5 Late-Round Linebackers To Target

Draft strategies are changing in IDP formats. Where there used to be certain positional scarcities, an overflow of depth and defensive scheme changes have made these scarcities change. In order to combat these changes, this will be part one of a three-part article series on late-round IDP targets. What we will do is cover each position (DL, LB, DB), so whichever draft strategy you decide to go with, you can find value late in the draft to bolster your weaker positions. All of these linebackers currently have an ADP outside of the top 50 linebackers. 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 linebackers to target.

Monty Rice, Tennessee Titans - ADP of LB57

Rice was a pleasant surprise at the end of the 2022 season. He started the season behind Zach Cunningham and David Long, though was inserted into a high-volume role (70.67%) from Weeks 12-17. That 70% is skewed slightly too. Rice only saw 36% of the team's snaps in Week 12, but was the game that earned him time. In just 26 snaps, he recorded seven total tackles, with one going for a loss. During that Week 12-17 stretch, Rice totaled 54 total tackles, three for a loss, and a pass defended. That is an average of nine tackles per game.

Zach Cunningham is disappearing into oblivion, riding off into the sunset as he should. The Titans also let David Long go in free agency. This opened up two starting inside linebacker roles for the Titans. They did sign free agent Azeez Al-Shaair from the 49ers in free agency, so Rice will have to battle for the top linebacker role. The Titans only ran two or more linebackers on the field 74%; one of these guys will have a more limited role. Even if it is Rice, he proved that with a 70% snap share, he can rack up tackles. With an ADP of LB57, this still makes him a tremendous value.

Anthony Walker Jr., Cleveland Browns - ADP of LB64

Walker has been a steady tackle machine for his entire career and yet gets zero attention on a yearly basis. He was overshadowed by Shaq Leonard during his time in Indianapolis and has not played a full season yet in Cleveland. What he has done in both locations is average, with just under seven tackles per game as a starter. In his first season with Cleveland, 2021, he had 112 tackles in 14 games (eight per game). Walker, though, does not provide much other statistical output other than tackles, but he provides tackles in volume.

Due to injuries and inefficiency, the Browns did not have a single linebacker play more than 495 of the team's defensive snaps. Jacob Phillips provides decent box score numbers, but his on-field play was atrocious. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has not shown the ability to hold up health-wise for an entire season. Sione Takitaki and Tony Fields proved last year that they are nothing more than bench depth. Deion Jones is no longer on the team. You know what you get with Walker; an efficient tackling middle linebacker. With so much uncertainty, the Browns should be firing up Walker for a volume role. At LB64, you cannot go wrong.

Devin Bush, Seattle Seahawks - ADP of LB65

Devin Bush is generally not a name fantasy IDP managers are chomping at the bit for. His role within the Steelers' defense dwindled horribly since he was the 20th overall pick in 2019. Still, he played the second most linebacker snaps on the team in 2022 (62%). His 81 tackles were third-best on the team, and he had the best year of his career in regards to tackling efficiency. Bush's 3.5% missed tackle rate in 2022 was easily a career-best.

Bush looked much better in 2022 in a smaller role. His technique seemed polished as opposed to wild and out of control. The Seahawks had one of the worst run defenses in the NFL in 2022. They also used two linebackers on the field for 74% of their snaps in 2022. The Seahawks let Cody Barton walk in free agency, and Jordyn Brooks went down with a Week 17 ACL tear in 2022. The Seahawks did grab Bobby Wagner to run the defense, but Bush could easily see his 62% jump to around the 75% mark. Triple-digit tackles and a career resurgence could be in the cards as a solid LB3/4 at LB65.

Damone Clark, Dallas Cowboys - ADP of LB74

Clark is one player who could make a huge leap in his second year in the NFL. His draft stock plummeted in the pre-draft process after his physical showed he had an issue with a herniated disc. The Cowboys apparently loved Clark and were able to draft him later than they originally would have; they still got their guy. When he was finally healthy enough for game-time duty (last 10 games), Clark was on the field for 59% of the team's snaps.

Clark instantly made his presence felt, racking up 44 tackles and showing the playmaking the Cowboys coveted with two forced fumbles. Micah Parsons looks like he will virtually be a full-time edge defender, and Leighton Vander Esch is an efficient tackler but cannot stay healthy. The Cowboys played two linebackers just 61% of the time, 13% below the league average. Clark looked much more versatile than Vander Esch and could be a sleeper LB2 on the season, making Clark a great late-round linebacker to target.

Tyrel Dodson, Buffalo Bills - ADP of LB76

This call here is a bit more of a flyer, but it could pay huge dividends. The Bills let long-time starting inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds walk in free agency. This opened up a huge hole in the middle of the defense, and one that should provide a volume role. The Bills run a simplistic defensive scheme built on accountability and doing your job right. Rarely do the Bills change up their defensive scheme or even mask it. In 2022, they ran with two linebackers on the field 96% of the time, and one of those linebackers is now gone.

Dodson was the fill-in starter in 2020, 2021, and 2022 when the Bills sifted through their linebacker depth. He had three games in 2022 over a 64% snap-share and totaled 27 tackles and a sack in those three games. During his rookie season, he eclipsed that snap-share twice, totaling 15 tackles and two passes defended in those two games. The coaching staff is giving Dodson every opportunity to win the job. It is a terrific dart throw at LB76.

Final Thoughts

All of the linebackers in this article have the potential to be an LB3 or better. Every one of them is currently being drafted outside of the top 50 linebackers. These are the type of value picks that can turn into weekly starters on your IDP rosters. It is these late-round targets that help elevate your roster to championship contention. Thank you again for reading, and good luck in 2023.