’t good enough for his IDP managers, who were expecting the leap to double-digits.

I’m still buying the talent and pass rush metrics that Verse can get to 10+ sacks. Last season, Verse generated a 15.7% pressure rate and 20.8% win rate, which resulted in 100 pressures, including 27 QB hits. These metrics indicate that more sack production is on the horizon.

There were several pass rush reps where he clearly won the rep, but the QB just got the ball out:

Now, there were several instances that showed up on tape where he’s running his arc too wide and doesn’t flatten to the QB’s level. His strides are too long in closing and he arrives out of control. His hands are active and violent, but he’s tagging the QB up high instead of finishing and attacking the midsection.

He has 42 QB hits over the last two seasons, and I think if he makes these tweaks and adjustments, he can turn those pressures and hits into sacks. I’m trying to buy in dynasty, and I’m buying the dip in redraft if he falls to me as a DL2.

San Francisco 49ers

Can we expect Fred Warner to be an LB1?

Fred Warner had been an iron man since entering the league in 2018. In 2025, he ended up missing games for the first time in his career due to a broken/dislocated ankle.

Warner had been a staple in IDP lineups and a dependable producer, averaging 128 tackles, 2.4 forced fumbles, 8 defended passes, and 5.4 TFLs over his first 7 seasons. He’s also recorded 10 sacks and 10 INTs.

Before the injury, Warner was on pace for a career-high in tackles (145) due to his 15.5% tackle rate, which was well ahead of his career 12.8% tackle rate. In Big 3 Scoring, he was averaging 13.6 points/game.

Warner attacked his rehab like he attacks opposing ball carriers. He fought like hell to get back for the postseason, and videos circulated of him on the field. He came up short and ended up missing the 49ers’ playoff run, but it’s clear:

Warner is going to be ready for 2026.

He’ll have the rest of the offseason to recover and I anticipate him to be ready for OTAs and all of the 49ers’ offseason programs leading into training camp.

As long as there are no setbacks or follow-up procedures, I’d expect Warner to return as an LB1 with his green dot role in 2026.

Seattle Seahawks

What can Nick Emmanwori do for an encore in 2026?

Nick Emmanwori was a fun evaluation last year—I ranked him as my top DB of the 2025 IDP rookie class. It took only a few games for him to make his mark.

Emmanwori’s season got off to a rocky start with a high ankle sprain injury in Week 1, which caused him to miss the next three games. In his first game back, he recorded 5 tackles with a TFL while playing 64% of the snaps.

From Week 6 on, it was all systems go. Emmanwori was a full-time player and appeared in 93% of the snaps over those 12 games. His physicality was on display, along with his trigger in the run, and his coverage ability. He was a force player with 9 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, and 11 defended passes. He played 38% of his snaps in the box and 48% of his snaps as a slot/nickel corner.

Just keep him near the line of scrimmage. Here, he slips past the blocker and gets Jonathan Taylor down for no gain:

There’s a lot to like about Emmanwori building on his rookie year. He put together a solid playoff run with 13 tackles (10 solos) and 4 defended passes. He’s tough, playing through an injury suffered ahead of the Super Bowl, and still recorded 5 tackles.

He missed 3 games, but produced a 10.6% tackle rate, resulting in 81 tackles. I’m not one to extrapolate games, but it’s worth noting that a full season would have resulted in 100 tackles. He also missed 8 tackles.

I don’t see his role changing as the line-of-scrimmage safety in 2026, and it’s clear he’s already one of their best defensive players. Devon Witherspoon should remain as their outside/boundary corner, so Emmanwori should enter the 2026 season as DB1.

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Rankings Updated: 4/10/2026

I’ve been putting out IDP best ball rankings for the site since 2023, and in the past three years, it’s probably cost me hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars. But I do it because I want to give our paid supporters the best chance possible in drafts, and that’s what these rankings represent. The proof is in the results: look at any of our Sleeper draft winners, or the top 10 names in D-UP, and what do you see?

That’s right: our paid supporters. I take a lot of pride in that fact.

However, if you’ve never tried best ball, let me be the first to welcome you! This is the ideal offseason format: quick drafts, low maintenance, and ever-evolving ADP. If you want to get better while the rest of your leaguemates are checked out, best ball is the best way to do so. It allows you to identify your targets, see where the values are, judge how the market views certain players, and form your own takes.

We run our own best ball drafts (follow Eric Harms on Twitter to learn when new drafts become available), and FastDraft hosts the largest IDP best ball contest, D-UP, every year. These rankings work for both formats and your home redraft leagues. What I’ve indexed more here is big play potential, since best ball doesn’t require you to decide when to start or sit players, so boom/bust IDPs become better targets.

These rankings give you a much-needed resource so drafts are enjoyable, not embarrassing. With enough practice, though, you won’t need them at all. I have 400+ players ranked right now. I’ll be updating the list all offseason (check the date at the top). Let’s get to the good stuff! Good luck—I’ll see you in the draft room.

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As the offseason officially begins to ramp up, it’s time to reflect on one of the most exciting developments in IDP fantasy football this past year: the D-UP contest by FastDraft. The first large-scale IDP-only best ball competition in history, D-UP gave IDP enthusiasts a dedicated, high-stakes arena to test their defensive knowledge.

On a recent episode of The IDP After Show, we broke down the data, discussed what worked, what didn’t, and how to approach Year 2. Now we’re sharing the lessons we learned here as an article. Let’s dive in.

Lesson #1: Success Came Down to the First 2 Picks

Perhaps the most striking data point from Year 1: roughly 75% of the variance in total points scored across D-UP teams came down to the first two picks. This was especially true among the top 20 finishers—those who cashed out at $100 or more. If you nailed your first two selections, the rest of the draft was almost a formality.

The single most dominant combination was Myles Garrett paired with Brian Burns. Seven of the top 20 finishers had that exact pairing. Other high-performing duos included Maxx Crosby with Brian Burns, Aidan Hutchinson with Brian Burns, and Myles Garrett with Andrew Van Ginkel. The common thread? Elite pass rushers in both early picks, with Burns in particular proving to be exceptional value given his second-round ADP in a 10-team format.

Lesson #2: DL/DL Roster Construction Dominated

The data was clear when it came to how top rosters were built. Teams that opened with two defensive linemen (DL/DL) averaged approximately 1,350 total points, and 18 of the top 20 finishers used that exact construction. By contrast, DL/LB builds averaged around 1,293 points, and LB/LB builds dropped further to 1,236, nearly 115 points behind the leading approach, with zero top-20 finishes.

As for defensive backs: 15 of the top 20 rosters had zero DBs, and five had just one. No top finisher carried two or more. Taking a DB in the first three rounds was associated with a drop of nearly 23 points in mean scoring. While DBs like Brian Branch could have been a top-five performer in a 2024 iteration of D-UP, the 2025 results suggest patience is warranted when it comes to the position.

Lesson #3: 2025 May Be an Anomaly, So Don’t Overreact

While the data strongly favors edge rushers, it’s worth keeping the broader context in mind. The 2025 season featured an unusually concentrated top end: only 26 players crossed the 200-point threshold, compared to 35 who would have done so if the contest had run in 2024. The average of the top five D-UP scorers was 278 points in 2025 versus 253 in 2024, a 25-point gap reflecting just how dominant the elite tier was.

Myles Garrett had a historically dominant season, outscoring any individual player from 2024 by over 50 points in D-UP scoring. Three of the top five D-UP performances across both seasons came from 2025 alone. This kind of top-heaviness is not the norm, and we’d suggest caution against building an entire 2026 strategy around what worked in 2025.

Lesson #4: Draft Slot Matters (Pick 4 Was the Sweet Spot)

Because D-UP in 2025 was a 10-team, six-round format, your draft slot has an outsized effect on roster construction. Slot 4 was the most productive position in 2025, producing 10 of the top 20 finishers. This aligns directly with Myles Garrett’s average ADP of 3.78. The pick-four slot was essentially purpose-built to land the top overall player. Slot 3 added three more top-20 finishers, meaning 13 of the 20 cashing teams came from just those two draft positions.

On the other end of the spectrum, slot 10 produced zero top-10 finishers. The snake format’s back-to-back pick advantage at the turn didn’t compensate for the inability to land one of the truly elite pass rushers with an early selection. Again, this is largely a function of how top-heavy 2025 was—but it’s a meaningful data point heading into 2026.

Lesson #5: Youth is a Trap

Despite making up roughly 30% of NFL starting defensive rosters, rookies and sophomores accounted for only six of the top 60 D-UP scorers in 2025, just 10% of the viable fantasy pool. The same pattern held in a 2024 retroactive analysis, where only five rookies or sophomores cracked that threshold.

The few who did make the top 60 came in largely at the back end of the rankings. Carson Schwesinger finished 18th, Laiatu Latu was 33rd, Cooper DeJean (a sophomore) was 36th, and Jared Verse was 53rd. Even Abdul Carter—who carried the highest D-UP ADP among rookies at 28 overall—finished 286th. That’s not necessarily a bust designation for his NFL career, but it illustrates the structural challenge rookies face (particularly in a small, six-pick format).

In a format where only four of your six players score each week and there’s no way to adjust your lineup, floor matters enormously. Rookies are eased into rotations, sophomores are inconsistent, and the small roster amplifies every miss. Veteran players who carry volatility—a pass rusher known for a big game here and there before going quiet—are still preferable to rookies, because at least the nature of that risk is understood. With a rookie, you’re not just accepting uncertainty; you’re accepting a complete unknown. In a format this compressed, knowing what kind of risk you’re taking is itself a form of edge.

Final Takeaways

Year 1 of D-UP delivered on its promise as a compelling, IDP-focused best ball contest. The data tells a coherent story: prioritize elite edge rushers early, build DL-heavy, exercise patience with defensive backs, and avoid the temptation of exciting rookies in a format that punishes volatility.

At the same time, don’t over-index on a single year that featured historically dominant performances and an unusually high injury rate among top-tier players. The best D-UP drafters in 2026 will use 2025’s lessons as one data point among many, not as an immovable blueprint.

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