We, as IDP managers, have such a long wait for the NFL Draft, and in two nights, it’s already half over. The NFL draft brings on your league’s rookie drafts, making it the most exciting time of the year. As we watch some of the prospects we were excited about all off-season getting drafted to NFL teams, we get a sense of validation. Although we had to wait a little longer than expected, some top-tier defensive players started to get selected. Let’s look at what the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft had in store for dynasty managers.
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1, Pick 15
Laiatu Latu, EDGE
Latu is a talented pass rusher with major upside as a double-digit sack guy in the NFL. He is likely to be sack-dependent early in his career. Latu has had over 120+ pressures and 20+ sacks over his last two seasons. He will be very easy to root for because he has such a great story. The UCLA pass rusher will be among the top three IDPs in your rookie drafts. Check out my pre-draft write-up on Laiatu Latu here Laiatu Latu.
Minnesota Vikings
Round 1, Pick 17
Dallas Turner, EDGE
It didn’t take long once the first defensive player came off the board for the run to start. Turner landed with the Minnesota Vikings as the replacement for Danielle Hunter. The Vikings lost 24.5 sacks with the departures of Hunter and D.J. Wonnum this off-season. Turner is coming off a 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year season after recording ten sacks last season. I love the scheme fit with Brian Flores and expect him to bring instant results for IDP managers once he is playing consistent snaps.
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1, Pick 19
Jared Verse, EDGE
The NFL is a copycat league, as they say. In a matter of just five picks, the top three pass-rushers in this draft were drafted. Verse would be selected by the Los Angeles Rams, and he joins a very young defensive front. IDP managers should temper expectations here. I love Verse’s ability, but life without Aaron Donald will not be as easy for the Los Angeles pass-rushers. The landing spot and draft capital are perfect; this was the best-case scenario for his dynasty value.
Miami Dolphins
Round 1, Pick 21
Chop Robinson, EDGE
This year, the first five defensive players off the board were all defensive linemen. Robinson was the fourth and final EDGE player selected in the first round. The Penn State product finds a home in Miami with a pair of really good pass-rushers to learn from. Robinson is a talented athlete who will need to make the most of his snaps early on. He will likely see some early opportunities with Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb returning from injuries to start next season. I fully broke down his game during the pre-draft process of Chop Robinson.
Green Bay Packers
Round 2, Pick 13
Edgerrin Cooper, LB
The Green Bay Packers finally showed the IDP community some love by selecting Cooper with the 45th overall pick. The Texas A&M linebacker has improved in each of his last three seasons. The Green Bay Packers moved on from D’Vondre Campbell this off-season, and Isaiah McDuffie has filled in well. Cooper has so much talent and upside he should have an excellent chance to earn that starting spot alongside Quay Walker. I’m a fan of this landing spot and excited for IDP managers looking to draft the LB1 in this year’s rookie draft.
New York Giants
Round 2, Pick 15
Tyler Nubin, DB
The pre-draft top-ranked linebacker and safety go within two picks of each other in the second round. Nubin fills an instant need for the New York Giants defense. The team lost Xavier McKinney this off-season and found an instant starter in Nubin. The Minnesota DB played five seasons in college and has a school record for interceptions. Nubin lands in the best spot available for him to find early success. He should be the day one starter for the Giants. Check out the IDP rookie profile for a more detailed breakdown Tyler Nubin.
Green Bay Packers
Round 2, Pick 26
Javon Bullard, DB
I love the Green Bay Packers addressing positions of need; specifically players we rely on to be productive fantasy scorers. Bullard should have the opportunity to start next to Xavier McKinney in the Green Bay secondary. Bullard has had a very productive college career with the Georgia Bulldogs. He brings a championship pedigree to a young Packers defense. According to Pro Football Focus, Bullard has had an overall grade of 80 or higher in the last two seasons. IDP managers have to appreciate what the Green Bay Packers did for us in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Los Angeles Chargers
Round 3, Pick 5
Junior Colson, LB
Hollywood couldn’t have written the Junior Colson and Jim Harbaugh story any better. The two are coming off a National Championship season and now get to continue their coach-player relationship with the Chargers. Colson was selected with the 69th overall pick, giving the Chargers a young leader at the LB position. He is a high-volume tackler. He will have an opportunity to learn from veteran LB Denzel Perryman. IDP managers shouldn’t be too concerned; don’t count Colson out as earning that position before the season starts. Don’t be surprised if Colson is the first linebacker off the board in your upcoming rookie drafts. My breakdown of the Michigan LB can be found here, Junior Colson.
Honorable Mentions
Bralen Trice, EDGE ATL
IDP managers should be excited about this draft capital. Trice is a sack-dependent EDGE but he lands in a good situation with Atlanta. I would expect rotational work at a minimum this season, and he could provide sneaky value with an injury in front of him.
Calen Bullock, DB HOU
The coverage skills are impressive with Bullock. I had a feeling he would be drafted higher based on that alone. He’s likely going to make a much better NFL player than a productive IDP. I would be careful spending even your late-round picks on him as he’s likely going to be a streaming option at DB for most of his career from a fantasy perspective.
Payton Wilson, LB PIT
All IDP managers feared how the NFL would view \Wilson. Unfortunately, the North Carolina State LB slid to the end of the third round. Wilson has dealt with injuries to his knee and shoulder over his college career. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected him 98th overall with a compensatory pick. It’s likely at least a year away from him getting a chance at a high snap share, but he should still be selected in your rookie drafts.
Kamren Kinchens, DB
Kinchens was selected with the 99th overall pick. He has a very well-balanced game but tested very poorly during the pre-draft process. He lands with the Rams and has a chance to create a Kam-Kam connection with newly signed free agent Kamren Curl. The former Miami Hurricane should find himself some playing time as a rookie; the question is just how much. IDP managers should look to target him around the 5th round.
The Wrap-up
The NFL Draft process can be too much to take in at times. The team at Dynasty Nerds is here for all your IDP needs. Stay tuned for the reactions from day 3 later this weekend. We look to provide you with all the information you need to come out on top in your rookie drafts that are coming up. IDP rookie rankings, post-draft IDP only, and Superflex/IDP mock drafts will be released soon. If you haven’t yet make sure to subscribe to the DynastyGM!! Rankings, trade calculator, league analyzer, and much more.
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