10 Rookie IDPs to Target in 2024 Redraft Leagues
10 Rookie IDPs to Target in 2024 Redraft Leagues
Mike Woellert looks at the first-year IDPs who could contribute right away.
Thanks to a run on QBs early in the 2024 NFL Draft, the defensive players all got pushed down the board, with the first IDP not being selected until the 15th pick. Rounds 2 and 3 were a cornucopia of IDP goodness, with a lot of fantasy-relevant players being taken.
When it comes to rookie-year production, the main thing we’re looking for is volume. We want a clear path to snaps, which leads to production. In this article, I’ll look at some of the rookies who landed in good spots and should be relevant in 2024, making them targets in redraft leagues.
1. Junior Colson, LB, Los Angeles Chargers
“The perfect landing spot doesn’t exi…”
The Los Angeles Chargers select Junior Colson, University of Michigan.
Touche, Jim Harbaugh, touche. I don’t think Colson could have landed in a better spot than with the Chargers. Like George Costanza working for Kruger Enterprises, he can go hog wild. The Chargers have allowed their recent cache of linebackers to get away: Drue Tranquill, Kenneth Murray, and Eric Kendricks. To say there was a need at the position is to say Thanos was a bad dude.
Looking at Colson’s tape, he brings versatility and the ability to adapt to any scheme, but lucky for him, there won’t be much of a learning curve. Colson was the defensive leader of the Wolverines defense and was thrust into a full-time role in 2021. He came up clutch under the big lights of the CFP games. According to PFF, his grades improved every year. He finished his 2021 season with a 48.5 grade and improved to 81.7 in 2023. His most impressive leap was his coverage grade. It was a woeful 37.8 in 2021 and improved to 83.4 in 2023. Colson allowed just 7.4 yards per catch and gave up just 120 yards after the catch.
He’s willing to take on blocks, has a good feel for zone coverage, has plus pre-snap recognition, and communicates well. This allows him to keep the play in front of him and not get lost in the chaos. He had solid tackle production, as he produced a 20.2% tackle rate over his 2022/2023 seasons, resulting in 206 tackles. He’s not going to miss tackles either. Colson missed on just 12 tackles through three seasons.
He immediately steps into a situation where, not only could he see a full-time, but a three-down player who wears the dot as the defensive play caller. Denzel Perryman signed a one-year deal and is injury-prone. Daiyan Henley is entering his second year with some promise, but that second-year breakout isn’t coming.
Colson’s path to snaps thanks to his landing spot has him on the radar as the 1.01 of rookie IDPs. He’s the LB1 of the 2024 rookie linebackers and I don’t have a problem targeting him as an LB2/3 in redraft leagues.
2. Dallas Turner, DL, Minnesota Vikings
Dallas Turner ended up in a nice spot with the Vikings at pick #17, who needed to fill the void left by Danielle Hunter’s departure.
Turner took advantage of the snaps playing alongside Will Anderson in 2022. He saw 608 defensive snaps, generated a 12% pressure rate, and had just two games of fewer than 2 QB pressures. He also produced an 18% win rate.
With Anderson getting drafted in 2023, how would Turner fare? He improved his pass-rush grade from 73.8 to 89.9 and his pressure rate to 19.2%. He improved his get off the snap, beating his blockers to the tune of a 32% win rate.
I also like the improvement in sack production. After a disappointing 2022 season with just 4 sacks, he recorded 10 in 2023 and was a menace around the line of scrimmage with 14.5 TFLs. He bulked up and became even more disruptive, which led to the increase in production. His speed-to-power is an elite trait. He does rush better standing up as opposed to a hand in the dirt.
Brian Flores is going to enjoy deploying him from all sides. Turner has a good change of direction and can also drop into coverage. He has elite speed, not only off the snap, but chasing down QBs. If you like RAS scores, his was a 9.49. I loved his 4.48 40-yard dash, telling me QBs aren’t going to outrun him.
He has good length and a good bend. He's a speed rusher with an elite get-off.
Turner’s first-round draft capital should put him on the path to significant snaps in his rookie year. If you look at him, he’s a bit slender, so hopefully he eats a few Big Macs. I’d love to see him attend Von Miller’s pass-rush summit to add a few moves to his toolkit. He has enough right now and should push Andrew Van Ginkel for snaps and by mid-season, could be seeing more plays in the rotation over AVG.
I’d target him as a DL3 in redraft.
3. Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Green Bay Packers
I think the Edgerrin Cooper pick could be a referendum on Quay Walker’s play.
With the hype surrounding Payton Wilson’s Combine performance, Cooper was still labeled, at least from the NFL’s view, the top LB in the 2024 class. He was drafted as such. Cooper was taken by the Packers in the 2nd and was the LB1 off the board.
Cooper’s athleticism turned heads, as well. He turned in a speedy 40-yard dash himself at a 4.51. When you look at his tape, the speed confirms what you see. In my pre-draft LB ranks, I had Cooper as my LB4. He eliminates passing lanes and has elite downhill speed, which allows him to take away big runs or screens. Even though he’s 230 pounds, he plays with physicality.
Cooper was the top-graded LB in the class according to PFF (90.8) and was in the top 10 in coverage (85.5). Even as an off-ball LB, he was among the top-50 defenders in pass-rush (86.4). He produced a 32.5% pressure rate and recorded 8 sacks. Why did I have him as my LB4? I was a bit concerned with tackle production. Although he recorded a solid tackle rate (13.8), he failed to hit the 100-tackle mark. I will admit, had he hit the 700+ snap mark, I don’t doubt he would have last season. He was a menace around the line of scrimmage, recording 17 TFLs.
He’s a prototypical off-ball LB who locks in the ball and goes after it. Cooper’s draft capital should put him in the mix for the LB2 opposite Walker. De’Vondre Campbell left in free agency, and up until the draft, Isaiah McDuffie was next man up. Given McDuffie’s relationship with new DC Jeff Hafley, it looked like his spot was all but solidified. McDuffie’s spot becomes more muddled with the addition of Ty’Ron Hopper. Hafley is running a 43 base, but will probably run out 2-LBs and Cooper’s size and speed should allow him to run free on the right or left side.
Hafley has a weapon and should be in line for a full-time role right out of the gate. I’m not entirely convinced Hafley likes Walker, but I doubt Walker’s role as the playcaller will change this year. If I’m a Walker manager, though, I might be trying to move him. Cooper carries big play upside, and I’m targeting him as an LB3 in Big 3 Scoring formats and an LB4 in tackle-heavy formats. I might be a bit higher than most, but in my initial projection, I’ve got him for 725 snaps.
4. Cedric Gray, LB, Tennessee Titans
The Titans had a hole at LB with Azeez Al-Shaair leaving for Houston. They patched it up with Kenneth Murray during free agency and had Jack Gibbens on the roster already. It was no surprise the team decided to add to the group during the draft.
Enter Cedric Gray, who brings elite tackle production — one of the reasons why he’s one of my guys. Over three full-time seasons with the Tar Heels, he recorded a 15.5% tackle rate, resulting in 365 tackles.
Gray also has green dot potential, something he talked about after a recent practice.
Gray may not have the athleticism compared to some others in this class, but he has a nose for the ball and has closing speed. His length allows him to engulf the ball carrier and he has quick lateral movement.
He’ll need to develop better tackling habits, as he missed 51 tackles over three seasons.
While I do think Kenneth Murray wears the dot this season, Gray looks to be the future in Tennessee. He’ll be locked into a position battle for the LB2 opposite Gibbens, who’s an average at best LB. PFF gave him a 71.2 grade and a below-average 61.3 coverage grade, so he’s not wowing anyone. I think Gray has a path to snaps in year one and there could be an even split in snaps with Gray taking over the role near the end of the season.
I think Gray offers more upside than Gibbens and is looking like an LB4/5 in deeper leagues.
5. Laiatu Latu, DL, Indianapolis Colts
It’s a coinflip between Turner and Latu for the top IDP rookie edge rusher and it all comes down to who you like better.
For the first time in the draft’s history, a defensive player didn’t get drafted among the top 10 players. Latu was the first off the board at 15. As far as what Indy thinks of Latu and his medical history is summed by Chris Ballard’s reaction.
Like Ross in Friends, Latu is a medical marvel.
He was told he’d never play football and “retired” right before his sophomore season at Washington. He underwent fusion surgery and transferred to UCLA, where he was medically cleared.
All he’d do is go on to a prolific career with the Bruins. He graded an 87.9 in 2022 and improved to a 96.3 in 2023. Latu produced elite numbers and metrics during his stint with the Bruins. He generated a 19.4% pressure rate and a 41% win rate over those two seasons. Those pressures would lead to 23.5 sacks and 34 TFLs. Those are elite numbers and it’s no wonder he was being talked up as the top edge rusher of this class.
Latu has elite hand usage. He doesn’t just chop away like he’s cutting away at weeds, but he has a plan and is accurate with his hands. He has a variety of moves and counters in his moveset. He’s scheme versatile and can play both sides of the line; standing up or with his hand in the dirt. His quickness and bend are going to be nightmares for opposing offensive linemen. He’s focused on the backfield and the ball and boasts elite bend and lateral movement.
He recorded a 9.37 RAS score with an elite 40-yard dash (4.64) and 3-cone (7.09) which confirms his elite agility.
Latu was drafted into a solid defensive line room with DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye, and Samson Ebukam. Paye has yet to live up to his first-round capital but does continue to improve. Latu has a path to snaps but it’s a bit more crowded than Dallas Turner. I have Latu projected at 515 defensive snaps, but if he shows out during the offseason, it’ll be hard to keep him off the field. I’ve got his floor at 5.1 sacks but he has an 8-sack ceiling in his rookie year.
Even as a rookie, I’d target him as a DL3.
6. Jaden Hicks, S, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs took the 21-year-old safety, who’s wise beyond his years. I know he has fourth-round draft capital, but I think the Chiefs got a steal here.
He was my DB1, and even though he’s with the Chiefs and Steve Spagnuolo, he could be in line for snaps and doesn’t have too much competition ahead of him.
“But Spags hates rookies!” you might be saying. Well, he’s already getting individual attention from the DC.
As Harold Kuntz started, he’s absorbed the playbook and is looking sharp. Yes, I know it’s a jersey and shorts. I was a big fan, as confirmed by my DB1 ranking, as he’s athletic and physical. He played 71% of his snaps up near the line of scrimmage with 456 in the box. So, he’s right in that sweet spot. According to a few of PFF’s table metrics, he was in the 96th percentile in coverage grade in the box, and 88th percentile in coverage grade in the slot.
Here, he plays a bit off the LOS, but he recognizes the run and can get the TFL:
Two things he’ll need to work on at the next level are his tackling and run defense. He’s a tone-setter, however, who is physical when making the hit. He’s got the build of a strong safety and will make his presence known in the box. He’s comfortable playing in the box and deep.
Hicks produced a solid tackle rate (10.6%) and 3 INTs. I like the spot with KC, as he could see snaps this season as a 3rd safety. Justin Reid is set to be a free agent at the end of this season, so he could also get some time to transition to that role if KC moves on from Reid. Hicks is a similar player and cheaper. In redraft leagues where you’re drafting 4 or more DBs or 3 or more safeties, he’s worthy of a late-round flier.
7. Chris Braswell, DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay is rebuilding their edge rushing group and they got a good one with Chris Braswell. They lost Shaq Barrett in the offseason and Joe Tyron-Shoyinka hasn’t lived up to expectations as he heads into his fourth year. The Bucs found a good one in YaYa Diaby and will look to pair him with Braswell.
Braswell played alongside Dallas Turner at Alabama and produced elite metrics in just 285 defensive snaps. He had just 4 games of fewer than 2 QB pressures and finished with an 18.2%% pressure rate. Braswell beat his blockers for a 19% win rate, finishing with 8 sacks. He was a menace around the LOS with 10.5 TFLs and added 8 QB hits.
In terms of his measurables, he had an elite 40-yard dash (4.6) and 10-yard split (1.58). He ranked in the 90th percentile in pass-rush win rate (94th) and pass-rush grade (95th). He has an explosive first step that’s tough to guard:
What’s even more impressive is his chase-down speed. He’s got a motor to get to mobile QBs and will be able to keep up and chase down. Braswell has an elite bull rush and converts his speed to power. No matter the size, he puts linemen on skates. He’ll need to be more consistent with his hand usage, but that can be developed.
The Bucs edge rush room is filled with average replacement value-level players. Braswell should have no problem overcoming the depth chart and he has a clear path to starter snaps in 2024. He could go undrafted, but be prepared to put a waiver claim on him because he could break out within the first few weeks.
8. Kamren Kinchens, S, Los Angele Rams
The Rams are collecting safeties with the first name Kamren like they’re Pokemon.
I had Kinchens ranked as my DB4 in the class and the Rams spent a decent amount of draft capital with their 3rd round pick. Kinchens played in 32 games over 3 seasons with the Hurricanes and had a full-time role in 2022 and 2023; appearing in a total of 1,343 snaps. He spent most of his time deep but did have 222 snaps in the box/slot.
Kinchens’ football IQ is near the top of this class. He played right away as a true freshman and he can make plays from all levels of the field. He has tremendous range as a deep safety and can anticipate rather than rely on physical ability. He has good eyes in zone coverage, has awareness of what’s around him, and keeps his eyes on the QB. During his time with Miami, Kinchens produced a 29% play-on-ball rate, resulting in 15 defended passes and 11 INTs. He’s a ballhawk, has great hands, and high points the ball.
He doesn’t have too much competition for snaps in 2024. Russ Yeast is fine, but his role fluctuated throughout the year. Yeast was a 7th round, so the investment isn’t as high as Kinchens’s capital. He could play the deep role, which is why I’ll target him in balanced or Big 3 Scoring formats as a DB3/4, as he should produce well in those scoring systems. If he doesn’t overthrow Yeast on the depth chart before Week 1, it shouldn’t be too long into the season.
9. Tyrice Knight, LB, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have a gaping hole at LB. Bobby Wagner left for the second time, and Jordyn Brooks went to Miami. They did add Jerome Baker, but he’s tackle-deficient. I do like the Tyrel Dodson signing.
So, the Seahawks went with a tackle machine, Tyrice Knight, who became one of my favorites due in part to his tackle production. Over three seasons at UTEP, Knight recorded 100-plus in two of three; including 140 tackles in 2023. He’s also a problem at the LOS, producing 32 TFLs, with 15.5 coming during the 2023 season.
Among the LBs in the 2024 draft class, Knight was among the top-15 graded (83) and had a top-15 pass-rush grade (84), according to PFF. Over 40 pass-rush snaps, Knight recorded 5 sacks. Did I mention his tackle rate? Knight produced a 14.8% tackle rate over his four seasons. He played in over 700 snaps over three seasons, so he can stand up to the rigors of the game. Although a bit slight, he’s fast and gets to the ball. He had 84 solo tackles which led the FBS.
Here’s one of his solos. He immediately recognizes run, shoots the gap, and gets the TFL:
He can spot the run and direction and uses patience to hit gaps. He accelerates and takes great angles to get to the ball. Knight uses his length well to keep blockers at bay and gets to the ball clean.
I love the spot in Mike Macdonald’s defense. Last season with Baltimore, Macdonald deployed 2-LBs nearly 96% of the time, as they were primarily a nickel/2-LB defense. The stout defense up front should let the linebackers make plays behind them. Jerome Baker doesn’t do anything particularly well that stands out and his PFF grades have hovered over the 50s and 60s over the last few seasons. If he picks up the defense and Baker struggles, Knight could make a push for snaps this season.
I’m targeting him near the end of drafts as my LB4/5.
10. Tyler Nubin, S, New York Giants
Tyler Nubin could be Xavier McKinney’s replacement this season.
Nubin entered the draft season as my DB5 and I don’t think he could’ve landed in a better spot for 2024 production. In a lot of draft circles, he was the consensus top safety in the draft, and the Giants drafted him as such. He had first-round talent but fell to the 2nd round at 47th overall.
Nubin had spectacular production in coverage. Nubin recorded a 40% play-on-ball rate over his last two seasons with the Gophers; which included 9 INTs and 7 defended passes. The tackle production is what you’d expect from a deep safety. The awards he accumulated would require their own room. Although he played 61% of his snaps, he did have a 38% usage rate near the line of scrimmage, so he’s more than comfortable to play close. As I mentioned in my pre-draft DB ranking article, he’s in the mold of Kyle Hamilton due to his versatility.
Like Kurt Angle, Nubin demonstrates the 3 I’s; Intensity, Integrity, and Intelligence. He has the integrity of a leader, the intelligence to call out plays he sees, and he plays with intensity.
He has a disciplined backpedal and explodes out of his first step. He has fluid hips and his eyes guide him to the ball. He uses his entire frame and size to make the hit. As far as his PFF stable metrics, he was in the 99th percentile in coverage grade at free safety, 88th percentile in run defense grade, and 100th percentile in box coverage grade. He also ranked in the 98th percentile in forced incompletion rate. That’s a difference maker and you get him on a rookie contract.
Here, he keeps his eyes on the QB while shifting down to help with the WR. He sees where the QB is going in his backpedal, changes direction, and sprints to make the play:
There is a clear path to snap opposite Jason Pinnock. Dane Belton and Jalen Mills aren’t starters, so Nubin should carve out a starting role by Week 1. In Big 3 Scoring or balanced formats, I like him as a DB3/4.
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