Exclusive NFL Draft IDP Round One Pick-by-Pick Analysis
We won’t be going pick-by-pick on the IDP front beyond round one. However, we’ll have an all-encompassing IDP review posted early next week.
Pick 1.32- Baltimore Ravens- Matt Elam, S
With Ed Reed now in Houston, the Ravens needed his replacement more than they needed the retired Ray Lewis’. Matt Elam reminds me a lot of former Colts safety, Bob Sanders. He’s a slightly undersized thumper that can hold his own in coverage. He will make an immediate impact on the IDP scene as a starter day one.
Pick 1.30- St. Louis Rams- Alec Ogletree, LB
Interesting pick. An inside linebacker in college but that spot is taken in St. Louis by James Laurinaitis. He’ll play one of the outside linebacker spots but which one remains to be seen. Regardless, he should be an every down linebacker, sending Jo-Lonn Dunbar to the bench on third downs. Not the ideal landing spot for his IDP stock.
Pick 1.28- Denver Broncos- Sylvester Williams, DT
This defense needs a lot of attention and the trenches are the best spot to start. A classic NFL defensive tackle that will play the run and pass effectively. He should keep blockers off the linebackers and double teams off Von Miller and second year defensive end Derek Wolfe. A good pick for the foundation of this defense.
Pick 1.26- Green Bay Packers- Datone Jones, DE
This guy is a freak. He can practically play any position on the defensive line and he penetrates, something the Packers have missed since Cullen Jenkins left town. The attention Jones will draw should also help Clay Matthews get to the quarterback easier too which is really what the Packers are looking for.
Pick 1.25- Minnesota Vikings- Xavier Rhodes, CB
When you play Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall twice a year you need a big, physical corner that’s not afraid to get scrappy. A great pick for Rhodes and a sneaky IDP player at the position.
Pick 1.24- Indianapolis Colts- Bjoern Werner, DE
The Colts are continuing to add pieces in their transition to a 3-4 defense. Werner will bookend Robert Mathis. His fantasy value would have been much higher in a 4-3 defense as a defensive end.
Pick 1.23- Minnesota Vikings- Sharrif Floyd, DT
This was probably the best case scenario for Floyd. Playing in between big Kevin Williams and non-stop Jared Allen will allow him to see single coverage and disrupt. Opinions on Floyd vary across the board. He will have an opportunity to prove the naysayers wrong in Minnesota.
Pick 1.22- Atlanta Falcons- Desmond Trufant, CB
Ever since the Falcons cut Dunta Robinson right before free agency started, the Falcons drafting a cornerback was a foregone conclusion. Trufant has real talent and understands the game. He will be a perfect fit in Atlanta and an upgrade on the departed Robinson.
Pick 1.18- San Francisco 49ers (Trade with Dallas)- Eric Reid, S
Safety was the one area the 49ers needed to address in the draft and once Vaccaro was taken they wasted no time moving up for their guy. He will replace Dashon Goldson from day one and his game strongly reminds me of Eric Weddle‘s. He’s a ball hawk playing behing a dominant front seven.
Pick 1.17- Pittsburgh Steelers- Jarvis Jones, OLB
If I had to choose one pick I felt the most confidence in actually happening, this one would have been it. Jarvis Jones and the Steelers made too much sense not to happen. After losing James Harrison to the Bengals they needed a young dynamic pass rusher opposite LaMarr Woodley and now they have it. He should be a double digit sack guy year one.
Pick 1.15- New Orleans Saints- Kenny Vaccaro, S
When you give up as many points and yardage as the Saints did last year, changes can be expected. This is a bad sign for Roman Harper‘s future in New Orleans but great news for Vaccaro’s IDP outlook.
Pick 1.14- Carolina Panthers- Star Lotulelei, DT
This is a fantastic pick up for IDP leaguers but not because of his production. His ability to eat up blockers and allow linebackers Luke Kuechly and Jon Beason roam free and defensive ends Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson get to the quarterback will be huge. A great add for the Panthers.
Pick 1.13- New York Jets- Sheldon Richardson, DT/DE
6’3″ and lightning quick for a 300 pounder, Richardson is a high motor non-stop disruptor that gives the Jets another playmaker on defense. I’m assuming he’ll play defensive end in the 3-4 because he’s definitely not a nose tackle.
Pick 1.12- Oakland Raiders- D.J. Hayden, CB
The Raiders did great trading down from the 1.04 to the 1.12. Adding Hayden is literally a boom or bust move. A player returning from heart surgery is always a scary proposition but the Raiders will always roll the dice with upside and they desperately needed a corner. In IDP leagues, I will look elsewhere for my cornerback because he should spend his rookie year exclusively in the nickel package.
Pick 1.09- New York Jets- Dee Milliner, CB
In a world where very few things go right for the Jets, this sure did. When you lose the game’s premier cover corner and replace him with the draft’s premier player at his position, you have to feel good about it. A 6 ft, 200 pound corner with legit 4.37 speed playing across from Antonio Cromartie will give the Jets something to smile about, because God knows they’ll be on defense A LOT. He’ll make for an interesting corner back in leagues that require you start one. The league will target the rookie heavily to see if he can hold his own and should have plenty of opportunities for big plays and tackles.
Pick 1.06- Cleveland Browns- Barkevious Mingo, OLB
This felt like a panic pick to me. I really think the Browns wanted Dion Jordan or Ziggy Ansah to slide to them and instead grabbed the next high upside outside linebacker to bolster their pass rush. What does this mean for Jabaal Sheard? Will he be traded to a 4-3 team? I hope so. He has been one of the better 4-3 defensive ends his first two years in the league. Pass rushing outside linebackers aren’t great IDP contributors in most leagues. I think the look on the Browns fans at the draft said it all. Shock followed by “same ol’ Browns”.
Pick 1.05- Detroit Lions- Ezekial “Ziggy” Ansah, DE
Ansah is a raw athletic freak who has only been playing football for three years. He could be the next Jason Pierre-Paul in a year or two or he could be the next Vernon Gholston. Playing along Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley will certainly help due to the attention you have to pay to them. Ansah will have a role similar to Bruce Irvin‘s role last year with Seattle. This is a another great pick for fantasy players.
Pick 1.04- Miami Dolphins (trade with Oakland)- Dion Jordan, DE
A 6’6″ 248 pound terror will step in day one to bookend already studly Cameron Wake. When you play against Tom Brady twice a year you need a pass rush and now the Dolphins have one heck of one. In dynasty IDP leagues where defensive ends are a premium, Jordan will be a hot name and one of the first IDPs taken. A great pick for the Dolphins and IDPers alike.
And we’re off!!!
Thursday, 4:30 AM PDT
Good morning everyone!
Welcome to the first ever exclusive NFL Draft Pick-by-Pick IDP Analysis post from DLF. It seems like we’ve again been waiting forever for the NFL Draft to arrive and it’s finally here. This will be an incredibly exciting weekend and we thank you, our Premium Content members, for spending it with us. For many of you, this is your second NFL Draft as a Premium Member and your support fuels our fire – this is the first time we’ve offered the IDP pick-by-pick analysis and we’re excited to do it!
1.) We’ll start off with some random comments and events from the day and follow that up with our exclusive analysis of the picks as they come in, starting this evening. This post consist mostly of the first round, but we’ll also come back with full IDP analysis next week. So, expect to see the newest information at the top for convenience purposes – this will help you avoid the annoying refresh and scrolling down part of the experience. Harder for us, but seamless for you. Easy choice for us, there.
2.) We’ll be sharing our thoughts on each of the relevant first round picks as they come in throughout the Draft. Many of you check the Rotoworld fantasy news feed, so think of it that way, but with more of a dynasty spin as we complete our wrap-ups. We won’t be posting commentary on the 89th linebacker taken, but expect anything important in relation to dynasty leagues being covered.
3.) Feel free to make any comments here on the post, within the Premium (or free) forums or over at the live chat we’ll be facilitating. While we won’t have the ability to respond to many of the comments or questions immediately (we’ll have our hands full updating the post here), comments are encouraged. You guys are all the “elite,” so we would expect some great discussions all over DLF the entire weekend and this post can be used for great IDP-specific talk amongst our Premium members.
We’re absolutely stoked to again be able to offer this for the first time to you guys as an exclusive part of your Premium Membership with us. Thanks a ton for supporting DLF and enjoy the draft!
Expect the initial downloadable draft sheet for the rookies and updated Rookie Draft Guide (both exclusive for Premium Content members) to again be available earlier than you could possibly expect.
- Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week Seven - October 24, 2018
- Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week Six - October 16, 2018
- Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week Five - October 10, 2018
