NFL Draft Aftermath: IDP Winners and Losers from the NFC South

Three of the four teams in the NFC South made a concerted effort to increase their offensive firepower in this spring’s draft. Their attempts to overtake last season’s division winner, and Super Bowl runner-up — the Atlanta Falcons — could hinge more on their ability to slow Matt Ryan’s squad down on defense.

Atlanta, on the other hand, focused on increasing their stopping power this offseason, spending their top-two picks on the defensive side of the ball. The quarterbacks and receivers in the NFC South may get most of the publicity, but these defenses will play a big role in crowning the division winner. And with a host of young talent entering these rivalries, there will .be a few new players who become household names, as well as veterans relinquishing the roles they’ve held in the past. Here’s a look at this season’s NFC South IDP winners and losers.

Sheldon Rankins, DT NO – Winner

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In the Saints’ multiple front, Rankins is a player who should be leaping off the board. He played just nine games in his 2016 rookie campaign, after breaking his fibula in training camp. His scoring average for those nine games, however, placed him in the top-10 among IDP defensive tackles.

The loss of Nick Fairley makes Rankins the undisputed anchor of New Orleans’ line. Combined with Cameron Jordan, the addition of Alex Okafor, and the return of Hau’oli Kikaha, Rankins could become one of the more productive interior linemen in IDP for a Saints’ team who’s pass rush should be much improved in 2017.

Marcus Williams, S NO – Winner

Three seasons into a six-year , $54-million contract, Jairus Byrd was released by the Saints this spring. Byrd led New Orleans secondary in snaps in 2016. His absence opens the door for Williams, a rookie out of Utah, to play a significant role in 2017.

Video by Josh Katzenstein.

Williams’ athleticism and range put him on a trajectory to become the Saints’ designated centerfielder. His potential to generate turnovers provides a major boost to Williams’ IDP scoring potential. Even with Vonn Bell and Kenny Vaccarro in the mix, New Orleans’ defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has shown he can utilize three safeties and award each player a significant number of snaps. Williams is a player you’ll likely have to trade for at this point. But do it before he starts taking advantage of the mediocre quarterback play in exhibitions.

Saints safeties in 2016. Vaccarro is not going anywhere soon pic.twitter.com/2zMsDcov0B

— Tom Kislingbury (@TomDegenerate) June 26, 2017

Damontae Kazee, CB ATL – Winner

Kazee has seen reps with the first team defense at both, nickel and free safety through the opening days of training camp. Though the reps came as a result of Robert Alford missing time for personal reasons, Kazee has made the type of first impression he needs to, in order to carve out his own role.

He’s made a number of impressive interceptions in practice. Any player who can regularly put the football back in the hands of Matt Ryan has a great chance earning the trust of Atlanta’s coaching staff. Some will doubt Kazee’s ability to become one of the team’s top-three cornerbacks right off the bat. Yet, with Jalen Collins recently being bumped down the depth chart and playing with the third team, Kazee’s case has gotten a bit stronger. There’s still the matter of

Jalen Collins, CB ATL – Loser

After playing 38.2% of the Falcons’ defensive snaps in 2016, Collins found himself running with the third-team defense to open training camp in his sophomore season. Collins looked like the cornerback of the future when the Falcons drafted him in 2016.

Now he seems more like a bit player in a production with three competent veterans corners ahead of him, and a hungry rookie in Kazee bringing up the rear.

*Update*

This story was written over the course of a week. When it began, I was reacting to things I’ve read from local beat writers and sorting through the mess of offseason, and preseason information.Yet, so often when you see a team demote a player for no apparent reason it’s (obviously) because they know something you don’t. The something in this case is the fact Collins has failed a second league-mandated drug test and will be suspended for the first 10 games of 2016. Better luck next year kid.

How Jalen Collins gonna take PEDs and still get fathered by Brady in the SB???????

— OZZIE ALBIES SZN (@hashim_cole) August 6, 2017

Keith Tandy, S TB – Winner

Despite the signing of J.J. Wilcox and the selection of Justin Evans in the draft, Tandy appears locked in as a starting safety for the Buccaneers. Praise for his play and preparation have flowed out camp this summer. The sixth-year pro saw five starts in 2016, making key, game-winning interceptions in two of Tampa’s victories down the stretch.

For his part, Wilcox has also been playing well. Yet, he’s more likely to challenge for Chris Conti’s job, than Tandy’s. Evan’s has been called to task for being an inconsistent tackler. This is a situation to watch as camp unfolds. Tandy, however, looks like the safest bet in the Buc’s secondary at this time.

Craig Robertson and A.J. Klein, MIKE and SAM LBs NO – Winners

Robertson is embroiled in a roster battle with Manti Te’o for the Saints’ inside linebacker job, but he won’t be for long. Robertson is the better football player, plain and simple. That fact should bear itself out on field over the course of the next four weeks, as the Saints’ leading tackler from 2016 remains in place as the starting MLB heading into the preseason.

Te’o’s injury history is just one of the reasons Robertson should have no trouble locking up the job, and leading New Orleans in tackles again, in 2017. He could have LB2 potential in his second year with the Saints, after finishing as LB32 in 2016.

Klein flashed his ability to bring down the ball carrier multiple times over the past two seasons while filling in for former-teammate Luke Kuechly in Carolina. The free agent left the Panther this offseason, and is currently penciled in as the Saints’ starting SAM linebacker in training camp.

Rookie Alex Anzalone will play opposite Klein at WILL, and could pose a long term threat to the veteran’s job, and snap count. But for now, Klein is a solid back of the roster LB, who should yield a handful of LB2 weeks this season. What’s even better, IDP owners should be able to acquire him for pennies on the dollar.

Duke Riley, LB ATL – Loser… for now

Thus far, the former-LSU Tiger has made a strong impression on his new teammates in Atlanta. Riley spent time alongside Deion Jones on the Falcons’ first unit, in practice. De’Vondre Campbell, last year’s starter at WILL will be moving to SAM this season, leaving the weak side job open for Riley.

Dan Quinn said Duke Riley will start off playing at weakside linebacker. Falcons will find a way to get Riley on field with Jones, Campbell.

— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) April 29, 2017

 

This is good news for Riley. Yet, it must be tempered with a grain of salt. A role as a weak side LB is likely one with a limited workload, for now. Add in the fact Atlanta also has plans to work safety Kemal Ishmael into the mix at weak side, as well as the mixed messages we’ve received about how Vic Beasley will be used — and we see how Riley could become a frustrating player to own for IDPers.

Regardless, the rookie looks like the player who’ll be called upon should Jones or Campbell miss time. He could also make it difficult for the Falcons’ coaches to take him off the field if he shows strong skills, particularly in pass defense.

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