There are some absolute stud Individual Defensive Players (IDP) you should be drafting in your leagues, whether you are an avid fantasy player or a beginner jumping in. With IDP growing more and more in popularity, I get asked all of the time when you should draft these players in your rookie draft. So, let’s jump right into players I love this year and when you should draft them.
Rookies You Need to Draft IDP Edition
Carson Schwesinger: Linebacker – Cleveland Browns
Carson Schwesinger has a bit of work ahead of him to grab a starting role for the Cleveland Browns in 2025. The Browns’ defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz isn’t known for having two or more linebackers in the top twenty so that leaves Jordan Hicks this year as the viable starter. Though Schwesinger is currently third on the depth chart. He is in a great spot to land as a starter for the Browns within a year or so. Being drafted in the second round of the draft gives him draft capital and investment for his future career. He has great size, 6’2″ 225lbs, and led the Big Ten in tackles in 2024. Behind players like Matthew Golden and Tre Harris, Schwesinger is being drafted middle of the second round. It’s a great spot for an IDP rookie.
Demetrius Knight Jr: Linebacker – Cincinnati Bengals
Now, Demtrius Knight Jr is typically coming off most rookie drafts in the middle of the third round as a linebacker four off the board. I believe he is the most valuable linebacker in this draft based on his current ADP. Knight is in the best spot to see significant snaps this upcoming season, with the previous starter, Germaine Pratt, being released. If fulfilled, it allows Knight a starting role next to Logan Wilson. Knight was drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft and had a successful college career. He finished his senior year with First-Team All-AAC honors at South Carolina.
Malaki Starks: Safety – Baltimore Ravens
As the projected starter opposite of Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks is a must-draft in your rookie drafts. He was drafted in the first round, giving him strong draft capital. Typically landing in the late third round of most rookie drafts, the but is one of the few rookies that should get 100% of the snaps in 2025. Like his college career, where he started as a true freshman and played all but one of his forty-one games, Starks should be a long-time staple for many fantasy teams. Starks is coming off an excellent college career at Georgia. He has the raw athletic ability to make big plays alongside Hamilton for years to come. He is a great run defender and has a very high IQ, reading blocks and plays. Replacing the previous safety who finished with 64 tackles in 2024.
Donovan Ezeiruaku: Defensive End – Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys are a great landing spot for Donovan Ezeiruaku. He was taken in the second round of the NFL Draft and finished 2024 ranked second in the FBS with 16.5 sacks. His sophomore year, he had 8.5 sacks, which landed him Second-team All-ACC. His talent, athleticism, and IQ are very high, puts will force the Cowboys to get him on the field opposite Micah Parsons. OTAs and mini-camps will help him to show his ability and get snaps this upcoming season. In most rookie drafts, he is being drafted at the end of the third or the beginning of the fourth round. With snaps expected this season and becoming a potential starter, he could be a staple for your fantasy team.
Bonus
Chris Paul Jr: Linebacker – Los Angeles Rams
Now, Chris Paul Jr is a player you’re drafting or picking up off waivers for future starts. A deep stash IDP rookie. Paul Jr was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the fifth round. It’s not the draft capital we want to see. With that said, he lands on a team that needs linebackers. Outside of Jared Verse, Paul Jr could steal snaps and a starting role very soon. His competition ahead of him is Omar Speights. Speight started 17 games last season and was signed as an undrafted free agent. Paul Jr is a more athletic linebacker than Speights and could put pressure on him during minicamp. Paul finished his 2024 college season leading the Ole Miss Rebels with 88 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and was a finalist for the Butkus Award. An award for the top linebacker in college.