IDP Rookie DTs: Impact Players and Sleepers

The 2024 NFL Draft is behind us, and it’s time to take a look at some of the impact IDPs out there, with a few sleepers mixed in for good measure.  Let’s start with the defensive tackles.

If you want to reference our defensive rookie rankings, they can be found here.

The Big 2 IDP Rookie DTs

Byron Murphy II, Seattle

Murphy isn’t quite the freak that Aaron Donald was (in case you live under a rock, Donald retired, but there’s a shot that Murphy can come fairly close to being the game-wrecker that he was and is, therefore, a top IDP rookie.  He doesn’t have the mountain of a man in T'Vondre Sweat eating up space next to him anymore, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be ultra-productive.  In leagues that break up the defensive line position into tackles and ends, Murphy is by far the best tackle to own from this class.  He will likely slide right in as a starter for the Seahawks, flanked by the venerable Leonard Williams, and will have the underrated Jarran Reed next to him plugging the middle.  The only minor concern here is the fact that Seattle has traditionally utilized a rotation on the defensive line. However, that practice was done under a prior regime, so perhaps we see Murphy with close to all the defensive snaps for this Seattle defense.  Murphy has some solid pass rush moves and will most definitely help in stopping the run.  He's technically on the shorter side for a tackle, but that never stopped the aforementioned Donald.  Look for Murphy to be a stalwart on this Seattle line for a decade and will be an instant fantasy impact.  That said, in leagues combining the DT/DE positions into one, Murphy is probably coming off the boards far later than a guy like Donald would in redrafts.

Jer'Zhan Newton, Washington

This is a good spot for Newton to fall, as Jonathan Allen is approaching 30, and Da'Ron Payne has a gigantic contract that the Commanders could easily escape from if the current regime finds him to be expendable.  Even if Payne sticks around, Newton’s path to regular playing time is fairly clear.  Newton probably needs a year or two of seasoning as it is, so whereas Murphy is a legit plug-and-play option from Day 1, Newton is more of an asset you’ll want to park on your taxi squad for at least one season.  Newton’s got a high motor, and is both strong and physical.  And, like Murphy, he is slightly undersized for a tackle but gets it done nonetheless.  There have been some Sheldon Richardson comparisons here, and rightly so.  He could easily have the same career arc.  Probably not worth drafting in leagues that combine the DTs/DEs unless you’re in a bigger/deeper format.

RELATED: See IDP Rookie DEs here >>>

 A Host of Sleeper IDP Rookie DTs

Braden Fiske, LA Rams

If Kobie Turner were not in line to replace Aaron Donald as the next great Ram defensive tackle, Fiske would have a clearer path to that role (potentially, of course).   Fiske is big (6-foot-4 and approaching 300 lbs.) but exhibits good lateral quickness and is quick off the snap.  There is a little bit of some Bryan Bresee (NOS) to his game, but he might offer a little more upside than the former Clemson product.  Also of note, more than one reliable depth chart shows Fiske as an end, so there will be a bit of a dice roll in terms of where he ends up position-wise on league hosting sites like MyFantasyLeague.  His value would probably dip a bit if he were listed as an end.  If you’re in a league that breaks apart the defensive linemen, you can pencil in Fiske as the third tackle off your rookie board, but proceed cautiously as his position could realistically change come kickoff in ’24.

Kris Jenkins, Cincinnati

If you are feeling a little risk-averse and don’t want to roll the dice with Fiske, Jenkins has no chance of moving to end and also has a nice path to regular playing time as he’ll be behind Sheldon Rankins and B.J. Hill, both who are likely in the latter stages of their careers.  Jenkins has pedigree (Dad was a three-time All-Pro tackle), and exhibits a tremendous ability to stuff the run, perfect for the Bengals’ defensive scheme currently in place.  He’ll never approach double-digit sacks but could net you four or five a season while keeping relevant in the run-stopping game.  A solid option in leagues that start tackles independently from the rest of the line, but don’t expect instant production.

Michael Hall Jr., Cleveland

Hall is yet another 'tweener that profiles best as an inside rush presence.  He won’t help much in the run game at least from what his college tape shows, but could provide the Browns with some pressure against the opposing quarterback from the inside.  The good news is that there’s some room for growth, and guys like Shelby Harris (32 years old) and Dalvin Tomlinson (30) are the only ones in his way for regular playing time.  Hall is just 20, so there’s plenty of room for growth in his game.

Ruke Orhorhoro, Atlanta

This giant man has a ton of upside, although he’s currently penciled in as a backup to David Onyemata as the Falcon’s nose tackle, which typically isn’t a great spot for fantasy production.  He’s a former basketball player who’s only really been playing football for a handful of years.  He has some moves but might be a tad limited when it comes to rushing the passer.  He can stop the run, making him a solid candidate to plug up the middle for the Falcons defense.  That just means his fantasy production could be capped. 

Maason Smith, Jacksonville

Another solid tackle prospect is the ex-LSU Tiger Maason Smith.  Smith will initially learn from Arik Armstead for the Jaguars and actually profiles similarly to Armstead in terms of both pass-rush ability and run-stuffing prowess.  Armstead is 30, so if you’ve missed out on the Big 2 tackles and want to wait a little longer to grab a tackle for your taxi squad, Smith is a solid option to become fantasy-relevant in the next year or two. 

T'Vondre Sweat, Tennessee

For us Texas Longhorn fans, we were sad to see the big guy finally move on, as he was a stalwart in the middle of the defensive line who seemed to always be around the ball.  He profiles as a nose tackle, which may limit the upside in terms of fantasy production, but the Outland Trophy winner will pair nicely with Jeffrey Simmons on the inside of the Titan defensive line.  He’s gigantic (6-foot-5 and 365 lbs.) with solid upper body strength to shed blockers, so his run-stopping upside is there even as a nose tackle.