3 DBs on the All-Opportunity Team

After covering the linebackers and defensive line in this series, it's time to cap things off and talk defensive backs. Below are three contract-year safeties, who all happen to be entering the final year of their rookie deals. All three will have the opportunity to prove their worth, as they pursue lucrative second contracts this offseason. For us IDP gamers, they provide an opportunity for some nice value at different levels of drafts, per their ADP. Alright, let's dive in!

*This ADP is courtesy of The IDP Show and is pulled from paid best ball drafts (40 and counting) that began in January.

S Xavier McKinney, New York Giants

Footballguys Consensus Rank - DB27
The IDP Show ADP - DB29

Giants fans and IDP managers were excited after New York selected Xavier McKinney early in the second round (36th overall) in the 2020 NFL draft. Unfortunately, McKinney suffered a foot injury and could only appear in six games (210 snaps) toward the end of his rookie season. However, in year two, McKinney emerged as the player fans and IDP gamers were excited about. During that 2021 season, McKinney played all 17 games (1,134 snaps), producing 93 tackles (59 solos), 10 passes defended, and five interceptions. McKinney spent the majority of his time aligned at free safety (71.2% of his snaps) that season but proved he could be a reliable IDP asset regardless.

Last season, McKinney was off to a nice start before getting injured during the team's bye week and requiring hand surgery. Due to the injury, McKinney was only able to appear in nine games, limiting his production to only 45 tackles (29 solos), five passes defended, and one interception. With McKinney unavailable, teammate Julian Love made waves as a productive IDP asset among the Giants' safety unit. Love finished the year with a career-high 124 tackles (79 solos) and six tackles for loss.

The 2023 season is a big one for McKinney. It's a pivotal contract year and he will be looking to get back on track after a less-than-ideal 2022 campaign. Julian Love (1,006 snaps in 2022) moved on to Seattle during free agency, and McKinney is a prime candidate to inherit a portion of his 475 vacated IDP sweet spot snaps (box, slot, and defensive line) from last year, per Pro Football Focus. As he did at times in 2022, McKinney was also noted as one of the players rocking the coveted green dot during New York's OTAs. The upcoming 2023 season presents an opportunity for McKinney to get back to his playmaking ways and help his case for a lucrative second contract. With an ADP of DB29, McKinney is looking like an excellent value in IDP drafts.

S Jordan Fuller, Los Angeles Rams

Footballguys Consensus Rank - DB37
The IDP Show ADP - DB62

Jordan Fuller, a sixth-round pick in 2020, was a nice surprise for the Rams as a late-round selection in his rookie season. Fuller ended up appearing and starting in 12 games as a rookie, producing 60 tackles (42 solos) and three interceptions. Fuller then elevated his game in year two, finishing the 2021 season with 113 tackles (63 solos) and a 74.3 overall defensive grade, per PFF. Unfortunately, year three didn't go as planned. Fuller was only able to log three games, as a hamstring injury ended his season after Week 4 last year.

It appears the hamstring injury is behind him, as a healthy and eager Fuller was present at the Rams OTAs. With previous starters Taylor Rapp (977 snaps in 2022) and Nick Scott (984 snaps in 2022) both leaving during free agency, the Rams will be relying on Fuller, their most experienced player among the current safety group. Fuller is one of the few familiar faces within the Rams' defense and will have an opportunity to get back to the player who notched a triple-digit tackle output just two years ago. A bounce-back 2023 campaign will go a long way for Fuller as he looks to showcase his game and value to the Rams and the rest of the league before becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Coming off the board as DB62, a fully motivated Fuller is a fantastic late-round value with his plentiful opportunity and past success.

S Julian Blackmon, Indianapolis Colts

Footballguys Consensus Rank - DB95
The IDP Show ADP - DB119

Of the three fourth-year safeties in this article, Julian Blackmon has easily been the least IDP-relevant to date. Blackmon has been involved during his first three seasons but has a career-high of just 50 tackles (36 solos) from last season. Part of the issue is Blackmon primarily aligning deep at free safety to start his career. As a rookie, Blackmon spent 89.1% of his 975 defensive snaps, per PFF, on the backend at free safety. Injury played a factor in Blackmon's second season in 2021, as an Achilles injury ended his season after just six games. Last season, Blackmon started off playing primarily deep again before taking over the slot role after Kenny Moore went down. Over his last four games, Blackmon was far more productive for us IDP gamers, producing 23 tackles (16 solos) while playing the nickel role for the Colts' defense.

Things are changing for Blackmon heading into the 2023 season. After primarily playing free safety and spending some time in the slot last year, Blackmon will be transitioning to the strong safety role in Gus Bradley's defense. This is a much more IDP-conducive role, as Blackmon will spend more time up in the box area near the action. This is the same role that made Rodney McLeod IDP relevant last year, as he posted a career-high 96 tackles (59 solos). McLeod is no longer on the roster, and the job appears to be Blackmon's to lose at the moment. However, he will have to fend off last year's third-round pick Nick Cross when training camp gets here.

With his potential new role, Blackmon has the opportunity to show how much versatility and value he can provide for a team's secondary. This is increasingly important as he's entering a pivotal contract year. With an ADP of DB119, Blackmon also presents an opportunity for IDP gamers to mine some value at the very end of drafts. And if you exercise a fade-DB draft strategy, Blackmon is the kind of upside late-round dart throw you're looking for to fill out the position.