Post-NFL Draft IDP Winners and Losers

The 2024 NFL Draft will go down in history for a number of reasons—mainly that a whopping six quarterbacks went among the first dozen picks. But another record was set on April 25. For the first time in common-era draft history, not a single defensive player was drafted in the top 10. Only nine went in total in Round 1, beginning with UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu at No. 15.

However, just because the 2024 draft was offense-heavy doesn't mean that it was bereft of talent on that side of the ball. Whether it's Latu on the edge, Byron Murphy II of Texas at defensive tackle, Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper at linebacker, or Minnesota's Tyler Nubin at safety, there were players at every position talented enough to make a sizable IDP dent.

Of course, talent is only half the equation. Landing spot plays a huge role in the fantasy value of rookies—a clear path to playing time or the right scheme can make all the difference in the world. And every time a rookie is drafted, it sends ripples across the IDP landscape that affect first-year players and veterans alike.

For some of those players, the draft was a boon to their IDP value. Sadly, for more than a few others, the opposite held true.

And with dynasty rookie drafts and startups alike already firing up, knowing which guys fit into which category is knowledge worth having.

IDP Winners

DE Marshawn Kneeland, Dallas

With Dorrance Armstrong moving on in free agency and Demarcus Lawrence a 32-year-old who hasn't topped six sacks since 2020, the Cowboys needed to find Micah Parsons some help in this year's draft. They did so late in the second round, taking Western Michigan's Marshawn Kneeland with the 24th pick of Round 2.

A 6-foot-3, 267-pounder with the versatility to play both with his hand in the ground and standing up outside, Kneeland wasn't super productive in college. But he could see quite a few snaps as a rookie—and while there may be a learning curve, he has the skills to at least become a high-floor DL2.

DE Jared Verse, LA Rams

Verse was Bleacher Report's highest-ranked edge prospect, a player Matt Holder wrote is "such a coveted prospect (because of) his blend of strength and athleticism."

The 6-foot-4, 254-pounder landed on a Rams team at No. 19 overall, where there's a relatively clear path to playing time. There's also enough talent around him in edge rusher Byron Young and defensive tackle Kobie Turner to keep opponents from focusing on him. It's a solid landing spot.

LB Junior Colson, LA Chargers

In helping the Wolverines win a national title in 2023, Colson amassed 89 total tackles and was the quarterback for the Michigan defense. Now, as the 6-foot-2, 238-pounder begins his NFL journey, he will do so in familiar surroundings, following UM head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Familiarity with Minter's scheme isn't the only reason to be excited about Colson's new home. He will be the best coverage linebacker on the Chargers as soon as he walks into the building. The talent on the depth chart around him isn't especially imposing, either. There's a real chance Colson opens his rookie year, making the defensive play calls for the Bolts.

LB Trenton Simpson, Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens suffered a significant loss at linebacker in the offseason, with Patrick Queen joining the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Queen's way out the door, though, he tweeted that he was leaving his spot in the capable hands of second-year pick Trenton Simpson. "Give him time to gel in with the league," Queen wrote. "[He's going to] be that guy."

The Ravens appear to agree at least to an extent, as the team didn't draft an off-ball linebacker or make any major moves in free agency. Simpson was a Day 2 pick and highly-regarded prospect coming out of Clemson, and it looks like he's going to get his chance to show what he can do in 2024.

S Cole Bishop, Buffalo

Bishop sees a lot of similarities between the Bills and the Utah Utes teams he starred on for so long, and he told reporters he can't wait to get started. "It seems like this culture and Utah's culture are a little bit similar, kind of that blue collar mindset," Bishop said. "So, I'm coming in, I'm bringing my own culture, but also, I'm gonna buy into whatever they do."

Like so many high-end safety prospects nowadays, the 6-foot-2, 206-pounder has the physicality to stand up against the run and the speed and athleticism to hold his own in coverage. With longtime starters Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer both gone, there's a window for Bishop to earn a starting role as a rookie.

S Javon Bullard, Green Bay

Green Bay used a pair of second-round picks this year to draft linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and Bullard, and Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters that was not an accident. "They bring a lot of speed," Gutekunst said. "I think we got a lot faster, which I wanted to do this weekend."

Athletic and versatile, Bullard was the 2022 Defensive MVP of the College Football Playoff Championship Game and a key part of Georgia teams that won back-to-back titles. The 5-foot-11, 191-pounder has a clear path to starting at safety opposite Xavier McKinney on a Green Bay defense that could be pretty scary in 2024.

IDP Losers

EDGE Laiatu Latu, Indianapolis

To be clear, this has little to nothing to do with Latu's talent—the 6-foot-5, 259-pounder has a blend of size, speed and agility that few edge rushers in this class can match. Latu also joins a Colts defensive front that is quietly becoming loaded with as much talent as any in the league.

Latu's medical history is a valid concern for dynasty managers, but the bigger worry in the short term is that loaded front. With DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart at tackle and Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam at end, there's no reason for the Colts to rush Latu's acclimation to the NFL. His snaps will all but surely be limited early.

EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, Minnesota

After injuries forced Van Ginkel to shift from off-ball linebacker to edge rusher, Van Ginkel racked up 69 total tackles, 19 quarterback hits, and a career-high six sacks last season. He seemed to have found his true calling at the NFL level, and that career year earned him a new deal with the Vikings.

However, Van Ginkel's time in the sun may already be fading. With the second of their two first-round picks, the Vikings drafted Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner. Turner has the highest IDP ceiling of any player at his position in this year's class, and with Jonathan Greenard at the other end, Turner's snaps will come mostly at Van Ginkel's expense.

LB Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh

At this point a year ago, Holcomb was heading into OTAs as the No. 1 linebacker for the Steelers—the free agent signing that was going to fix a position of weakness in the Steel City. Instead, Holcomb suffered a major injury for the second straight season, and while reports regarding his rehab have been encouraging, at this point, it may not matter.

The Steelers had already made one splash move at linebacker this season, swiping Patrick Queen from the rival Ravens. But the Steelers also added North Carolina State's Payton Wilson in this year's draft. Were it not for medical reasons, Turner would have been this year's No. 1 linebacker prospect. It's entirely possible he'll start ahead of Holcomb.

LB Isaiah McDuffie, Green Bay

Not that long ago, it looked like McDuffie could be a sneaky value pick for IDP managers in 2024. McDuffie made eight starts last year and posted a career-best 86 total tackles. In four different games, the 24-year-old hit the 10-tackle mark. Headed for a potential starting role, the sky was the limit.

Now, the operative word with McDuffie is "was." When the Packers used a second-rounder on this year's No. 1 linebacker prospect in Cooper, that all but slammed the door on McDuffie starting this season. That Green Bay added another rookie linebacker on Day 2 in Ty'Ron Hopper was rubbing salt into the wound.

S Calen Bullock, Houston

The Texans moved up in Round 3 to draft Bullock, and head coach DeMeco Ryans made it clear to reporters why. "With Bullock, you see just his ball skills, his range back there in the deep half of the field--it just stood out," Ryans said. "He's an exceptional playmaker who attacks the ball. That's what we are about on defense."

Talent isn't an issue with Bullock—the 6-foot-2, 188-pounder with 4.48-second speed has plenty of that. It's role—the Texans already have Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward on the roster, and even were Bullock to push Ward to the slot he'd still be playing a deep role that would leave him big-play dependent.

S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Arizona

At just 5-foot-10 and 197 pounds, Taylor-Demerson doesn't have the size some teams covet in safeties. But he has 4.41-second speed and excellent instincts where both play recognition and coverage are concerned. Had he landed in the right spot, Taylor-Demerson could have been a Day 1 starter and potential IDP sleeper.

However, Taylor-Demerson went early on Day 3 to the Arizona Cardinals, who have a pair of entrenched veteran starters at safety in Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson. Even if Taylor-Demerson is being groomed to eventually replace one of them, it's unlikely to be this year. And there's no point in waiting a year for a defensive back.

Gary Davenport ("The Godfather of IDP") is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow him on Twitter at @IDPSharks.

And here's a look at IDP rookie rankings.