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2020 NFL Draft: Pre-Draft IDP Rookie Rankings

Dwight Peebles Posted On April 23, 2020
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The NFL Draft is merely hours away and most of the talk is on where the quarterbacks are going to end up or how many receivers are going to be selected in the first round. The players I am most excited about are the defensive players. A few of those selected on day one or two will be IDP mainstays for the next decade.

I will highlight some of the players I am most excited about at each position. I will also add rankings of where I am taking these defensive players in balanced scoring IDP leagues. Be sure to check out the past few episodes of DLF’s Read and React podcast where our guys go in-depth with pre-draft rankings.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

Derrick Brown, Auburn

One of the few players in the draft with the talent to be an All-Pro from his first snap, Brown is a complete tackle prospect. He is a tackling machine and doesn’t allow plays to get by him. He penetrates gaps well, using power and leverage to shed blockers. He also has great hands and an array of moves when engaged. When the ball is snapped, he must be accounted for immediately or he will disrupt the play quickly.

Brown is likely going in the top-five and will be a versatile interior lineman. He has agility for a big man and can even dip around the edge if needed to play outside occasionally. He’s a complete prospect and will anchor your DT spot for a long time.

Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina

Kinlaw is nearly as impressive of a prospect and should be taken shortly after Brown. He is athletic and has good acceleration. He has good pursuit and is also a bear to block. He strings moves together and counters well when engaged. He is a little more refined as a pass rusher and not quite as good of a run stopper, so he may be more valuable in leagues which score sacks more heavily.

His upside is phenomenal. He is another superstar defensive tackle in the making. He could be more valuable in IDP scoring, due to his pass-rushing prowess. It will be hard to go wrong with either Kinlaw or Brown and both could be DT1s for many years.

DEFENSIVE ENDS

Chase Young, Ohio State

The number one overall prospect on most boards, Young is a true game-changing defensive end. He is explosive and his first step sets him up to unleash an array of moves to get at opposing quarterbacks. He has a variety of moves, great balance, and ability to bend the edge with the best of any prospect.

Young covers so much ground quickly. He is rarely out of plays when he is engaged and blocks take him beyond the pocket. He isn’t as much of a factor when it comes to run-stopping but he is going to make his money rushing the quarterbacks. He should be the first IDP rookie taken in every draft, he will be a double-digit sack player from day one.

Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State

Another quarterback hunter, Gross-Matos has a lethal first step and a motor that never stops. He possesses a good array of moves, and varies his first moves well to create mismatches quickly. He keeps his pad level down to stay in balance and converts speed to power well. He knocks offensive linemen out of position and then capitalizes quickly.

He is also not as strong in run support and I go back and forth between him and the next prospect on whom I prefer in my rankings. Both should go early and Gross-Matos could be another double-digit sack player early as well.

AJ Epenesa, Iowa

Epenesa is more of a finesse rusher and should also be drafted early in the NFL Draft and your IDP draft. He has one of the best swipe moves I have ever seen and also gets a great initial burst off the line. He uses good timing and anticipates then counters moves well. He is more of a technically sound defensive end.

He has also been a solid run defender, giving him a safer floor and his game shouldn’t depend solely on his ability to get to quarterbacks. He will still get the sacks but probably not at the clip of Young or Gross-Matos.

EDGE/OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU

The numbers don’t tell the story of how good Chaisson can be and he will be one of the first ten defenders drafted. He has an insanely quick first step which consistently puts tackles off balance quickly. He follows the first step up with the ability to dip and bend around the corner. Then he covers ground quickly and wreaks havoc.

Teams will fall in love with his athleticism and speed. He played defensive end but played standing up a lot and may play mostly outside linebacker. This hampers his value a little but he still has the potential to rake in sacks in bunches.

Zack Baun, Wisconsin

The game tape on Baun showcases his speed and bend. He is only a one-year starter but it was impressive. He is a bit smaller at 6’2” and 235 pounds but was used primarily as a rusher. He has a great burst off the line, bends the edge well, and never stops fighting. He is also intelligent, he diagnoses plays well and keeps himself in position when needed.

He may not have the glossy upside of Chaisson but Baun brings a blue-collar work ethic and a relentless motor. He is a high-effort player with enough athleticism to drop in coverage as well. He will likely go a little later in IDP drafts and could be a player who gets ten sacks a year.

LINEBACKERS

Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

The most versatile player in the entire draft, Simmons is a different breed and a likely top-ten pick in the upcoming draft. His highlight reel showcases the many ways he makes a difference when he is on the field. He lined up at linebacker, safety, nickel corner, and even a few plays at the line of scrimmage like a defensive end.

There is not a comparable player to Simmons. He is a new breed of defender who can be used all over the field. He is freakishly athletic, covering huge amounts of space and disrupting plays. Simmons may end up being far more valuable in the NFL than he is for IDP but he could be the type of player who puts up stat lines similar to Darius Leonard. Tackling, sacks, interceptions – Simmons can do it all.

Patrick Queen, LSU

Another star who emerged during LSU’s dominant season, Queen is a linebacker with tremendous range and great instincts. He covers so much ground quickly and his mental processing is truly special. He has great hip movement and lateral agility. He backpedals and reads plays, then his speed and athleticism kick in and he is quickly disrupting the play.

Queen has only started one season and emerged in the last half of the season, which could be a cause for concern. He has much to learn still, yet still looks amazing already. He should still be a valuable IDP asset as he will never leave the field. He can cover backs and tight ends and will be a consistent source of tackles.

Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma

Some analysts and draft pundits are down on the Oklahoma linebacker, but please – watch some highlights of what he can do. Murray has been one of my favorite players to watch over the past few seasons. He is fast and fierce, attacking plays with a reckless abandon and blowing up ball carriers routinely. He plays gaps well and rarely misses a tackle. His motor is crazy, he can be used in blitzing and loves to disrupt plays.

Sometimes the motor can be a detriment, as he sometimes overshoots plays and is too aggressive. He doesn’t shed blocks well and if engaged, can be taken out of plays. Murray will need some time to learn the game and when to be patient. His game reminds me a lot of Ryan Shazier – it will take him time to develop into a linebacker of his caliber though. I love Murray as an IDP asset. He should be a player with the potential to rake in tackles and possibly be an LB1 down the road.

CORNERBACKS

Jeffrey Okudah, Ohio State

One of the best cornerback prospects to come out in quite some time, Okudah should be drafted early on April 23rd. He has athleticism for days – quick movement in and out of breaks, hips which swivel on a dime, and recovery speed if he missteps. He is fluid and not afraid to get physical.

As good as Okudah is, he may not be an IDP factor depending on how quickly he grasps the NFL game. He is a true shutdown corner and may not be targeted frequently, depending on who lines up as his team’s opposite cornerback.

CJ Henderson, Florida

Henderson is the latest of a long line of Gator cornerbacks and could end up being one of the best. He is fluid and accelerates quickly out of breaks. He has great anticipation and is incredibly astute in reading what receivers are going to do.

He should be taken in the first round and could be more of a factor in IDP leagues. He is not as physical as Okudah but Henderson is willing to blitz and factor in with stopping the run. He is not as refined but he will still be a good corner from day one in the NFL.

SAFETIES

Xavier McKinney, Alabama

Another year and another top Alabama safety, McKinney has the ability to be one of the top IDP safeties from the first moment he hits an NFL field. He is a sound tackler who never misses. He can blitz and can drop in coverage. He is smart and causes turnovers, with a knack for making key big plays.

He is solid and coverage but definitely stronger as a safety who mainly mans the box. McKinney should be a good safety for IDP early in his career with the upside to be an S1 for many years.

Grant Delpit, LSU

This is one of the harder ones for me to read as going into the season, Delpit was the unquestioned number one safety. He has phenomenal range and instincts. He gets to the ball quickly and is rarely caught out of position. He can blitz and excels at disrupting plays when it appears like a big play is coming.

Tackling is the biggest issue and the only reason he isn’t the unquestioned top safety in the class. There have been grumblings of an injury this season. Last season the tackling was not a question. It’s enough to give me pause in selecting him but the undeniable upside is there.

Pre-Draft IDP Rookie Rankings

  1. Chase Young, DE Ohio State
  2. Isaiah Simmons, LB Clemson
  3. Patrick Queen, LB LSU
  4. Yetur Gross-Matos, DE Penn State
  5. Javon Kinlaw, DT South Carolina
  6. Kenneth Murray, LB Oklahoma
  7. Derrick Brown, DT Auburn
  8. K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE LSU
  9. AJ Epenesa, DE Iowa
  10. Xavier McKinney, S Alabama
  11. Zach Baun, EDGE Wisconsin
  12. Grant Delpit, S LSU
  13. Jordyn Brooks, LB Texas Tech
  14. CJ Henderson, CB Florida
  15. Antoine Winfield, S Minnesota
  16. Troy Dye, LB Oregon
  17. Ross Blacklock, DT TCU
  18. Jeff Okudah, CB Ohio State
  19. Malik Harrison, LB Ohio State
  20. Curtis Weaver, DE Boise State
  21. Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
  22. Terrell Lewis, EDGE Alabama
  23. Willie Gay Jr., LB Mississippi State
  24. Jeremy Chinn, S Southern Illinois
  25. Kenny Willekes, DE Michigan State
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