2025 NFL Draft: Dynasty IDP Day One Review
Two trades near the top and tail end of the first round provided IDP managers with plenty to think about as the 2025 NFL Draft got going on Thursday night.
In this article, I’ll examine the IDP landing spots, take a look at the top five IDP storylines, and finally rank all the day one defensive picks for dynasty.
IDP Landing Spots
Travis Hunter, WR/CB JAC (1.02): The most talked-about player in the NFL Draft was the subject of a blockbuster trade. He’ll reportedly play full-time receiver – forming a dynamic duo with Brian Thomas Jr. – while mixing in at corner. How many snaps will he see on defense? The Jags at least need the help there more than Cleveland does.
Abdul Carter, Edge NYG (1.03): Carter has elite IDP potential with his length, absurd off-the-snap quickness and bend around the edge. He lacks a consistent bull rush and will need to develop the power element of his game; it should come in time given he’s only played full-time on the edge for one season after converting from off-ball linebacker. Carter teams with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux to give the Giants the most fearsome pass rush trios in the NFL.
Mason Graham, IDL CLE (1.05): It wasn’t too long ago that the Browns were trying to get by with the likes of Taven Bryan and Jordan Elliott on the interior. No more. Not only did Cleveland add Maliek Collins this off-season to go with impressive rookie Mike Hall Jr, it also added Graham, who some considered to be the best tackle in the draft shorter-than-ideal 32-inch arms and less-than-desired collegiate production (nine sacks over three seasons). Still, it’s a good spot for Graham and he should be the top rookie defensive tackle off the board.
Mykel Williams, Edge SF (1.11): The 49ers had a huge need on the interior defensive line but opted instead for a high-upside bookend to pair with Nick Bosa. It’s an awesome landing spot for Williams, as the Niners have Yetur Gross-Matos and Drake Jackson as their next-best options on the edge. Williams immediately brings strength and run-stopping prowess, with hopes that his pass rush catches up to what his frame (6-foot-5, 267 pounds, 34-plus-inch arms) suggests he could become.
Kenneth Grant, IDL MIA (1.13): Grant is a massive man at 6-foot-3, 330 pounds (and that’s the extreme low end for weight). Still, he has quick feet and a decent array of pass rush moves. There’s Dexter Lawrence-like upside from the nose, but there’s also two-down downside. The Dolphins had zilch next to Zach Sieler inside, so this is a good landing spot.
Jalon Walker, Edge ATL (1.15): A primary off-ball at Georgia who also played on the edge, many considered Walker’s best position to be at wide nine. Given outside pass rush is Atlanta’s biggest need – not so much off-ball – Walker is likely going to be classified as a defensive end with the versatility to slide to stack ‘backer.
Walter Nolen, IDL ARI (1.16): My top defensive tackle prospect, Nolen slid to a less-than-ideal landing spot in Arizona. With explosion off the line reminiscent of Byron Murphy II and strength that has shades of Jalen Carter, Nolen is the ideal three-technique. The Cardinals though look like they’ll employ a pretty big rotation this year with four-technique Darius Robinson, interior plugger Dalvin Tomlinson, the ageless Calais Campbell and Justin Jones. This situation is shaping up to look a lot like Murphy encountered in year one. We’ll need to be patient with Nolen for fantasy purposes.
Shemar Stewart, Edge CIN (1.17): Body beautiful at 6-foot-5, 267 with a wild 84 3/4-inch wingspan, Stewart is a projection given he’s never had more than one-and-a-half sacks in a season. In Cincinnati, Stewart provides a long-term and potentially elite edge. Trey Hendrickson’s trade request obviously hasn’t been granted – yet – and the Bengals otherwise have just Joseph Ossai on a one-year deal and former first-round disappointment Myles Murphy.
Jahdae Barron, CB DEN (1.20): A good run defender with excellent change-of-direction ability, Barron projects as a slot defender, which is perfect for fantasy production out of the corner position. With Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss on the outside, Barron looks well positioned to provide the same upside as 2024 second-round picks Cooper DeJean and Mike Sainristil (even though he played more outside as a rookie).
Derrick Harmon, IDL PIT (1.21): Harmon to Pittsburgh just seemed destined to happen. A versatile lineman who can play nose out to four-technique, Harmon is an excellent run defender who can two-gap or slide over the B gap and offer pass rush upside. With franchise great Cam Heyward nearing the end of a storied career, Harmon is primed to assume the mantle.
James Pearce Jr., Edge ATL (1.26): The Falcons paid a handsome price by giving up their 2026 first-rounder and the No. 46 overall pick for the right to draft Pearce, and the Rams’ third-round selection (No. 101 overall). Pearce offers length, quickness and speed and probably needs to add some weight to his frame so he can better play the run. Reported character concerns surely contributed to his drafted position.
Malaki Starks, S BAL (1.27): Starks was a bit of a surprise as the first safety off the board, but he was versatile at Georgia. He projects as a rangy free safety and Starks’ selection means good fantasy things for Kyle Hamilton, who can leave the deep safety work to Starks and Ar’Darius Washington.
Tyleik Williams, IDL DET (1.28): Not the tackle of choice for fantasy, Williams is a powerful and dominant run defender with lateral quickness. Assuming Alim McNeill is healthy, Williams will slide into a rotation with McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike and DJ Reader.
Maxwell Hairston, CB BUF (1.30): A fast outside corner, Hairston is in a good spot in Buffalo to offer managers in cornerback-required leagues decent starting potential. At some point as a rookie he should take over the outside corner spot opposite Christian Benford.
Jihaad Campbell, LB PHI (1.31): The rich got richer with an elite off-ball prospect sliding to the end of the first round. With his ability to occasionally rush off the edge and his high-level blitz upside, Campbell offers something close to what we saw from Edgerrin Cooper in his first year in Green Bay. With Nakobe Dean an unknown for the start of the season due to a torn patellar tendon suffered in the playoffs, Campbell could find himself starting early next to breakout Zack Baun, assuming Campbell is healed sufficiently from off-season shoulder surgery.
Top Five IDP Storylines from Day One
A Trade for Travis: Jags Bag Hunter
Can Hunter really be a two-way player in the NFL? That storyline was beaten to death over the past few months, and there seemed to be a wide variety of opinions among NFL teams on whether Hunter’s future was at receiver, corner, or some mix of both. Most recent mocks had Hunter off the board at No. 2 to Cleveland, which was problematic for the two-way truthers with Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson and Greg Newsome leading a very good Browns cornerback room. Jacksonville, determined to make big waves under a new regime, stepped up and delivered the No. 5 overall pick, the No. 36 overall pick and a 2026 first to move up for Hunter.
It’s a good assumption that the Jaguars wouldn’t have made that move had they not intended to allow Hunter to play both positions. Regardless of whether Hunter felt like he could do it, and you believed he could do it, you would have to be just as convinced that the coaching staff on his NFL team believed he could do it – and was willing to give him the chance to prove it – in order to justify the “cheat code” theory. The trade capital surrendered in the trade seems to ensure he’ll get that chance, so in any league that allows Hunter to be started at corner, he’s the top rookie IDP hands-down. If he’s classified as a receiver and a wide receiver only, I don’t think the additional snaps on defense will mean as much, as he’s a projected outside, shutdown corner. Hunter’s value also of course depends on a scoring system that allows a receiver to be awarded defensive points, so be sure you know your scoring and positional eligibility rules before your dynasty rookie draft.
Really, NFL? Eagles Get Another Game-Changer
Philadelphia always seems to benefit from the trepidation of others, and Jihaad Campbell’s labrum tear dropped the talented off-ball far enough that the Eagles felt obligated to trade up one spot to select him at No. 31. Campbell’s arrival essentially means the end of Nakobe Dean in Philly after the 2025 season. And once the rookie is established in the Eagles’ lineup next to Zack Baun, he’ll be a force. So despite going late in the first round, to a Super Bowl-winning franchise with two productive linebackers, Campbell’s dynasty value is just fine.
Atlanta Doubles Down at Edge
Apparently the Falcons are finally fed up with having lame outside pass rushers. After selecting the versatile and talented Jalon Walker at pick No. 15, Atlanta couldn’t stand watching James Pearce Jr fall and surrendered its first rounder next season plus its second rounder this year for the pick that netted Pearce, plus a third, from the Rams. With Leonard Floyd and Arnold Ebiketie on one-year deals, both Walker and Pearce are set up well long-term to see plenty of snaps, with Bralen Trice (when healthy) providing a decent third option.
Burns, Thibodeaux, Dean Top Veteran Losers
The list of veteran IDP assets losing value in the first round wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be (it still might be by the time the second round wraps up). The two biggest losers are on the same team: the Giants not only selected Abdul Carter, but they announced they were picking up Kayvon Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option. Assuming a trade doesn’t materialize, that’s bad news for Brian Burns and Thibodeaux from an IDP perspective, as each should see a decrease in opportunity for snaps.
As mentioned above, Dean’s value got creamed with the addition of Campbell to the Eagles’ linebacker corps. Baun is safely under contract for the next three seasons, so he’s not going anywhere. Dean, who already had a tough road ahead given the knee injury he suffered in the wild card win over Green Bay, will likely be moving on after his rookie contract expires next off-season.
The next biggest loser is probably Ja’Quan McMillian, the Denver slot corner who has provided a good starting option for managers in cornerback-required leagues for the past couple of seasons. The former undrafted free agent is in the final year of his contract, and may take an immediate back seat to rookie Jahdae Barron.
Finally, Mike Hall Jr’s path to a Gervon Dexter-like year two breakout got a lot more complicated with Cleveland’s selection of Mason Graham.
Top IDP Prospects Haven’t Landed Yet
The list of veteran IDP losers is sure to grow Friday night, with some highly regarded defensive prospects still on the board. I’m particularly intrigued to see where UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger ends up, as he has immediate, difference-making potential. It was surprising to see both edge rusher Mike Green and safety Nick Emmanwori still on the board after round one. That Green – an electric pass rusher – is still available tells us that the off-field concerns are of real concern. All three were among my top eight pre-draft IDP rookies.
Ranking the First-Round IDPs for Dynasty
I’ll update this list after Friday night, but for now it only includes the round one picks.
- Travis Hunter, JAC, CB1 (anywhere he has cornerback eligibility)
- Abdul Carter, NYG, Edge1
- Jihaad Campbell, PHI, LB1
- Jalon Walker, ATL, Edge2
- Mason Graham, CLE, DT1
- Mykel Walker, SF, Edge3
- James Pearce Jr., ATL, Edge4
- Walter Nolen, ARI, DT2
- Derrick Harmon, PIT, DT3
- Jahdae Barron, DEN, CB2
- Shemar Stewart, CIN, Edge5
- Malaki Starks, BAL, S1
- Kenneth Grant, MIA, DT4
- Maxwell Hairston, BUF, CB3
- Tyleik Williams, DET, DT5
- 2025 NFL Draft: Dynasty IDP Day One Review - April 25, 2025
- Positional Strengths of the 2025 NFL Draft: IDP Edition - April 23, 2025
- 2024 IDP Rookie Review: Defensive Backs - April 23, 2025
