Five Late-Round Defensive Linemen To Target

Defensive schemes are changing in the NFL. Teams are running out Nickel packages as their base personnel, and the top defenses are running rotations along their defensive line. We covered this in more detail in my most recent article on pass-rushing rotations, which you can read here. What this has done is create an influx of depth at the defensive linemen position. All of these defensive linemen currently have an ADP outside of the top 50. This ADP is courtesy of The IDP Show and is pulled from paid best ball drafts (40 and counting) that began in January. Here are five late-round defensive linemen to target in your IDP drafts.

Shaquil Barrett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DL51 and EDGE37

Barrett seems to be the forgotten edge rusher in IDP leagues. Since he joined the Buccaneers, Barrett has been nothing short of spectacular. From 2019-2021(his first three full seasons in Tampa Bay), Barrett averaged 50 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 3.5 forced fumbles per season. Barrett's 2022 was cut short by a torn Achilles tendon in Week 8. He has since been rehabbing and said in an interview on the Loose Cannons Podcast, "But I'm ready to go. I'm gonna be ready to go when it's time to go. I'm pretty sure 'time to go' will be the first game. I don't anticipate missing any games. I don't anticipate being on any play counts. So, I should be ready to go for the first game for sure."

The entire Buccaneers defense suffered when Barrett went down with a lack of pass-rush on the team. Tampa Bay did not do much, outside of drafting YaYa Diaby in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, when it came to adding edge-rushing depth. Barrett has averaged a 77.25% snap share since joining the Buccaneers. This volume likely does not change much, if any. Drafting him as the DL51 makes Barrett a terrific late-round defensive lineman to target.

Randy Gregory, Denver Broncos - DL78 and EDGE 61

Gregory's first season in Denver was a huge disappointment. He was once again hit with the injury bug and only suited up for six games in 2022. This has been a recurring theme for Gregory. Still, his contract has him set up to be a starter leading into 2023 with a currently clean bill of health. Before the 2022 season, the Broncos signed Gregory to a five-year and $70 million contract, one that does not have an out until the 2024 season. He did play well in 2022 when he was on the field. Gregory finished with 20 pressures per PFF, 12 tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles in his six appearances.

He has been a playmaker when on the field, forcing eight fumbles over the past three seasons. His volume also was strong in 2022, playing 50% of the team's defensive snaps (61.75% before the injury). Denver is deep at the EDGE position, but Gregory is the veteran and most polished of the group. He should still lead the group in snaps for 2023, as long as he is healthy. Drafting him at DL78 is well worth the risk.

Dorance Armstrong, Dallas Cowboys - DL80 and EDGE62

Armstrong broke out in a big way in 2022 with 33 tackles and eight sacks. His potential always flashed, but he finally put it together. He also set a career-high in pressures in 2022 with 46. The Cowboys ran a package called The Big Nascar Package in 2022. This package has four edge defenders across the defensive line as opposed to having your normal run-stuffing, gap-filling defensive tackles in the interior. This allowed Armstrong to see a 47% snap share, third most on the team. He also has a 70 coverage grade per PFF average over the past three seasons. This helps keep him on the field in passing situations and plays a big part in that Big Nascar Package.

The Cowboys led the entire league in pressures in 2022, and Armstrong was a big part of it. His role should not change much, though he could see even more snaps with DeMarcus Lawrence showing his age a bit. At DL80, Armstrong is an incredible value and a great late-round defensive lineman to target.

Michael Hoecht, Los Angeles Rams - DL90 and EDGE68

This is still a name that many fantasy managers still seem reluctant to draft. Let's be honest, a 300+-pound EDGE defender does not sound like a recipe for success. Yet, Hoecht proved, or should have proved, doubters wrong with his 2022 play. Hoecht became a starting EDGE rusher in Week 11. From then on, he played 82.57% of the team's defensive snaps; that is unreal volume. During that seven-game stretch, Hoecht racked up 30 tackles, four and a half sacks, and 24 pressures. Needless to say, he was really good.

Hoecht will see zero-to-limited competition for EDGE snaps in 2023. His main competition for snaps is rookie third-round pick Byron Young who likely will start across from Hoecht, not challenge him for snaps. Add the fact that Hoecht still has Aaron Donald on his team, and his stress level stays minimal in blocking schemes. Aaron Donald relieves pressure off of every other defensive player on his team. Hoecht's volume alone makes him a strong late-round defensive lineman to target.

Cameron Thomas, Arizona Cardinals - DL118 and EDGE90

I listed Thomas in a recent article I wrote on Sophomore Edge Rushers Ready to Break Out. Of the edge rushers set to be in the Cardinals' starting lineup, Thomas was the most impressive. Arizona, barring a free agent signing, is going to start Thomas and fellow sophomore Myjai Sanders in 2022. Thomas was the most impressive in his rookie year, though both saw limited time on the field. In Thomas's 237 snaps, he did not miss a single tackle. In fact, he still came away with 18 tackles and three sacks. The biggest knock on Thomas as a rookie in the pre-draft process was that he was a one-trick-pony pass rusher. He proved that he has a few extra moves in his repertoire outside of pure power.

There is an unbelievable opportunity on the edge this season for the Cardinals. There are 1,597 vacated snaps, with J.J. Watt retiring and Markus Golden leaving via free agency. Thomas should see plenty of volume in 2023, and at DL118, it is almost blasphemy. Thomas could be a huge steal.

Final Thoughts

All of these players currently hold an ADP of DL50 or worse, making all of them extreme values. With the landscape of defenses changing, drafting EDGE rushers early, outside of the super-elite, is less of a need. If this is the strategy you choose, these are some of the late-round defensive linemen to target. All of these players have tremendous upside. Thank you again for reading and following my work. Good luck in 2023!