2020 NFL Draft: Day Three IDP Review
While many of the mainstream draft viewers had a nice Saturday away from the TV, dynasty degenerates were glued to their screens looking for their favorite prospects landing spot. For IDP degenerates, this couldn’t be more true. Here is a quick day three recap.
Round Four
Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB CIN
Daivs-Gaither is a draft Twitter and IDP favorite linebacker out of Appalachian St. I fully expected him to go around this spot, but was surprised to learn of not only a foot issue but a knee issue as well could have precipitated his selection here in the fourth. Davis-Gaither adds a ton of playmaking ability to a linebacker room sorely lacking anyone with his caliber of run defender. Obviously there is a reason he is playing at App state, but he has developed into a very good linebacker, one who can start from day one if the injury concerns are nominal. The Bengals have been trying to piece together a unit here for a few years and they take another shot at it with this draft. I expect it to be a fierce competition between Davis-Gaither, Logan Wilson (third-rounder 2020), Germaine Pratt (third-rounder 2019), and UFA Josh Bynes. There are two spots for grabs, should be a good one to monitor.
DJ Wonnum, DE MIN
The second EDGE spot across from absolute stud Danielle Hunter is a open competition with a lot of question marks since the departure of Everson Griffen this off-season. Fourth-round selection Wonnum out of South Carolina will get the first crack at it. Wonnum is a high floor type of prospect who brings a lot of refinement and relentlessness to a pass rush. His ceiling is a bit capped by a lack of explosiveness but he will get every chance to compete. I do expect to see another street FA signing here, as there are some good players still out there, but time will tell.
Mykal Walker, LB ATL
Walker gets the opportunity of a great landing spot with the Falcons. He is a solid project linebacker who, if he can improve on his technique, could push for the WLB job next to Deion Jones. Walker is a heady player with really solid instincts, but lacks refinement. I fully expect there to be more competition with a veteran street signing but for now, he’s landed in a great spot.
K’Von Wallace, S PHI
Wallace is exactly the player the Eagles needed to draft at some point in this…interesting draft for them. He has shades of Malcolm Jenkins to him, able to play in coverage, as a nickel backer, and viciously meet ball carriers as an enforcer. He has a long way to go in terms of refinement in man coverage and lacks the elite speed and acceleration needed for free safety. I expect before long he will be used similarly to how Jenkins was used as an overhand defender or do it all defense weapon.
Troy Dye, LB MIN
There is something about the Vikings and taking good linebackers only to continually re-sign Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, but we have another one taken with the selection of Troy Dye out of Oregon. Dye is a very good linebacker with excellent range and high mental processing of the game. His atypical size is the thing that is lacking strongly with his game, however if he can add a couple of pounds, we could be seeing a solid starting linebacker sitting on the bench in Minnesota. Dye also has three-down potential and can rush the passer at times, which jives with a lot of what Barr does right now. I like the player, but it is a weird fit for IDP players.
Shaquille Quarterman, LB JAX
A traditional two down run-stopping thumper, the jags pick up more linebacker depth with Quarterman. What he has in leadership qualities and a punishing attack, he sorely lacks in range and explosiveness, but can get work on early downs in the NFL. The Jaguars are a bit of a mess at inside linebacker with the sudden departure of Telvin Smith, but Quarterman can stick as a plus depth option.
Round Five
Khalid Kareem, EDGE CIN
The Bengals added another pass rusher here with the selection of the senior out of Notre Dame. Kareem is a decent EDGE player who has a high floor but mostly projects as a lower impact end for Cincinnati, who they can rely on in a pinch not to cause problems for their defense.
Alton Robinson, EDGE SEA
Seahawks have a glaring need for EDGE rushers with the departure of Jadeveon Clowney and double down on a position of actual need with Alton Robinson out of Syracuse. Robinson has all the explosion you would want out of a fifth-round EDGE project player and can improve with a lot of refinement into a potential starter or plus backup. He will be fifth or so on the EDGE depth chart but has a chance to improve that standing.
Jason Strowbridge, EDGE MIA
Strowbridge benefits from a productive week at the Senior Bowl, gathering some steam and publicity to his ascending game. He brings good length and college production to a team that is looking for homegrown talent at the pass rush position. Strowbridge may be able to find good work, with some refinement, working inside on reduced fronts.
Curtis Weaver, EDGE MIA
The Dolphins add another quality prospect to their EDGE room with the Boise State product. Weaver shows classic OLB tendencies to be a stand-up rusher and drop into coverage when needed. Not the most bendy player, Weaver has very good hand usage and pass rush moves to find success. If he can continue to improve on these traits, he can find some work in the Dolphins EDGE edge depth rotation.
Justin Strnad, LB DEN
Strnad is a very athletic linebacker out of Wake Forest who would have been a much earlier pick if he hadn’t dealt with a shortened season in 2019. He is built like a safety and at times, does indeed play like one. Strnad has great range and has no issues laying himself out to take on ball carriers. He will also get work on third down, giving him impressive upside for the Broncos. IDP value gurus are salivating over AJ Johnson, but Strnad will give all the inside linebackers on the roster a run for their money if he can stay healthy.
Bradlee Anae, EDGE DAL
What Anae lacks in pure athleticism he makes up for in technique and grit. He has a great motor and some very refined pass rush tools and hand usage. I was surprised to see a player of his polish this late in the draft, but the Cowboys have been trying to find someone to rush the passer across from Demarcus Lawrence for years. I don’t know if Anae is that, right out of the gate, but he can develop into a very high floor EDGE player.
Trevis Gipson, EDGE CHI
Gipson is an all upside pick here for the Bears. He is extremely raw and is a huge project pass rusher, but if he puts it together we will be hearing his name often in the NFL. I don’t really expect that to happen, or happen soon, but it’s a pretty solid pick midway into the fifth round at a position of need for the Bears.
Daniel Thomas, S JAX
Khaleke Hudson, LB WASH
Kenny Robinson, S CAR
Michael Danna, EDGE KC
Round Six
Shaun Bradley, LB PHI
A speedy backer who will probably start his career on the special teams, Bradly can improve on his raw speed and strengths in processing to see some depth snaps at linebacker, and there are open depth spots on the Eagles to be had.
Antoine Brooks Jr, S PIT
A typical strong safety, Brooks is a punisher on the field, likely fitting into a role as a box safety. He needs work in coverage and doesn’t have the raw range needed to be a free safety, but he can hang close to the line of scrimmage and take on ball carriers quickly and violently in short to middle ranges. Far from a position of need for the Steelers with safety/corner hybrid Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds getting most of the work, he can get some work on special teams and potentially get snaps on obvious run plays. There is also a chance he can walk into the role vacated by Sean Davis.
Evan Weaver, LB ARI
Weaver is one of those players who knows the right place he needs to be, but doesn’t have the speed or explosion to get there. These types of players have had success in the NFL, but often get replaced by players who have the mental side down and the athleticism. The team fit is also a bit off here, the Cardinals drafted Isaiah Simmons in the first round and already have Jordan Hicks and De’Vondre Campbell locked up for a small handful of years.
Round Seven Notable IDP players
Markus Bailey, LB CIN
Bailey is the classic case of a good player who is plagued by injury. He has torn both ACLs and has other issues following him around. If he can leave that behind him, he can compete for a starting role for the Bengals, but he will have to fight off a plethora of recent draft picks to do that. However, it’s going to take a herculean effort to stay healthy and make that climb.
Geno Stone, S BAL
Kenny Willekes, EDGE MIN
A curious case of player this late in the draft, Willekes was projected to go much higher, but likely was sitting in the middle of the seventh round due to his utter lack of athleticism at the EDGE position. What he does however have, is football IQ and instinct in spades. Unfortunately, you can’t be taught how to be faster, but if he can work on some of his footwork techniques and hand fighting he can move into a quality depth player. He is a long shot to make the roster here, but stranger things have happened.
- 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Defensive Player Dynasty Review - March 13, 2023
- 2022 NFL Scouting Combine: IDP Dynasty Review - March 10, 2022
- 2021 Post-Draft Superflex and Integrated IDP Rookie Mock - May 14, 2021
