2025 IDP Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookies: Top Landing Spots For Edge Rushers

Adbul Carter | © Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Jason Abbey Posted On April 10, 2025

As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, the focus shifts from evaluating college talent to projecting the best team fits. While talent remains a critical component, a player’s landing spot plays a key role in determining whether they will have the chance to contribute early in their NFL career.

This article will identify the ideal landing spots for the top edge rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Abdul Carter, Penn State

Ideal landing spot: Cleveland Browns

Carter was primarily an off-ball linebacker in 2022 and 2023 before becoming a full-time edge rusher last year. Position converts almost always take time to acclimate to their new role, but Carter was the exception, bursting onto the scene with 12 sacks in 2024.

The 21-year-old possesses unrivalled athleticism among the edge group. His first step is incredible; he bends around the edge like no other, and his closing speed is downright scary – best demonstrated when chasing down plays from behind.

Abdul Carter is unstoppable.

He’s a bonafide defensive star who I’m willing to bet my reputation on. I only say that for a select few prospects—and he is one of them.

Spoiler: he is my #2 ranked player on the Big Board (releasing soon)

pic.twitter.com/gNwNmoslGk

— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) January 10, 2025

The underlying metrics confirm Carter’s status as an elite prospect. Per Pro Football Focus, his 35.1% win rate last year was the best among all the edge prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. His 18.86% pressure rate ranked third, and he also compares favorably in run defensed

The Browns vacated 30-40 snaps per game at the edge position when they parted ways with Za’Darius Smith. They signed Joe Tryon -Shoyinka in free agency, but barring a career renaissance the likes of which are rarely seen, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer will be a rotational player at best.

Cleveland has several roster needs and desperately needs a franchise quarterback. Still, the opportunity to continue rebuilding the Browns defensive line by pairing Carter with Myles Garrett and new acquisition Maliek Collins might be too good to pass up.

Mike Green, Marshall

Ideal landing spot: Carolina Panthers

Despite competing against lower-level competition compared to his peers, Green enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the most exciting prospects at the edge position.

The 22-year-old primarily wins with speed but also demonstrates an advanced pass-rush repertoire—an ability often lacking in rookies. His technical refinement, non-stop motor and physicality could help the Marshall product make an early impact in the NFL.

don't have to worry about effort with Mike Green (#15) pic.twitter.com/nZXdRXHStC

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) February 21, 2025

32-year-old Jadeveon Clowney was the Panthers’ most effective pass rusher in 2024. Carolina desperately needs an infusion of young talent, and Green fits the bill. He could immediately command a significant role in defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s defense.

Jalon Walker, Georgia

Ideal landing spot: Washington Commanders or Green Bay Packers

Walker is an intriguing prospect. He will be listed as a linebacker in some fantasy articles and an edge rusher in others because he spent time at both positions throughout his three-year career with Georgia.

NFL teams may covet that versatility, but it creates a quandary for fantasy managers because it carries risk. If teams draft Walker intending to use him in a do-it-all capacity, there is a risk that he will become the latest in a long line of players whose versatility means they struggle to focus on and master a specific role.

Players such as Frankie Luvu, DLF’s LB16, and Kaden Elliss, DLF’s LB26, have proven that tweeners can achieve great success as IDP options. However, if Walker is to replicate their success, he would need to be drafted by a team with a defensive coordinator creative enough to use him in a similar role and afford him a heavy workload. There is no guarantee that this will happen.

The 21-year-old is arguably at his most effective when utilized as an edge rusher, using his explosive get-off, speed, and hand counters to disrupt the quarterback.

#Georgia EDGE/OLB Jalon Walker vs. Texas

• 8 Tackles
• 3 Sacks
• 1 FR

Burst, closing speed, draft stock 📈📈 pic.twitter.com/PEc4ixNSoI

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) October 20, 2024

However, at only 6’1” and 243lbs, he’s undersized, may struggle to add size to his frame, and therefore runs the risk of being overpowered by stronger offensive linemen.

The Washington Commanders and Joe Whitt Jr’s defensive scheme would be a nice fit for Walker. He would benefit from learning from Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner, and the fact that the Commanders’ edge group is relatively thin also works in his favor.

However, if a team intends to use Walker as a pure edge rusher, the Packers would be a good landing spot. Lukas Van Ness has been slow to develop into the player the Packers envisaged when they spent a first-round pick on him in 2023, and unless Rashan Gary has a bounceback year, he’s not worth the $28 million cap number due in 2026. The Packers could move on from Gary after this season and make almost $11 million in cap savings.

James Pearce Jr, Tennessee

Ideal landing spot: Atlanta Falcons

As a pure pass-rusher, Pearce is an incredible talent. He’s a twitchy athlete who uses his length well to gain leverage, and his first step is formidable. His speed and burst were evident at the NFL Combine, where he ran the fastest 40-yard dash and posted an impressive 10’3” in the broad jump.

James Pearce Jr. is a DE prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.35 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 118 out of 1802 DE from 1987 to 2025.

Splits projected, Times unofficial.https://t.co/xwtofISHM2 pic.twitter.com/hCb2HUDvKW

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) February 27, 2025

If Pearce can add mass to his slender frame without losing the explosiveness so evident in his tape, he could become more than a pass-rush specialist and increase his chances of playing on early downs.

The Falcons invested in their interior defensive linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft, drafting Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus in the second and fourth rounds, respectively. With the benefit of hindsight, Atlanta should have spent at least one of those picks adding talent to their edge group.

Rumours about off-field concerns about Pearce have made the headlines recently, but providing those concerns aren’t serious, the Falcons could be the beneficiary with the 15^th overall selection. Adding Pearce to a group comprising Arnold Ebiketie and Bralen Trice would provide Atlanta with an exciting group of young players capable of improving on the woeful 31 sacks the Falcons’ defense managed last season.

Pearce is ranked behind Georgia’s Mykel Williams in the consensus DLF Dynasty Rookie IDP Rankings, but this ranker considers the Tennessee product the superior and more NFL-ready prospect.