Rookie Defensive Line IDP Tiers

The defensive line rookie class isn’t as deep or strong as past years but there are some players with upside if you can get them cheap in your rookie drafts. As the league continues to evolve, teams are continuing to stockpile pass rushers and this class is filled with situational pass rushers.

There’s not a must-have DE in this class, so you’re better off not reaching and just letting the value fall to you in your rookie drafts. This class has some work to do and techniques to develop but I’ll drop names who you should keep on your radar towards the later part of your rookie drafts in hopes they can contribute at some point during the season.

TIER ONE

Marcus Davenport, DE NO

Davenport might have to become the next Reggie White to live up to what the Saints traded up for to acquire him at pick 14 of the 2018 NFL Draft. With fellow draftees Bradley Chubb and Harold Landry getting the LB tags in IDP leagues, Davenport becomes the top DE amongst the rookies. He’s still raw and needs development but he’ll get snaps right away as the Saints hope he’s their answer to pair with stud, Cameron Jordan. Davenport has some upside but I won’t take him in rookie drafts unless he’s there in the fourth round. I can’t see taking him over the LBs.

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TIER TWO

Josh Sweat, DE PHI

The rich get richer here and Sweat joins an already stout defensive line in Philly. Sweat is definitely one of the more talented edge rushers in this class and there is tons of potential here but there’s also the devastating injury history that kept him off some team’s draft boards. Without those knee injuries, Sweat would’ve arguably been a first round pick in 2018. He’s had some freakish athletic ability with some glimpse of Jadeveon Clowney of the Texans. His IDP contributions will be capped as he’ll be in rotation with Derek Barnett, Brandon Graham, Michael Bennett and Chris Long. Opposing quarterbacks will have a hard time getting away from the 4.5 speed of Josh Sweat.

Sam Hubbard, DE CIN

The Bengals loaded up at the DE position and grabbed a potential Michael Johnson replacement in the near future. Hubbard will have to battle for snaps against last season’s impressive rookie Carl Lawson, and Jordan Willis. I believe Hubbard has a decent floor once he gets consistent snaps. I could pinpoint a Michael Bennett IDP profile to him as a template. With the ability to line up inside as well, the Bengals may use that versatility in sub-packages. If you want to draft Hubbard in your rookie draft, I’d say look well into the sixth round as he’ll be sitting pretty.

Arden Key, DE OAK

This is a big risk/reward for both the Raiders and you (if you draft him). There’s no questioning his talent and what he’ll bring on the field but it’s his character, can he stay focused and stay on the field? I’ll be the optimistic one and say pairing Key with Khalil Mack gives the Raiders a promising pass-rushing duo; something they’ve needed for a while. He has a relentless pursuit of the QB and brings speed off the edge to the Raiders defense. If it pans out, Key has the highest ceiling in this tier and has the potential to produce multiple double-digit sack seasons for years. The key here: don’t be another Aldon Smith.

Dorance Armstrong, DE DAL

With the EDGE position being a premium in the league today, the Cowboys took Armstrong with the 116th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. I’m a big fan of Armstrong coming out of Kansas and he was one of the few players who caught my eye watching film. He’s a solid pure pass rusher who can also drop back into coverage if needed but the upside is there. He’ll see limited snaps in his rookie season and may get eased into game action slowly; especially if Randy Gregory returns. I would have no problem if Armstrong were the second or third DE off the board in your rookie draft. I would be eyeing anywhere in the late fourth to early fifth. Armstrong’s ceiling is right up there with Key and Sweat, with Armstrong being the safer option.

TIER THREE

Kemoko Turay, DE IND

The potential is there with Turay but he’s arguably the boom or bust in this class. He has the talent to become the EDGE the Colts need but we need to be patient and let him develop or show some consistency. With that being said, his path to snaps could be in nickel, strictly as a pass rusher.

Taven Bryan, DT JAC

The Jaguars continue to add to their strengths with the Bryan selection at 29th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He’s just added beef to an already scary defensive line but it’ll limit his contributions in IDP. Bryan is very disruptive and has that explosiveness to burst through the gaps, and playing alongside guys like Calais Campbell and rising stud Yannick Ngakoue will make life easy. In DT-required leagues, I would definitely consider Bryan as the DT2 off the board. Outside of the other DT I’ll mention shortly, there’s not much else out there to consider in rookie drafts.

Maurice Hurst, DT OAK

Hurst was a gift to the Raiders in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He’s a first-round talent. He had a heart condition discovered at the Combine and this is what potentially made his draft stock fall. But he was cleared medically by Michigan and Harvard University prior to the draft. Hurst has an explosive first step and will disrupt the pocket to get after the ball carrier. He landed in a great spot as well, as the Raiders need an interior presence and he will help make life easy for Mack. Hurst is your DT3 off the board in DT-required leagues, and you can even argue for him being the DT1 off the board because he’s that good and will make an immediate impact.

Chad Thomas, DE CLE

Thomas is a dart throw in rookie drafts but he has the versatility to play inside; which he’ll probably do in CLE. He wins on his athletic ability and he’s one of the non-flashy players who will get the job done. I would target Thomas in deep leagues and place him on the taxi squad but if you need DE help, then he’s not the target for you. He will be capped early on in his career.

Rasheem Green, DE SEA

Did the Seahawks find their Michael Bennett replacement? Probably not, but they’ve gotten a decent filler. He’s a disruptive lineman who can play inside as well, and that shouldn’t surprise anybody because the majority of the Seahawks linemen can play both inside and out. Green could see some snaps early on because the Seahawks rotate their DL and although still raw, he will only get better with live reps. There’s slight upside here but like Chad Thomas, I would target him towards the end of your draft and place him on the taxi squad.

Vita Vea, DT TB

Vea is a beast inside and the Bucs will have him paired with Gerald McCoy. That’s insane. Vea is a pocket disruptor and will clog up the lanes so the running back has no place to go. In DT-required leagues is where Vea will have the most value and he will likely record tackles in bunches. I would target him towards the latter part of the fourth round in DT-required leagues and roster him as my DT2/3 heading into the season.

Tyquan Lewis, DE IND

I may not be as high as some on Lewis because the Colts just drafted a better edge last year, Tarell Basham. Lewis can play inside so he’s got that versatility going for him, but for now, if he stays on the edge he’ll be behind Jabaal Sheard, Kemoko Turay, and Basham but the Colts could use him inside and have him rush the passer there. There’ll be some appeal but as a situational pass rusher it’ll be limited, so it’ll be up to you in your draft. He could be a late-round flier.

TIER FOUR

Ade Aruna, DE MIN

Aruna is the definition of a project. He’s still very raw and will need time to develop. He’s big and posted a 4.6 40 at the Combine. Because he’s only played football for five years after leaving Nigeria at the age of 16, getting the fundamentals and technique down will be key during camp. If Aruna could turn out to be a shade of teammate Danielle Hunter, I think he’s going to be OK. Draft Aruna for the possible upside knowing you’re going to have to keep him on the taxi for at least a year.

Harrison Phillips, DT BUF

The Bills selected their Kyle Williams successor in Phillips with the 96th overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. Phillips is a physical presence in the interior and a bull against the run. He will clog up lanes and get into the backfield. He’s pretty much a younger version of Williams. He will have to make his way up the depth chart but should be no lower than the DT3 on the roster once week one comes around. I would only look at Phillips in DT required leagues: that’s where you’ll max out value and get a potential DT2 for cheap.

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