RELATED: See 8 offensive rookies who will tear it up in 2025
The big day is getting closer and closer.
We're only about a week away from the beginning of the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay. And while the first overall pick will probably be Miami quarterback Cam Ward, this isn't going to be a repeat of 2024, when the first defensive player didn't come off the board until the 15th overall pick.
In the opinion of most draftniks, the top two prospects overall in this draft class are defenders—Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter. In the most recent mock draft at Bleacher Report, half of the top-12 players drafted ply their trade on the defensive side of the ball. There are more than a few defensive prospects who are expected to make both a significant and immediate impact at the NFL level.
Now, as important as landing spots can be for the fantasy value of offensive players, it is doubly so in IDP leagues. Schematic fit. Pathway to snaps. Depth chart around them. All can have a massive impact on IDP value—especially in the early going.
But there are a handful of defensive players who have the potential to make fantasy hay in 2025, regardless of where they land. Some are straight from the files of Captain Obvious. Others are a little less so.
But all should be on the radar of IDP managers as the NFL draft comes and goes and fantasy draft season begins in earnest.
EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State
What? I told you Captain Obvious would be making an appearance.
There was a time when Carter was the odds-on favorite in Vegas to be the first player drafted in 2025. A foot injury that prevented the 6-3, 252-pounder from participating in pre-draft workouts likely threw cold water on that notion, but ESPN's Mel Kiper doesn't expect Carter to get past the New York Giants at No. 3 overall.
In his first season as a full-time edge rusher (after playing primarily off-ball linebacker in past years), Carter had 12 sacks and 23.5 total tackles for loss. I see elite traits on the tape. And considering the Giants have holes all over their roster, they might opt for the best player on the board. They'd have something up front with Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence II.
Carter isn't getting past the Patriots at No. 4, and no matter where he's drafted, he will play early, provided the foot heals as expected. Even the best edge rushers often post relatively modest numbers in Year 1, but there are some serious Micah Parsons vibes with Carter.
Parsons had 13 sacks and was second among edge rushers in fantasy points in 2021.
EDGE Mike Green, Marshall
It's a good year to need help on the edge—it's a deep and talented class. But among that class, no one in FBS had more sacks last year than Green's 17. There are questions about the level of competition and character concerns after Green was accused of sexual assault while at Virginia, but as Lance Zierlein wrote for NFL.com, from a talent perspective, Green has all the ingredients to be a force early in his professional career.
"High-energy pass rusher with productivity and a method of play that should translate to the next level," Zierlein said. "Green displays a natural and instinctive rush, utilizing loose hips and a series of moves and counters that can open doors with force or finesse. He's very physical, with notes of violence in the way he attacks blockers in both phases. His explosiveness allows him to penetrate gaps, play around or through the protection edges, and change direction quickly to finish in the backfield. He relentlessly presses forward, but can run out of gas due to his hot-running motor. Teams might wish he were heavier and longer, but he's willful, skilled, and powerful with the ability to create enormous matchup concerns as an edge rusher on the next level."
Those allegations at Virginia (which Green has vehemently denied) leave his draft stock in limbo—the 6'3", 252-pounder could go inside the top 15 or slide into Day 2. Green's motor and quickness off the edge are as good as any edge rusher in this class, and if he falls to a team like Detroit or Kansas City, White could be one of the steals of Round 1.