Week 11 NFL Moneyline Underdogs
Mike Randle
The first 14 players of the 2024 NFL Draft were on the offensive side of the ball, including five quarterbacks, so defense was not a top priority for a lot of teams. Still though, the draft had major implications on defensive players and IDP leagues.
Here are my key IDP takeaways from the 2024 NFL Draft.
IDP Takeaways from the 2024 NFL Draft
The 2024 IDP Rookie Class Doesn’t Have a Will Anderson Jr.
There isn’t an Anderson-type player in this class, a defensive player who is immediately ready to wreak havoc and worth a first-round fantasy football selection. But there are at least five solid defensive players you should consider for your rookie drafts. We have Edgerrin Cooper (Green Bay), Dallas Turner (Minnesota), Junior Colson (LA Chargers), Laiatu Latu (Indianapolis) and Jared Verse (LA Rams). Teams made up for the lack of defense in Round 1 by selecting 20 defensive players in Round 2.
Rams Solidify Defensive Line Following Aaron Donald Retirement
The Rams drafted edge rusher Jared Verse in the first round and then traded up in the second round to select defensive tackle Braden Fiske. Verse and Fiske were a tough duo at Florida State and will get a chance to continue their careers together with the Rams. Fiske led all defensive tackles with a 4.78 40-yard dash at the combine. No one player can replace a future Hall of Famer like Aaron Donald, but there is optimism that Verse, Fiske, Byron Young and Kobie Turner can collectively hold their own.
Packers Draft 3 Defensive Players in First 3 Rounds
The Packers have a new defensive coordinator (Jeff Hafley), and the team wasted no time in addressing the defensive roster. The team drafted LB Edgerrin Cooper, S Javon Bullard and LB Ty’Ron Hopper. These players will pair with Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie and Xavier McKinney. De’Vondre Campbell signed with the San Francisco 49ers while Darnell Savage agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Falcons Fail to Address Their Needs in the Secondary
The Falcons shocked everyone by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick in the first round. The team had signed Kirk Cousins to a massive four-year, $180 million contract in the offseason, and most of us expected them to add offensive weapons and defense support for Cousins, so when the team selected a quarterback, it came as quite the surprise.
After selecting Penix, the Falcons had seven more draft selections but did not pick a single cornerback or safety. As a result, their current cornerbacks include A.J. Terrell, Clark Phillips, Mike Hughes, Antonio Hamilton and Dee Alford while the safety room includes Jessie Bates, DeMarcco Hellams and Richie Grant. Jessie Bates and A.J. Terrell are the two starting-caliber players in this group. The Falcons’ own website even identified cornerback as a position of need: “The Falcons need to find A.J. Terrell a consistent dance partner at this spot in the secondary.”
Stock Up for Linebackers
The Colts, Vikings and Buccaneers all avoided drafting linebackers. As a result, linebacker roles have started to solidify for E.J. Speed, Ivan Pace and K.J. Britt. Speed with serve as the second linebacker next to Zaire Franklin while Ivan Pace shares linebacker duties with Blake Cashman. Lavonte David holds the top linebacker spot in Tampa Bay, but K.J. Britt should have a chance to earn a significant role after filling in admirably for Devin White late last season.
Position Switches and Player Movement
The Cowboys’ Markquese Bell will switch from linebacker to safety. Bell could fill the Jayron Kearse role since Kearse remains a free agent. However, it should be noted that Kearse played around 75% of the snaps most games. This is not an ideal snap percentage for consistent production from a defensive back.
In Cincinnati, Dax Hill will move from safety to cornerback. Hill was a top fantasy producer in 2023 due to his tackle production but he struggled at times in coverage. I would expect his fantasy value to take a big drop as he must compete with Cam Taylor-Britt, D.J. Turner and Mike Hilton for playing time.
Meanwhile, John Franklin-Myers was traded from the New York Jets to the Denver Broncos. The Jets had a crowded group of edge rushers with Haason Reddick, Jermaine Johnson II and Will McDonald IV. As a result, the team could afford to move Franklin-Myers. He will join Jonathon Cooper, Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto and Jonah Elliss.
6 Linebackers Selected in the First 3 Rounds
17 of the top 25 scoring linebackers from 2023 were previously drafted in the first three rounds. In 2024, we saw Edgerrin Cooper, Junior Colson, Trevin Wallace, Marist Liufau, Ty’Ron Hopper and Payton Wilson drafted early. Cooper and Colson make it into my Top 5 Rookie IDP while Wallace is not far behind. I like the way Wilson plays but would be cautious with him due to injury history and the potential for a rotational role in Pittsburgh. Liufau and Hopper will likely have to be patient before they can see any significant playing time.
