Lawson is coming off an Achilles tear that kept him off the field in 2021, so there are concerns about his recovery and ability to regain his explosiveness, but nonetheless, Franklin-Myers and Lawson both present barriers to Johnsons playing time. With better pass-rushing interior players already in the lineup (Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave), Davis probably won't be anything more than an early down player, limiting his usefulness for IDP. Not to say that Johnson cant be a relevant IDP, but fantasy managers should be wary of his rookie usage. Jaguars' new defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell previously the Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker coach who essentially played two linebackers (Lavonte David and Devin White) on every down, can now feel comfortable in doing so again. Thibodeauxs 90.9 pass-rush grade and 87.4 overall grade for his college career makes for an impressive resume to bet on in IDP leagues. Deion Jones,Mykal Walker and Rashaan Evans are ahead of Andersen (for now) on Atlanta's linebacker depth chart, but they also shouldnt be considered elite competition to beat out, eventually. , with Hamilton now locked into that role for the foreseeable future. The player with the lowest draft capital inside this ranking's top 10, Tindall could be a steals in 2022 IDP rookie drafts. hese rankings are formed around true position designations, which enables Thibodeaux to remain a high-value, every-down talent to lock up in IDP dynasty leagues. Even with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolos hesitancy to play rookies, the depth chart leaves him with no choice but to play Karlaftis. , who just signed a five-year contract with Green Bay and was PFFs second-highest graded linebacker in coverage (81.5) last year. Sanders has a path to IDP relevance here and figures to be a decent sleeper late in drafts. He just turned 21 years old a couple weeks before the draft and has already shown great get-off, hands and speed off the edge. Now we head to the North in my Deep Sleepers series. Who are you betting on to win DROY this season? Johnson earned a 78.9 run defense grade in 2021. With that being said, lets value the new crop of rookie IDPs in dynasty rookie drafts. After being the only off-ball linebacker taken in the second round, Andersen comes into a situation great situation for playing time, but hell need some work to get there. . 2 overall pick looks about as pro-ready as weve seen in the past few years. Andersen is a project linebacker who has a short path to on-field IDP relevance, so scooping him up in the mid-to-late rounds would be wise. Even though Lloyd wasnt the first linebacker selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, he should play every down in Jacksonville and produce the kind of numbers that will make him highly coveted in IDP leagues, regardless of format. Jackson makes the most sense to play that deep role while Brisker, who has experience playing in the box with 55% of his career snaps at Penn State coming from there, is rotated into the box, making him a solid IDP asset. Eberflus Colts ran single-high coverages at the 11th highest rate in the league last season, allowing one safety Willis, or Brisker in Chicago's case to play in the box. #Cowboys EDGE Sam Williams is a dip-n-rip pass-rusher who possesses elite speed (4.43 40) and an outstanding get-off. #Nerdherd Members Only - American Apparel T-Shirt, Rapid Reaction 1QB 2022 Rookie Mock Draft Round 2, Rapid Reaction Superflex 2022 Rookie Mock Draft Round 2, Rapid Reaction Superflex 2022 Rookie Mock Draft Round 1, Hindsight 2021: Defensive Linemen- Preseason Top 10. Fantasy managers may just have to wait for him to get a starting spot in Houston in the slot with Desmond King slated to get the nod for 2022. Opportunity, draft capital, and ability add up to Karlaftis being one of the best IDP rookies in the 2022 draft. In IDP leagues, Davis is going to be in contention for the first defensive tackle off the board in rookie drafts that require defensive tackles in lineups. Not only is he capable of being an every-down defensive tackle, but he has proven to be a well-rounded talent. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else. They have experienced IDP managers who have seen the benefit of late-round picks on defensive backs. The Dynasty Nerds teams hits you with Round 1 of the Post NFL Daft Join over 25,000 subscribers and get updated on player values & trends, articles of the week, new podcast, mock drafts, a weekly free film room tape, and more We hate spam. The upside of these defensive players is far greater than taking a shot on some of these offensive players. https://www.dynastynerds.com/devy-spotlight-marvin-harrison-jr-wr-ohio-state/. Alongside Foyesade Oluokun, Lloyd should play a ton as a rookie while being utilized in a way that also plays to his strengths as a blitzer. After all, this is the same player who posted a very impressive 10 pressures against a strong Alabama offensive line in the College Football Playoff last year. It appears that Blake Martinez is going to be healthy and remain the Giants' starter for another season. Building off the conversation about taking long-term high floor/high ceiling edge prospects in dynasty rookie drafts, Thibodeaux lands in a great spot for immediate IDP production. In this case, tight end premium and Superflex were not lost on the drafters. Anderson earned a 78.8 overall grade, 72.9 run defense grade, 80.1 pass-rush grade and a 79.0 coverage grade since 2020. Per source, Georgia LB Nakobe Dean declined surgery on his shoulder, and it's now a major concern/medical red flag. DEVONTE WYATT, DEFENSIVE INTERIOR, GEORGIA, Overall grade: 89.8 (2nd)Pass-rush grade: 84.0 (T-12th)Total pressures: 26 (T-39th)Sacks: 4 (T-52nd)Pass-rush win-rate: 13.1% (T-50th)Run defense grade: 81.9 (T-11th) pic.twitter.com/lHxX56CSqo, Jon Macri (@PFF_Macri) February 24, 2022. In total, 10 running backs were selected in the last three rounds. There is an opening for the Giants' second linebacker spot though, and McFadden could be in line to take it over former seventh-round pick Tae Crowder and sixth-round pick Darrian Beavers. Take a flier on him late in drafts, but spending early capital on him over those listed above him here will lead to agony and disappointment. Dynasty managers are looking for any of these players to make a splash in minicamp and potentially steal some snaps early in the season. The Jets extended versatile defensive lineman, just last year while also signing highly-coveted free agent edge. Lawson is coming off an Achilles tear that kept him off the field in 2021, so there are concerns about his recovery and ability to regain his explosiveness, but nonetheless, Franklin-Myers and Lawson both present barriers to Johnsons playing time. Tindall was solid all-around for Georgia in 2021, earning an 85.4 overall grade. Be sure to check the rankings page throughout the offseason as updates are made. The combination of talent and draft capital is a prime reason why running back and wide receiver was selected at 11 of the 12 selections. Cook figures to be a better version of Sorensen after posting 25 defensive stops against the run last year, which was tied for eighth among all college safeties. After earning the lowest pass-rush grade (52.3) as a team in 2021, the Falcons are going to welcome Ebiketie with open arms and likely make him their highest-volume edge defender this coming season. As the best pick from the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Hamilton is arguably a top-five talent in this draft class. That being said, the Cowboys need someone to emerge across from. McFadden earned back-to-back 90-plus pass-rush grades his last two seasons at Indiana as well as a 74.8 overall grade in 2021. While. The 49ers spent a second-round pick on Jackson, who could be in a sneaky good spot for an eventual starting role across from Nick Bosa. Kenny Pickett was the lone first-round pick that was not a running back or wide receiver. The Packers' current starters figure to be. Dynasty Nerds However, they hold a big positional advantage for dynasty managers if these players hit. This makes a draft as weak as this still interesting after the first two rounds of the rookie draft. If all their edge defenders are available, then Seahawks will likely deploy a heavy rotation between, Cook figures to contribute to the Chiefs in a similar way that. The AFC north has some interesting players who are primed to potentially make an impact in 2022. Hes a quarterback turned linebacker, and while his coverage ability still leaves a lot to be desired, he has the speed and athleticism to improve there. With the 2022 NFL Draft concluded, dynasty league rookie drafts are going to be in full swing over the next few months. The scarcity and lack of consistency at the edge position in IDP leagues create a need for a new star(s) who can play every down. Caldwells Bucs rushed their linebackers at a top-five rate last season led by White (162 pass-rush attempts). The following rankings are based on the scoring laid out below: While so many like to get caught up in the hype of the next exciting IDP linebacker, Hutchinson the clear choice as the IDP 1.01 for dynasty rookie drafts because he will be an elite full-time defensive end for years to come. The top two defensive line prospects and the LB1 and DB1 in this class all come off the board. The running back position took the crown for most drafted in the late rounds of this rookie draft. I'll also exclude cornerbacks from these rankings. The Notre Dame running back has hauled in 77 receptions and four receiving touchdowns over his last two seasons. Expect the Jets to allow Lawson (if healthy) and Franklin-Myers to start and play on early downs while Johnson gets more work on obvious passing downs. Fourth-round draft capital isnt ideal, but hes still young and has shown an ability to make plays in coverage during his time at Penn State, recently earning an 80.0 coverage grade in 2021. This is especially true in the middle rounds of a rookie draft. Ultimately, thats where he was drafted and in my estimation, he should be a Day 1 starter next to Harrison Smith in Minnesota. over the past couple years, its not out of the realm of possibilities that Williams is a significant contributor as a rookie before developing into a future starter for the Cowboys. He wasn't a liability in coverage, and he also earned the best sideline-to-sideline linebacker superlative forthis class. Instead of boring you with an individual write-up on each pick, I put together a few thoughts on selections and trends in each round. Sanders is the only edge defender in this class who posted three straight seasons with an 80-plus pass-rush grade and if he can put on some bulk, he is in an excellent position to contribute to a thin group of edge rushers in Arizona. The lack of quality at the linebacker position for the Texans should get Harris on the field, so he's an intriguing potential IDP rookie sleeper. Karlaftis earned a 90.6 pass-rush grade and 23.6% win-rate to go along with 54 total pressures and five sacks in 2021 at Purdue. Anderson earned a 78.8 overall grade, 72.9 run defense grade, 80.1 pass-rush grade and a 79.0 coverage grade since 2020. best sideline-to-sideline linebacker superlative. They can use this as a reference point when your rookie drafts get started. The Cowboys used a second-round pick on Williams, who has looked dominant as a pass rusher, at times. This is what put Sorensen on the field combined with injuries to starters and other personnel needs allowed him to average around 715 defensive snaps over that span. Second-round draft capital on an elite athlete could garner plenty of IDP excitement, but Seattle's defensive line rotation could be an issue. Andersen is a project linebacker who has a short path to on-field IDP relevance, so scooping him up in the mid-to-late rounds would be wise. has the past few years, which can allow for some IDP value in medium-to-small doses. He posted 148 tackles in 2021 at Wyoming while missing just 8.1% of his attempts, but because he's likely the odd man out in a typical two-linebacker system, it may be a while before Muma can put up IDP relevant production. These are not first-timers drafting. Seven defensive backs were chosen in the late rounds, with four coming off the board in the first five picks of the seventh and final round. Hamilton should be a much better option than Clark for tackle production as well, as Clark produced just a 7.8% tackle efficiency rate in 2021, which is well below average for his position. , but considering Reeds age (29), contract (one year) and lack of pass-rush upside (he's never had a year above a 67.2 pass-rushing grade), it stands to reason that Wyatt should see the field a decent amount as a rookie. The top 10 picks right now seem fairly consistent. This was my pleasure to bring the fans of IDP at Dynasty Nerds a full rookie mock draft. We should expect them to get involved as rookies. The Packers' current starters figure to be Kenny Clark and Jarran Reed, but considering Reeds age (29), contract (one year) and lack of pass-rush upside (he's never had a year above a 67.2 pass-rushing grade), it stands to reason that Wyatt should see the field a decent amount as a rookie. Hes a quarterback turned linebacker, and while his coverage ability still leaves a lot to be desired, he has the speed and athleticism to improve there. As a manager who is constantly trying to improve his roster, the upside of players you can sell high after a few good games or off-season hype is worth the risk every time. That linebacker figures to be 2021 All-Pro. 20.3% Pass Rush Win Rate (1st) pic.twitter.com/RjXLjBqgKE, PFF Draft (@PFF_College) April 26, 2022. One of the leagues worst defenses in 2021 gets much better (on paper at least) by adding a talented pass-rusher who is also one of the better run defenders at his position in this class. He has great burst and can win quickly off the edge; however, he still figures to be more of a work in progress compared to some of the other edge defenders listed above. Ultimately, thats where he was drafted and in my estimation, he should be a Day 1 starter next to, on a roster that used dime personnel at a top-five rate last season (24%), utilizing just one true off-ball linebacker on those snaps. , who has been unable to crack even 200 pass-rush snaps since joining the 49ers, sits ahead of Jackson on the depth chart. Walker didnt have the college production that you would hope for when spending a first overall pick on a pass-rusher, as he posted just five sacks and an 8.9% pressure rate from 381 pass-rush snaps in 2021. JORDAN DAVIS, DEFENSIVE INTERIOR, GEORGIA, Overall grade: 79.8 (29th)Pass-rush grade: 69.0 (T-126th)Total pressures: 14 (T-156th)Sacks: 3 (T-88th)Pass-rush win-rate: 8.3% (T-211th)Run defense grade: 81.8 (13th) pic.twitter.com/ROAq6aMLGU, Jon Macri (@PFF_Macri) February 9, 2022. He was utilized as a blitzer on nearly 150 snaps over the past two seasons, posting 37 pressures and seven sacks. Brisker should slide right in next to Jackson as Matt Eberflus next relevant IDP safety, similarly to. Perhaps the most explosive edge defender in this years draft class, the former No. Lets be honest all three players are in less than ideal situations. Joining him were quarterbacks Malik Willis and Desmond Ridder. As the skill positions dry up fast after the first round, its important to know your league setup. His talent combined with a fairly weak depth chart in front of him should have the rookie linebacker with the potential to be a Week 1 starter. Pitre was almost exclusively a slot corner during his final two seasons at Baylor, and he was really effective from that position. Since these players will likely be second or early third-round selections, I went with Christian Harris, the Alabama linebacker, as my favorite pick. Taking place exclusively on our #NerdHerd Discord server. He also proved his worth as a run defender, posting 23 defensive stops against the run (tied for sixth among Big 10 edge defenders) and a 72.8 career run defense grade since 2019. Haskins can be a threat in the passing game, and we cant forget about his five-touchdown game that helped the Wolverines finally beat conference rival Ohio State. If all their edge defenders are available, then Seahawks will likely deploy a heavy rotation between Darrell Taylor, Uchenna Nwosu, Alton Robinsonand now Mafe. . As an IDP who should rise in fantasy rookie drafts, Karlaftis' opportunity for playing time is potentially greater than any other edge drafted in the first round. #FFIDP New Ravens Safety, Kyle Hamilton's numbers since 2019, per @PFF: ??? ?18.3% forced incompletion percentage??? I prefer Haskins over several running backs who went before him. The current trend seems to be to take those shots on wide receivers like George Pickens and Jahan Dotson. Cine has been rising up draft boards since late February, rising from the mid-40s to the early 30s, according to, . As long as his medicals check out, the reward greatly outweighs the risk here so take a shot on an elite talent at the position. Kyren Williams is my favorite of the late-round RBs currently. As an IDP who should rise in fantasy rookie drafts, Karlaftis' opportunity for playing time is potentially greater than any other edge drafted in the first round. It might not be immediate, but he will have an opportunity to develop into a starting-caliber defensive end in the 49ers system. That should mean we see one of or an alternation of Smith and Cine come down to play in the box and soak up tackles. Cook figures to contribute to the Chiefs in a similar way that Daniel Sorensen has the past few years, which can allow for some IDP value in medium-to-small doses. Baltimore's scheme will allow him to move around the secondary and produce as a defensive weapon. 85.6 PFF Grade (1st among Pac-12 Edges)???? One of the better landing spots for a rookie linebacker in this years draft class goes to Harris, who has high upside and, with the right coaching, should be able to develop into a solid NFL starter. ?91.5 coverage grade??? While the Packers actually increased their two-linebacker looks by about 250 snaps from 2020, which is certainly more promising for Walker, its still not enough to warrant taking high in rookie drafts. Williams earned an elite 90.2 pass-rush grade, posting 61 pressures and 13 sacks at Ole Miss in 2021. pic.twitter.com/uFrzvpBVGB. Williams earned an elite 90.2 pass-rush grade, posting 61 pressures and 13 sacks at Ole Miss in 2021. In a similar vein to Andersen landing with the Falcons, Smith also figures to be more of an athletic project in an off-ball linebacker room that's fairly thin on talent outside of Shaq Thompson. The lack of quarterback prospects in 2022 has frustrated dynasty owners needing a quarterback upgrade. Pitre was almost exclusively a slot corner during his final two seasons at Baylor, and he was really effective from that position. Boltons low 56% snap share led all Chiefs linebackers in 2021, and fantasy managers should expect more of the same from Spagnuolos linebacker rotation with Chenal in the mix. Dont let the second-round draft capital fool you, Pitre should play slot corner for the Texans instead of safety, which is what hell be listed as on a lot of fantasy platforms. Hopefully, Walkers pass-rush repertoire will start to catch up to his athleticism by then, turning him into an IDP star. I want to thank those IDP analysts who helped me bring you this mock draft, and I hope you take the time to stop by the new Dynasty Nerds discord channel. A concern for Thibodeaux in non-true position leagues is that he may be designated as a linebacker, as Ojulari is currently designated on a number of platforms, hurting his value. This was tough for me. Sanders has a path to IDP relevance here and figures to be a decent sleeper late in drafts. The Bears spent a second-round pick on Brisker, which is ideal draft capital, but also outside of, theres no real competition for Chicago's second safety spot. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Anthony Brown (13) tires to evade Utah Utes linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) in the fourth quarter in the third quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. In 2021, Jackson earned an 88.3 pass-rush grade on the back of 26 pressures and six sacks. Travis Etienne is a top 15 Dynasty RB. If you can afford to be patient, there are available outs in Bakers contract as early as 2023, helping build a stronger case for Tindalls future IDP success. Sort projected player stats and fantasy points by position, week, and category. While Nick Bolton made out fine last year with his 112 tackles, he did so on just 56% of the Chiefs' total defensive snaps, meaning he was an unsustainably efficient tackler, which shouldn't be relied on for another season, let alone week to week. The team at Dynasty Nerds is always working to be your one-stop-shop for any and all dynasty fantasy football content. Ojabo should develop into the long-term starter next to last years first-round edge Odafe Oweh, giving the Ravens two athletic freaks on the edge who can pin their ears back and rack up sacks for IDP managers. All of this to say that if IDP rosters need immediate production in 2021, IDP managers would be hard-pressed to find a better option than Lloyd, who will fill the stat sheet as the rookie LB1. Thibodeaux will pair with last years second-round edge, Azeez Ojulari, to create a formidable pass-rush duo in New York. 1 overall pick, landing what figures to be more of a project along the defensive line. https://www.dynastynerds.com/dynasty-deep-sleeper-targets-afc-north/, Is the dynasty community sleeping on JuJu Smith-Schuster? @DynastyNerds, The son of Colts legend Marvin Harrison, the Ohio State WR is quickly rising up devy ranks and positioned to be the next great WR. As a longtime IDP dynasty player, this is the reason we do our best to create IDP scoring even with the offense. Similar to Muma, Chenal was shaping up to be a potential IDP star in the right landing spot, but ultimately, he ends up in linebacker purgatory as far as IDP is concerned. ?89.7 overall grade??? Seven WRs in total come off the board in the second and third rounds. This shouldnt differ much from most dynasty rookie drafts you see this off-season. While his limited experience as a starter probably contributed to his late third-round draft capital, he has the talent to be a starting NFL linebacker. ???? Seven linebackers are drafted, which is the most of any position in those rounds. made out fine last year with his 112 tackles, he did so on just 56% of the Chiefs' total defensive snaps, meaning he was an unsustainably efficient tackler, which shouldn't be relied on for another season, let alone week to week. A concern for Thibodeaux in non-true position leagues is that he may be designated as a linebacker, as Ojulari is currently designated on a number of platforms, hurting his value slightly. This, apparently, had to do with medical issues because it certainly couldnt be due to a lack of talent. This could help McFadden get on the field more and make an impact in Don Martindales blitz-heavy defense. The Chiefs have run the second-highest dime personnel rate (31.5%) since Spagnuolo took over as the defensive coordinator in 2019, which accounts for about 300 snaps per season. These selections were made based on an equal scoring system in which offensive and defensive players are as close to even as possible. Thibodeaux will pair with last years second-round edge, to create a formidable pass-rush duo in New York. Hutchinson should step into an every-down role in Detroit, serving as an asset against both the run and the pass after dominating the FBS in both categories this past season. He also earned an 87.6 overall grade with an 88.8 coverage grade, proving that he can do it all, which should allow him to play a fair bit in Kansas City. Unlock NFL Player Grades, Fantasy & NFL Draft, Unlock Premium Stats, PFF Greenline & DFS. Ebiketie earned elite grades at Penn State in 2021, including a 90.5 mark on the back of 52 pressures, eight sacks and a 22.9% pass-rush win rate. This essentially leaves 30-plus-year-olds Markus Golden and Devon Kennard as the most established edges on the team. Troy Andersen is a LB prospect in the 2022 draft class. The player we saw on tape in 2021 probably won't hit the ground running in the NFL, so patience should be preached for this potential boom/bust prospect. NOTE: These rankings are based on true position IDP leagues, meaning edge rushers will be categorized as such, not as linebackers, even if they're playing in a 3-4 defense. The Bears spent a second-round pick on Brisker, which is ideal draft capital, but also outside of Eddie Jackson theres no real competition for Chicago's second safety spot. The Ravens could look to trade last years starter, Chuck Clark, with Hamilton now locked into that role for the foreseeable future. Tindall was solid all-around for Georgia in 2021, earning an 85.4 overall grade. An athletic and versatile safety out of Toledo, And. However, with the potential longevity of the position, managers cant help but take a chance on them. He wasn't a liability in coverage, and he also earned the, Tindalls lack of starting experience will likely keep him behind. Unfortunately, the 2022 rookie class has really made it easy for those managers who sold their picks during the year to feel better about themselves. Lloyd was the top rookie linebacker on PFF's big board and is now the top rookie linebacker for IDP leagues. While this is a good indicator that Johnson can play an every-down role, it doesnt necessarily mean he will, which is how things might shake out in Year 1. With better pass-rushing interior players already in the lineup (. He will play in the high-powered Rams offense behind two often injured running backs. PFF's Fantasy Football Expected Points tool is primarily used for identifying potential over and undervalued players. Knowing that Walker is likely to take a couple seasons to develop into a relevant NFL edge, the best route may be to not draft him at all in fantasy rookie drafts. Anderson played everywhere in Toledos defense, but the majority of his snaps came in the slot and the box. These rankings are formed around true position designations, which enables Thibodeaux to remain a high-value, every-down talent to lock up in IDP dynasty leagues. The Jaguars suddenly have a crowded linebacker room after taking Lloyd in the first round and Muma in the third round after giving Oluokun a three-year, $45 million contract. After that, it looks like we will see a lot of dynasty managers take more chances than usual. That being said, the Cowboys need someone to emerge across from Demarcus Lawrence and considering what weve seen from Dante Fowler Jr. over the past couple years, its not out of the realm of possibilities that Williams is a significant contributor as a rookie before developing into a future starter for the Cowboys. Tindalls lack of starting experience will likely keep him behind Jerome Baker, at least in 2022, but there is an easy path to be Miamis LB2. Williamss skill set as a pass-catcher for Matt Stafford seems like potential fantasy gold if he can earn himself some snaps.