Exclusive 2014 NFL Draft IDP Pick-by-Pick Analysis
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Houston Texans select South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney
This is unfortunate for his IDP outlook. He will be classified as an outside linebacker in Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 defense and will lose fantasy appeal in all but big play leagues. Playing opposite J.J. Watt will give the Houston Texans a ferocious pass rush and instantly help the secondary. This selection will also kick Brooks Reed inside to play the middle.
Oakland Raiders select DE/OLB Khalil Mack
The Raiders are serious about upgrading their pass rush this off-season. Mack should play on the weak side in Oakland in a Lavonte David type role with Nick Roach in the middle and Sio Moore on the strong side. It is also possible the Raiders will play Mack at defensive end across from Justin Tuck and keep LaMarr Woodley at linebacker. Either way he’s going to be a strong IDP play.
Cleveland wastes a fifth rounder to take CB Justin Gilbert
Don’t get me wrong here, I like Justin Gilbert and I love him playing against WR2 across from Joe Haden. What I don’t love is the Browns basically wiping their rear ends with a fifth round pick in this year’s draft to trade up one spot to take a player the Vikings were not. Regardless, the Browns now have two shut down man corners to allow them to be ultra aggressive with last year’s first round pick Barkevious Mingo. I like the destination but hated the journey.
Vikings select LB Anthony Barr
This was a little surprising with Johnny Manziel still available but it makes sense. New coach Mike Zimmer is a defensive guy and the cupboard is bare in Minnesota outside of Chad Greenway. His ability to cover tight ends as well as rush should get him onto the field early and often as a rookie. Look for Barr to play a role similar to Von Miller‘s in Denver while Greenway gobbles up all the tackles. From an IDP standpoint, I’d rather have seen C.J. Mosley here.
St. Louis select DT Aaron Donald
Everyone, including myself, expected the Rams to grab Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix here but instead they chose to fortify the trenches on defense. Donald is a Geno Atkins-like player who can penetrate from the middle while also drawing extra attention. This line is going to be flat out nasty with Robert Quinn and Chris Long outside and Michael Brockers and Donald on the inside. In leagues requiring a defensive tackle, Donald won’t have any problems approaching DT1 numbers as a rookie.
Bears address their aging secondary with CB Kyle Fuller
I really like this pick for the Bears. As a rookie Fuller will play mostly in the slot in the pass heavy NFC North but won’t have any problems seeing a starter’s amount of snaps. The “rule of rookie corner backs” say quarterbacks will target the unproven player until they prove they belong. With Randall Cobb and Golden Tate in the slot he’ll have to prove it early and often.
Steelers select LB Ryan Shazier over C.J. Mosley
This is a little bit of a head scratcher. Shazier doesn’t seem like a great scheme fit for the Steelers’ 3-4 defense. He is a prototypical WILL linebacker in a 4-3 and Mosley would’ve been a perfect fit next to Lawrence Timmons. Shazier’s 4.38 sec 40-yard dash shot him up draft boards and will now be asked to play sideline to sideline in the middle of the Steelers’ 3-4 defense while also rushing the passer. His addition will also free Timmons up to move around the formation a lot more, something the team loves doing.
Ravens select LB C.J. Mosley
Ozzie Newsome takes the highest rated player on his board and lands an IDP stud in Mosley. He’ll enter a training camp battle with second year player Arthur Brown to start next to Daryl Smith in the middle. He shouldn’t have a problem beating him. Not all is lost with Brown though, his value takes a short term hit but still projects as the long term running mate to Mosley.
J-E-T-S, JETS! JETS! JETS select S Calvin Pryor
Rex Ryan finds his back end enforcer. Pryor is an aggressive thumper who looks to bring the pain. I don’t expect him to be a stranger to the league’s fines for illegal hits. He’ll play strong safety and push Dawan Landry to free safety. He can safely be drafted as a DB2 with long term DB1 potential almost a given. The system couldn’t be any better for him.
Packers select S Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix
I can’t believe he lasted to pick 21 but he lands in a phenomenal situation. The Packers are desperate for a play maker on the back end and Clinton-Dix can do it all. His ability to read quarterbacks’ eyes will make him a menace in the NFC North. Dom Capers will put him in a position to pick off a ton of passes. With Matthew Stafford, Jay Cutler and Matt Cassel slinging the rock around, there should be plenty to go around.
Chiefs select DE/LB Dee Ford
Another ‘tweener gets the short end of the IDP straw by being drafted as a 3-4 linebacker instead of a 4-3 defensive end. Ford will provide depth behind Pro Bowl linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston as a rookie. Unfortunately, he won’t have a ton of fantasy appeal.
Bengals select another CB in Darqueze Dennard
It feels like all the Bengals do is draft corners in the first round. Dennard will start across from Leon Hall right away and provide the Bengals the talent they’ve missed since they let Jonathan Joseph walk in free agency. He’s not a big fan of contact so he’ll only be usable in big play leagues rewarding interceptions. It’s a better pick for the Bengals than IDPers.
Chargers happily select CB Jason Verrett
The Chargers were crossing their fingers one of the draft’s top corners would fall to them and they got the guy they coveted in Verrett. He’ll step in right away as the team’s #1 corner and will make a great play in IDP leagues because of all the targets he’s going to see shadowing opposing teams’ WR1. He has the ability and talent to hold his own.
Eagles select LB Marcus Smith
The Eagles tried getting by with Trent Cole as an outside rush linebacker in their 3-4 defense but realized he’s not the premier edge rusher they need but played the run extremely well. Smith is the exact opposite of Cole. He is a freakish outside linebacker who struggles against the run. Good for him though he’ll only be asked to pin his ears back and attack. He’ll be babied as a rookie and only play on passing downs but should flirt with six to eight sacks.
Cardinals select S Deone Bucannon
Even though this is a reach for the Cardinals, it’s a great play for IDP purposes. Bucannon is 6’1″, 211 pounds and runs a 4.49 40-yard dash. He’ll be the back end enforcer while Tyrann Mathieu is playing centerfield. Both players have long term IDP appeal. I doubt it’ll take long for Bucannon to beat out Rashad Johnson for the starting gig.
Patriots select DL Dominique Easley
One of the biggest reasons the Patriots have remained one of the league’s premier franchises year in and year out is their ability to identify players who can help them at a time where their stars start declining. Easley tore his ACL multiple times while at Florida and hasn’t worked out in the pre-draft process but before the injuries he was a monster for the Gators. Theoretically he’ll be the heir apparent to Vince Wilfork in a year.
49ers select CB/S Jimmie Ward
The 49ers add another piece to their defensive backfield by selecting Northern Illinois safety Jimmie Ward. He’s going to be on the field a lot starting day one with Eric Reid and newly signed Antoine Bethea. The Niners will be able to disguise their defense because all three safeties are interchangeable but Ward brings the most pop as he’s a willing tackler. Unfortunately, with NaVarro Bowman, Patrick Willis, Reid, and Bethea, he’ll struggle to put up consistent weekly numbers. There were better spots for him to land from an IDP perspective.
Broncos select CB Bradley Roby
Roby is going to see a ton of balls come his way in Denver. First off, playing on a Peyton Manning led team will force teams to throw to play catch up. Second, Aqib Talib plays on the opposite side of the field. Third, he’s a rookie. To his credit, he has solid size and 4.39 wheels and not afraid to lower the boom. He’s going to have to play right away because Chris Harris tore his ACL in the Divisional round of the playoffs. He’ll be a solid IDP contributor from the corner slot.
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