2023 IDP Rookie Review: Edge Rushers, Part One

With a stronger-than-usual interior defensive line class, I kicked off the 2023 version of the IDP rookie review series with the tackles. It’s not typical to have two elite-level IDP tackles in the same class, after all. We’re still pretty fortunate on the edge, albeit with just one elite-level asset in my humble opinion.

This is a deep class with plenty of rookies to look at, so I’m breaking up this edge rusher review into two parts. In this article, I’m writing up the top two tiers – the elite, and the current and/or future IDP starters. Part two will get into those worthy of a roster spot, those worth keeping an eye on, and those not worth our attention.

About the Series and Statistics

Still to come in this series are the linebackers and finally safeties. The cornerback class was nice too but corners simply don’t carry dynasty value from year to year, so I don’t pay them much mind when looking through a dynasty lens.

Before getting into the rankings and brief reviews, credit goes to Pro Football Reference (PFR) for all statistics except for pressures, which come via Pro Football Focus (PFF). The “backfield disruption score” is quarterback hits plus tackles for loss, divided by snaps and multiplied by 100. (See the 2022 edge review for an explanation. I was referring to it as “plays in the backfield” at that time) If you want to see how this plays out at the edge position in 2023, the top ten (475 snaps minimum) looks like this:

Bryce Huff, NYJ (6.45)

Nik Bonitto, DEN (6.30)

Nick Bosa, SF (6.2)

Micah Parsons, DAL (5.9)

T.J. Watt, PIT (5.9)

Jonathan Greenard, HOU (5.85)

Myles Garrett, CLE (5.84)

Josh Allen, JAC (5.68)

Trey Hendrickson, CIN (5.53)

Malcolm Koonce, LV (5.19)

Examples of players at the bottom include New England’s Keion White (1.53) and Deatrich Wise Jr. (1.46), 35-year-old Jerry Hughes (1.48) and 34-year-old Cameron Jordan (1.17).

Tier One: Elite Assets

The edge position is truly stacked right now, especially on MyFantasyLeague with last year’s platform-wide transition to true position. Still, it’s nice to have an elite prospect join the ranks. I have Will Anderson as my eighth-best dynasty edge behind Micah Parsons, Nick Bosa, Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, Aidan Hutchinson, T.J. Watt and Josh Allen.

1. Will Anderson Jr, HOU

Drafted: first round, third overall pick (Alabama)

Listed height and weight: 6-4, 243

Age prior to kickoff of 2024 season: 23

Stats to know:

played in 15 games; 630 defensive snaps (63 percent snap share)

59 pressures; seven sacks; 22 quarterback hits; ten tackles for loss

Backfield disruption score: 5.09

29 solo tackles, 16 assists; nine missed tackles (16.7 percent missed tackle rate)

I don’t think Anderson has ever not been successful on the gridiron. On some All-America team (if not all) in each of his three seasons at Alabama, Anderson was the top defensive player taken in the 2023 NFL Draft, and took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors despite missing two games down the stretch (weeks 15 and 16) with an ankle injury. He is who we thought he was.

In a really good rookie edge class, Anderson ranked first in pressures and a not-to-distant third in total tackles despite playing significantly fewer snaps than the two rookie edges ahead of him, Byron Young (played 339 more snaps) and Tuli Tuipulotu (222 more). His backfield disruption score ranked 13th among all edge rushers playing more than 475 snaps. Of edges in that same snap count group, Anderson earned the 19th-highest overall grade by PFF. And he showed an early ability to beat tackles to the edge, stay low, turn the corner and flatten to the quarterback. Yes, he deserves to be among the IDP elite.

He’s not perfect by any means though. His 19.3 percent missed tackle rate in college carried over to the pros, as Anderson missed nine tackles. If he doesn’t get it corrected, that’s a flaw that might keep him off the field on obvious run downs or in the fourth quarter if other teams are salting the game away with the run.

Tier Two: Current or Future Fantasy Starters

Anderson is clearly above his edge classmates, but the class has great depth and it’s reflected in this group of edge rushers who currently or project-to-be fantasy starters as consistent EDGE2s or flex plays.

2. Lukas Van Ness, GB

Drafted: first round, No. 13 overall pick (Iowa)

Listed height and weight: 6-5, 272

Age prior to kickoff of 2024 season: 23

Stats to know:

played in all 17 games; 365 defensive snaps (33 percent snap share)

18 pressures; four sacks; ten quarterback hits; eight tackles for loss

Backfield disruption score: 4.9

24 solo tackles, eight assists; one missed tackle (3 percent missed tackle rate)

Van Ness’ sack total may have been inflated given his actual snaps played, but no rookie edge after Anderson captured and maintained my eyes more than Van Ness. Notable as a prospect for having never started a game in his two seasons of play at Iowa, Van Ness had the necessary size, long arms, quick movements and backfield production that would allow him to be drafted in the top half of round one.

Granted, this is a highlight reel, but in it you see Van Ness’ ability to quickly change direction and take good angles on ball carriers, utilize speed to chase down fast quarterbacks, be effective on stunts, stack and shed, play with leverage and power, move inside and defeat double teams, and maintain his balance and keep his head up when he’s low to the ground. In his two seasons at Iowa and one in Green Bay, Van Ness has proven he’s good at getting into the backfield at a nice rate.

Don't let box scores fool you…

The Packers have something real in Lukas Van Ness. pic.twitter.com/HcOp3VX2pH

— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) January 29, 2024

From a fantasy perspective, there’s certainly some cause for pause. Chiefly, with Rashaan Gary locked up long-term and Preston Smith safely under contract for at least two more seasons, it might be difficult for Van Ness to reach something like a 70 percent snap share in the short term. Then again, maybe 60 percent is good enough for him to reach EDGE2 numbers in 2024 and 2025. Or maybe as he develops he sees more snaps than Gary or Smith as early as year three.

We also have little to go on with new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who is making the transition from college as head coach at Boston College.

3. Yaya Diaby, TB

Drafted: third round, No. 82 overall pick (Louisville)

Listed height and weight: 6-4, 270

Age prior to kickoff of 2024 season: 25

Stats to know:

played in all 17 games; 515 defensive snaps (46 percent snap share)

26 pressures; seven-and-a-half sacks; eight quarterback hits; 12 tackles for loss

Backfield disruption score: 3.88

25 solo tackles, 13 assists; three missed tackles (7.3 percent missed tackle rate)

Do you like size, explosion and versatility in your edges? Ya. How about if you combine it with production and opportunity? YaYa. With veteran Shaquil Barrett returning from an Achilles injury and a tragic off-season, and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka failing to develop into a strong pass rusher in year three, Diaby provided the Bucs with pass rush juice from a variety of alignments and stances.

YaYa Diaby Week 16 Highlights All-22 Film Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Jacksonville Jaguars NFL 2023

Diaby finished with 5 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 TFL, 1 FF, 1 FR and 1 QB hit. #nflfootball #fantasyfootball #football #nflhighlights #highlights #Mayfield #louisville #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/1lk65eNnZX

— @NFLStudy (@NFLStudy) December 28, 2023

Buccaneers rookie YaYa Diaby with his second sack of the game. Push-pull-rip combo here to win.

The third-round pick out of Louisville has really started to shine in recent weeks. pic.twitter.com/xoiq9iyUBi

— Seven Rounds in Heaven (@7RoundsInHeaven) November 19, 2023

Once Tampa Bay slid the athletic Diaby (9.87 RAS) into a larger role in week 11, he produced EDGE2 numbers, and was the highest-scoring rookie edge from weeks 11-18. With Barrett headed into his age 32 season – and final year of his contract – and Tryon-Shoyinka also coming up on the final year of his rookie deal, Diaby is set up well with long-term opportunity, even if he is on the older side for a rising sophomore.

4. Byron Young, LAR

Drafted: third round, No. 77 overall pick (Tennessee)

Listed height and weight: 6-2, 250

Age prior to kickoff of 2024 season: 26

Stats to know:

played in all 17 games; 969 defensive snaps (85 percent snap share)

50 pressures; eight sacks; 19 quarterback hits; eight tackles for loss

Backfield disruption score: 2.79

42 solo tackles, 19 assists; eight missed tackles (11.6 percent missed tackle rate)

I don’t hold Young’s age against him yet – dynasty windows are a lot shorter than most believe – but you do have to consider it given Young’s success as a rookie. Consider he is:

an even four-and-a-half years older than classmate Tuli Tuipulotu;

three years older than 2022 draftee George Karlaftis; and

two years older than Gregory Rousseau, who already has two professional seasons under his belt.

Explosive, quick and powerful when he gets a head of steam, Young was ready for a meaningful role as a pass rusher as soon as the card with his name on it reached the NFL Draft stage podium. Measurables and age probably kept him on the board until the latter half of day two, but Young couldn’t have walked into a better situation, and he and Michael Hoecht each saw 85 percent of the defensive snaps off the edge for the Rams.

Young was the top-scoring rookie IDP edge in both overall points and points per game. You can easily argue Young should be anywhere from second to sixth on this list, but I’m holding him at four since the opportunity for a large snap share should continue next season and likely through his rookie deal.

5. Tuli Tuipulotu, LAC

Drafted: second round, No. 54 overall pick (Southern Cal)

Listed height and weight: 6-3, 266

Age prior to kickoff of 2024 season: 22

Stats to know:

played in all 17 games; 852 defensive snaps (74 percent snap share)

51 pressures; four-and-a-half sacks; 12 quarterback hits; eight tackles for loss

Backfield disruption score: 2.35

37 solo tackles, 16 assists; eight missed tackles (13.1 percent missed tackle rate)

Tuipulotu found early success, bagging two sacks over weeks two and three while seeing a 77 percent snap share in each contest. With veteran studs Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in place, snaps weren’t supposed to come quickly for one of the younger edge rushers in the 2023 class (he was 21 for all of a week when the season kicked off). But with Bosa limited by a hamstring injury early in the season, and later knocked out for the year by a foot sprain, Tuipulotu piled up the snaps.

Given all the work though, Tuipulotu wasn’t overly effective at creating disruption in the backfield – his season total of 20 quarterback hits plus tackles for loss is fine but nothing spectacular given his snap count.

Assuming both Bosa and Mack stay healthy for most of 2024 – something that sounds like a long shot, especially in Bosa’s case – Tuipulotu’s snaps seem sure to decrease. Still, with Mack setting out on his age-33 season, and with one year remaining on his current contract, Tuipulotu is set up well from a dynasty perspective.

6. Tyree Wilson, LV

Drafted: first round, seventh overall pick (Texas Tech via Texas A&M)

Listed height and weight: 6-6, 275

Age prior to kickoff of 2024 season: 24

Stats to know:

played in all 17 games; 493 defensive snaps (44 percent snap share)

24 pressures; three-and-a-half sacks; eight quarterback hits; two tackles for loss

Backfield disruption score: 2.03

29 solo tackles, 16 assists; four missed tackles (12.1 percent missed tackle rate)

To say Wilson’s rookie season could have gone better would be an understatement. To say it was a disaster is too far the opposite. Consider a foot injury sidelined Wilson for training camp, head coach Josh McDaniels’ firing in late October, and an understanding that Wilson – despite the lofty draft status – was recognized as a prospect with some growing to do, and you have an edge rusher that still has a lot of promise but certainly has lost some luster since last April’s draft.

What I’m choosing to do is skip everything Wilson-related until week 14. Coming off a week 13 bye, Las Vegas defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and staff seemed to decide they needed to abandon the existing game plan for Wilson, who was for the most part lining up outside the tackle. From weeks 1-12, Wilson lined up outside the tackle on 302 snaps, three at tackle, and 18 snaps at 4 or 4i.

From weeks 14-18, Wilson was used in a much more versatile role, similar to his collegiate usage: Four snaps at nose, 32 at tackle, 61 at 4 or 4i, and 72 outside the tackle. Down the stretch Wilson was a high-effort lineman, getting credit for 15 of his 24 pressures and five of his eight quarterback hits. It’s this versatility that’s going to help his snap count, particularly next season, with Maxx Crosby on the left side and third-year breakout Malcolm Koonce on the right.

7. Will McDonald IV, NYJ

Drafted: first round, No. 15 overall pick (Iowa State)

Listed height and weight: 6-3, 241

Age prior to kickoff of 2024 season: 25

Stats to know:

played in 15 games; 184 defensive snaps (19 percent snap share)

12 pressures; three sacks; five quarterback hits; four tackles for loss

Backfield disruption score: 4.92

nine solo tackles, five assists; one missed tackle (6.7 percent missed tackle rate)

Like Smith, McDonald saw little work in 2023 playing behind Jermaine Johnson, John Franklin-Myers and Bryce Huff. With Huff set to move on to greener pastures and a higher snap count, McDonald looks ready to assume a larger role – think something closer to 600 snaps. With elite testing numbers for speed, explosion and agility, McDonald makes for a dangerous play as a pass-rush specialist. His signature spin move, which he busted out a lot during the preseason, should make more appearances moving forward:

Underrated aspect of this play, Will McDonald spin move that redirects the tackle and gives Quincy a direct line to Russ. Filthy pass rush rep pic.twitter.com/2ba92t1nUz

— chris (@cmd070703) October 9, 2023

8. Nolan Smith, PHI

Drafted: first round, No. 30 overall pick (Georgia)

Listed height and weight: 6-2, 238

Age prior to kickoff of 2024 season: 23

Stats to know:

played in all 17 games; 188 defensive snaps (16 percent snap share)

eight pressures; one sack; three quarterback hits; one tackle for loss

Backfield disruption score: 2.14

ten solo tackles, eight assists; two missed tackles (10 percent missed tackle rate)

We didn’t see enough of Smith this season to form much of an opinion. What we did see was speed and explosion, two traits for which Smith tested at elite levels. And we knew the Eagles drafted Smith as the eventual replacement for Haason Reddick, who was approaching in 2024 one final – and expensive – year on his contract. So Smith’s immediate outlook got a lot more interesting on Super Bowl Sunday when it was reported that Reddick had requested a trade. And though Reddick denied the trade request a few days later, there are smoke signaling flames that may follow Reddick out of Philly.

This is the best-case scenario for Smith, as it would indicate Eagles brass thinks he is ready for a larger role sooner rather than later. Regardless, with Brandon Graham already entering free agency, and Josh Sweat approaching it next off-season, Smith’s time is coming soon anyway.

9. Myles Murphy, CIN

Drafted: first round, No. 28 overall pick (Clemson)

Listed height and weight: 6-5, 275

Age prior to kickoff of 2024 season: 22

Stats to know:

played in all 17 games; 305 defensive snaps (28 percent snap share)

15 pressures; three sacks; three quarterback hits; three tackles for loss

Backfield disruption score: 1.97

ten solo tackles, ten assists; one missed tackle (4.8 percent missed tackle rate)

Despite a mostly quiet rookie campaign, there’s reason for optimism with Murphy’s long-term outlook. The short-term is the rub. Trey Hendrickson is elite at rushing the quarterback, and has been since joining the Bengals three years ago, He won’t turn 30 until December, and is under contract for two more seasons. Also wrapped up for two more years is Sam Hubbard, who is at minimum a solid starter and will play as a 28-year-old in 2024.

That’s not to say there’s no room for a larger role for Murphy over the next couple of seasons. He was a first-round pick, after all, and with a full professional season under his belt and another off-season to develop, could work his way up to the 475 snap range by spelling Hendrickson on run downs, and Hubbard on pass downs. You could easily argue he’s more of a lower tier prospect right now, but I do think he’ll eventually become fantasy starter-worthy. We’ll simply need to exercise a good amount of patience in the meantime.