2024 IDP Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookies: Top Landing Spots For Linebackers and Edge Rushers

Payton Wilson | © Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Abbey Posted On April 18, 2024

As the 2024 NFL Draft draws near, our focus shifts from evaluating college prospects to considering which teams will draft them. Talent is undoubtedly essential, but landing spots are also a significant factor in determining whether rookie NFL players earn an opportunity to make an early impact.

This article will identify the ideal landing spots for the linebackers and edge rushers you should target in your rookie drafts.

Linebackers

Edgerrin Cooper, LB Texas

Ideal landing spot: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

At 230 lbs, Cooper could stand to add some mass to his frame, but the sky is the limit if he can do so without adversely affecting his athleticism. As expected, he put on a show at the NFL Combine, recording a 4.51-second 40-yard dash with an incredible 1.54 10-yard split.

Rookie linebackers often struggle in pass defense early in their NFL careers. However, Cooper has demonstrated proficiency in this area throughout college, and hopefully, this translates at the NFL level.

Edgerrin Cooper Highlights vs USC

Best LB in College Football pic.twitter.com/G1YK0GDFBp

— Aggie Highlights (@aggie_highlight) November 1, 2023

The Bucs would be a great landing spot. Todd Bowles tends to blitz his linebackers, and Cooper has proven effective in that department, accruing ten sacks in 2023. The Bucs allowed Devin White to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency, vacating what was an every-down role. Cooper could usurp K.J. Britt and SirVocea Dennis to earn significant snap volume in his rookie year, making him an extremely desirable option in IDP.

Payton Wilson, LB North Carolina

Ideal landing spot: Los Angeles Chargers

Wilson has been one of the fastest risers in the pre-draft process following his extraordinary performance at the NFL Combine. At 6’3” and 233 lbs, the 23-year-old ran a blazing 4.43-second 40-yard dash, helping him to an eye-watering 9.81 Relative Athletic Score.

Payton Wilson is a LB prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.81 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 52 out of 2649 LB from 1987 to 2024.

Splits projectedhttps://t.co/4sZrjp2bHn pic.twitter.com/uVCnXbuDT4

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 1, 2024

Wilson’s speed isn’t his only asset. He’s an instinctive player, an asset against the run and pass, and has even been compared to the inimitable Luke Kuechly – who praised the youngster. The biggest concern with Wilson is his health – he suffered a torn ACL followed by a dislocated shoulder in consecutive years.

Opportunity is everything for linebackers in IDP, so Wilson’s early fantasy value relies on being drafted by a team in dire need of linebacker help. The Los Angeles Chargers could be that team after losing Kenneth Murray in free agency. Wilson would compete for a starting spot with Denzel Perryman, who returned for his second stint with the Chargers, and Daiyan Henley, the team’s third-round pick last year. The jury is still out on Henley, but neither player is irreplaceable.

Junior Colson, LB Michigan

Ideal landing spot: Seattle Seahawks

Colson was a crucial component in a dominant Wolverines’ defense last year, playing some of his best football in playoff victories against the Iowa Hawkeyes and Alabama Crimson Tide. Per the other two linebackers mentioned in this article, Colson has the ability to play well in space, contributing as an asset against both the run and pass.

The Seattle Seahawks’ linebacker unit will have an unfamiliar feel in 2024. Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks are no longer with the team, seemingly replaced by Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker. Colson would probably sit behind the veterans to start his career. Still, he may not have to wait long for his opportunity, considering Dodson and Baker are on one-year deals.

While I have listed the Seahawks as Colson’s best fit, don’t rule out a reunion between Colson and his former Michigan head coach, Jim Harbaugh.

Edge Rushers

Dallas Turner, EDGE Alabama

Ideal landing spot: Detroit Lions

Turner is the number one rookie defensive player in the DLF Dynasty Rookie IDP Rankings, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s explosive, possesses an incredible first step, and has active, violent hands. These tools were on display for all to see in 2023, helping him to generate 55 pressures and 11 sacks for Alabama.

Dallas Turner is the Best Pass Rusher in College Football 😮‍💨🔥

• Most QB Pressures in College Football
• 8 Sacks on the Season
• 2 Forced Fumbles on the Season

He’s the next Elite Pass Rusher out of Alabama🔥

pic.twitter.com/WHs75TAATa

— 𝔀𝓻𝓮 (@T0MFRAUDY) October 29, 2023

The Detroit Lions desperately need a second, capable edge rusher to pair with the uber-talented Aidan Hutchinson. In 2023, they used a committee approach comprising sub-par talent, and the addition of Marcus Davenport doesn’t inspire confidence that they have addressed the problem. Drafting Turner is improbable, considering the Lions own the 29th pick, but we’d love to see it happen.

Laiatu Latu, EDGE UCLA

Ideal landing spot: Carolina Panthers

Latu has the college production to rival any edge rusher in this draft, finishing with 12 sacks in 2022 and 15 in 2023. His relentless motor and refined array of pass-rush moves rival that of any edge rusher in this class, leading to one AFC executive describing the 23-year-old as “the most skilled rusher in the draft”.

His performances in recent years have alleviated concerns about his long-term health following a significant neck injury he suffered in 2021. Furthermore, Latu says no team has expressed concerns about the injury in discussions with him.

The Carolina Panthers parted ways with their two most effective pass rushers in free agency. Brian Burns signed with the New York Giants, and Frankie Luvu—who spent more time in the box than in previous years—moved to the Washington Commanders. The team brought in Jadeveon Clowney, who enjoyed a bounceback year with the Baltimore Ravens, but he alone cannot fill the void for a team that managed only 2.3 sacks per game in 2023.

Acquiring one of the top edge rushers may be a significant need, but it is unlikely, barring a trade. The Panthers sent their 2024 first-round pick to the Chicago Bears in the blockbuster trade that led to them selecting Bryce Young first overall.

Jared Verse, EDGE Florida

Ideal landing spot: Chicago Bears

Verse has the potential to become a top-tier pass-rusher in the NFL. He’s a physical player, undoubtedly athletic, and possesses an impressive arsenal of pass-rush moves. However, his ability to defend the run is not on par with some of his peers in this draft class, and NFL teams may be concerned that he has demonstrated little improvement in that area throughout college.

The Chicago Bears invested heavily in their offense during free agency but have work to do on their defense. Last year, they produced the fewest pressures and sacks per game in the NFL. Montez Sweat will continue to hold down one edge spot after joining the team midway through the 2023 season, but there’s a glaring need to improve the unit by drafting someone with Verse’s talent.