The key to fantasy production is finding players who combine talent with opportunity. The 2024 NFL Draft brought the excitement of new talent into the league. But players need the opportunity to produce, and opportunity is all about landing spots.
Three rookie edge rushers stand out in terms of landing spots. Two of them happen to have played together in college.
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Laiatu Latu, Indianapolis Colts
The first defensive pick in the draft had to wait for a record 14 consecutive picks to find out his new home, but the seal was finally broken when the Colts selected rookie edge rusher Latu. Latu comes into this new spot with a tremendous skill set that proved he was elite in college. He also comes into the fold with the most serious red flag a player can have. He was medically retired in 2020 due to concerns with his neck. For those wondering, if we didn't know about this injury and strictly went with the on-field product, you wouldn't have any concerns at all. He already overcame the odds and was one of the most effective players in the NCAA with 23.5 sacks in 26 games (2 seasons). He also had a pass rush win rate of 26%. He will enter the NFL in a Colts defensive line room in serious need of an X-factor. Kwity Paye is a good player, but Latu has all the production to be that next big threat for the Colts alongside elite veteran Deforest Buckner.
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Dallas Turner, Minnesota Vikings
We know that being the new guy in any capacity is tough but imagine having to replace one of the best people in your profession. Dallas Turner will have to do so in replacement of Danielle Hunter who signed with the Houston Texans this offseason. I don't doubt that Turner will immediately impact the game in his position. In college, he had the benefit of being coached by one of the greatest of all time and will be the next great pass rusher in the lineage that is the Alabama defense. The most important thing to know about Turner is that not only did he get elite-level coaching in college, but he also was coached in high school by Hall of Famer Jason Taylor. His dad played professional basketball, he has had elite level coaching for his position for many years and he now has an opportunity to be a defensive focal point. The league needs to keep an eye on Turner in Minnesota because he is a rookie edge rusher who should pop immediately.
Chris Braswell, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
From one Alabama rookie edge rusher to another, the Buccaneers got themselves a real threat in their pass-rushing repertoire. It is important to note that he started just two games and still acquired these stats: 10.5 TFLs, eight sacks, and led the Alabama defense in quarterback pressures with 56, which was more than Dallas Turner. He didn't get the opportunities we would have liked to see due to the extreme talent at Alabama (Dallas Turner and Will Anderson Jr.), but when he was given the opportunity, he shined bright. Lastly, he is a physical specimen with off-the-chart results. He was clocked at 21.9 MPH on the field, can squat 705 pounds, and his 10-yard split in the 40-yard dash was 1.59 seconds. He has all the ability to produce and should do so at the NFL level.
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