NFL IDP-Only Mock Draft: Picks 17-32

Tom Kislingbury Posted On March 12, 2017

One of my favourite things about dynasty leagues is rookie season. You get through the fantasy season; ride the playoffs and Super Bowl then just when you think you’re going to get a break you’re suddenly trying to get your head around a brand new class of superstars in waiting. It’s exhausting but exhilarating.

Here at DLF you’ve no doubt seen the scouting crew’s great work, the 20/20 profiles and all you need to prepare for your drafts.

We’re all continuing to work hard on getting you prepared for incoming IDPs so a few of us on the IDP team (myself, Eric Coleman, Doug Green and Joe Redemann) decided to hold a very early all-IDP mock draft. The starting concept was that in a moment of madness Roger Goodell decided that teams could only pick defensive players in the first round. So who would they pick and what sort of fantasy players would they prove to be? We’ve allocated players by style, ability, scheme-fit and opportunity and predicted fantasy positions in the cases where it could be more than one.

Yesterday we covered picks 1-16, and today we finish off the mock with 17-32.

[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]

17. Washington Redskins select Malik McDowell, DT Michigan State

Rationale: Washingtons D line was functional but not impactful in 2016. Chris Baker and Ziggy Hood are both free agents. McDowell can take on blocks and create penetration whilst playing high snaps

IDP Impact: Even if Baker resigns Ziggy Hood’s 650+ snaps are up for grabs. I’d anticipate 20 solo tackles, 10 assists and 3 sacks as a rookie with plenty of potential to grow

18. Tennessee Titans select Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB Tennessee

Rationale: The Titans will undoubtedly draft a linebacker with one of their two first-round picks. JRM is the best LB I have on my board at this point in the draft.

IDP Impact: He’s got a shaky medical history, but if he can stay on the field, his talent is undeniable.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Obi Melifonwu, S UConn

Rationale: Brad McDougald is a FA and TB could use some great safeties. Melifonwu drew raves reviews during the senior bowl and followed it up with a historic combine performance. He is 6’4″ 224 lbs with a 44″ vert, 141″ inch broad, and 4.4s forty. Enough said.

IDP Impact: The Buccs is not the best fantasy destination, but not the worst either. Tampa tends to run a lot of cover 2 which makes both safeties relevant but neither elite. We saw this last year with Chris Conte and McDougald. Both flirted with ~90 total tackles extrapolating out to a full complement of snaps. At least Melifonwu won’t be stuck playing single high FS a lot.

20. Denver Broncos select Caleb Brantley, DT Florida

Rationale: The Broncos were surprisingly soft against the run last season although casual fans didn’t really cotton on to it. They need help and big bodies inside and Brantley would slide into the rotation.

IDP Impact: Rookie DTs are generally not a great IDP option and he’s probably not worth investing in heavily. Pick him up cheap in a year’s time.

21. Detroit Lions select Adoree Jackson, CB USC

Rationale: I was very tempted to take a pass rusher but second corner is a big issue behind Slay in Motor City. As it has been for the last 20 years. Jackson is a fantastic athlete and underrated as a cover corner. I love his instincts.

IDP Impact: Could be a sneaky interesting play here. His athleticism but lack of ball skills implies decent tackle numbers but few PDs or INTs. Obviously return yardage would be an added bonus in relevant leagues

22. Miami Dolphins select Montravius Adams, DT Auburn

Rationale: Adams can take care of stuffing the run freeing up Ndamokung Suh and the LBs to go get the quarterback.

IDP Impact: Adams is really only valuable to DT premium leagues.

23. New York Giants select Raekwon McMillan, LB Ohio State

Rationale: This team is starving for a reasonable linebacker. Devon Kennard, Jonathan Casillas, JT Thomas, and BJ Goodson are all bad. McMillan would be bring stability to a scatter shot LB core and can be the commander on the field, holding down the mike.

IDP Impact: Mike in a 4-3 is the crown jewel in IDP. Also this LB core is such a mess there is little risk McMIllan is pulled off the field in nickel. If McMilllan really goes here and is drafted in the first two rounds, he has an argument for IDP LB1 in this class. anzalone

24. Oakland Raiders select Alex Anzalone, LB Florida

Rationale: The Raiders were very close to being a good team last season but the failure of Ben Heeney to seize the spot means they need a new LB. Anzalone looks to be flexible and fast enough to play on all three downs.

IDP Impact: His 6.88 Three cone at the combine tells us he might be fairly productive in the passing game but there may not be enough big plays from him. Select him as a prospect but not a starter in deeper leagues.

25. Houston Texans select Eddie Vanderdoes, DT UCLA

Rationale: The Texans need a new nose tackle in the worst way with Big Vince Wilfork calling it a career. Vanderdoes is a monster of a man and could solidify the centre of that line,

IDP Impact: I’d expect big Eddie to play circa 400 snaps. Opposing teams would likely target him [no-one wants to run at Clowney or Watt] but the scheme is not conducive to high stats. Probably not a rosterable IDP unfortunately

26. Seattle Seahawks select Jordan Willis, DE Kansas State

Rationale: Willis is a little raw, but if you plug him in with Seattle’s front seven, he will be able to excel. That Seattle coaching staff should be able to patch his holes and really get the most out of him.

IDP Impact: Willis is a guy you may have to wait on a little bit, but it will end up being worth it. He does a nice job on the pass rush and plays the run well enough.

27. Kansas City Chiefs select TJ Watt, LB Wisconsin

Rationale: Tamba Hali is 33, Justin Houston has been injured plagued, and Dee Ford is a 2018 free agent. This would allow KC to reload at a position that is critical in making their defense work. TJ Watt has shown at the combine that he is an athletic freak and that is exactly the type of player KC likes to put wide and get after the passer.

IDP Impact: This is not great for fantasy. This pick makes Watt a 3-4 OLB. Not much to see here, drive on.

28. Dallas Cowboys select Taco Charlton, DE Michigan

Rationale: No Cowboys DE managed 550 snaps last season. They’re in dire need of an impact player after the issues with Randy Gregory and Greg Hardy. Taco could have gone earlier than this and at his best has showed excellent promise.

IDP Impact: It honestly shouldn’t be too hard to come in to Dallas and get playing time for a highly-drafted rookie. The Jones family like to see their investments used heavily and coach Garrett is nothing if not obedient. I’d expect Charlton to be risk/reward startable in this spot.

29. Green Bay Packers select Charles Harris, LB Missouri

Rationale: Even after his bad combine I like Harris a lot. He’s got heavy hands, a nasty streak and a good engine. Testing was bad but his game is about desire and aggression instead of speed

IDP Impact: I would expect Harris to play somewhere close to the 550ish that Julius Peppers and Nick Perry both managed last season. 20 solo tackles, 15 assists and 4 sacks would be a decent return as a rookie

30. Pittsburgh Steelers select Joe Mathis, LB Washington

Rationale: The Steelers could be in the market for a younger ILB and Mathis is a nice fit. He did play in a 4-3 at Washington, but I think he would be just fine in this system.

IDP Impact: Mathis is a Tier 2 LB with good tackle potential. I would be comfortable drafting him in the final third of my rookie draft.

31. Atlanta Falcons select Carl Lawson, DE Auburn

Rationale: Atlanta has been hurting for someone that can rush the passer from either defensive end spot in their 4-3 under. They were able to get pass rush from their Sam/Otto Vic Beasley last year but they still need more. Lawson had a nice combine. Lawson is able to set the edge and has enough speed to get after the passer. He could even play on the strong 5 tech or out on the weak 7-tech.

IDP Impact: There are two good things about this pick. First it makes Lawson a DE which is always important in IDP. Second defenses will spend a lot of time trying to account for Vic Beasley as the move him around the formation. This will allow Lawson to get some 1 one 1 match ups which he can exploit,

32. New Orleans Saints select Jabrill Peppers, LB/DB Michigan.

Rationale: The Saints have a burning need for defensive playmakers and regardless of position Peppers is certainly one of those. He’s an outstanding athlete, a solid tackler and his speed has seen him rush the passer effectively (if not in an orthodox style). His major weakness is his ability on coverage, but his talent demands selection. My worry is his weaknesses prevent him being on the field all of the time, but if he’s selected in the first round by an NFL team they’ll certainly want to use him.

IDP impact: Unless your league deducts points for completed passes Peppers could be a huge IDP star. He’ll contribute in the run game as he comes downhill looking for tackles, he’ll pick up a few sacks a season from unexpected speed blitzing and he’s certain to score for you on punt/kick returns. Add in the possibility of a handful of trick plays on offense and he could be an amazing IDP asset.

So there you have it. Probably the finest IDP-only, 32 team, first round mock draft you’ve read in 2017. Tell us why we’re so very, very wrong below in the comments or on Twitter. You can find us at @JayArrNFL, @BigBoardIDP, @utahEC and @TomDegenerate.

[/am4show]

Author
Recent Posts

Tom Kislingbury

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

Being from England Tom only discovered American Football in the late 90s. From there he's gone from casual defender to devoted obsessive and likes to delve into deep data primarily about defensive players. He spends his days trying to pretend the spreadsheets and graphs he makes about football are actually work for his day job. No-one is fooled.

Latest posts by Tom Kislingbury (see all)