UPDATED: September 5, 2010
The Linebacker position is the easiest Individual Defensive Player (IDP) spot to draft for. There is more consistency at the position than Defensive Back, and greater depth than Defensive Lineman. And more so than the other two positions, stud rookie Linebackers tend to surface each season like Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, Brian Cushing and James Laurinaitis.
Which rookie linebacker is most likely to surprise this season with 100 tackles? We like Rolando McClain for the Oakland Raiders, but we think Darryl Washington could be a nice sleeper pick as well for the Arizona Cardinals.
|
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
||
|
1. |
Patrick Willis |
SF |
26. |
Michael Boley |
NYG |
|
2. |
Jon Beason |
CAR |
27. |
James Harrison |
PIT |
|
3. |
Paul Posluzny |
BUF |
28. |
Gary Brackett |
IND |
|
4. |
James Laurinaitis |
STL |
29. |
Lawrence Timmons |
PIT |
|
5. |
Curtis Lofton |
ATL |
30. |
DeMarcus Ware |
DAL |
|
6. |
Barret Ruud |
TB |
31. |
Chad Greenway |
MIN |
|
7. |
DJ Williams |
DEN |
32. |
EJ Henderson |
MIN |
|
8. |
Rolando McClain |
OAK |
33. |
Brian Cushing |
HOU |
|
9. |
David Harris |
NYJ |
34. |
Geno Hayes |
TB |
|
10. |
D'Qwell Jackson |
CLE |
35. |
Lofa Tatupa |
SEA |
|
11. |
Jerod Mayo |
NE |
36. |
Brian Urlacher |
CHI |
|
12. |
DeMeco Ryans |
HOU |
37. |
Anthony Spencer |
DAL |
|
13. |
Kirk Morrison |
JAX |
38. |
Justin Durant |
JAX |
|
14. |
Jonathan Vilma |
NOS |
38. |
Stephen Cooper |
SD |
|
15. |
Stephen Tulloch |
TEN |
39. |
Ernie Sims |
PHI |
|
16. |
Karlos Dansby |
MIA |
40. |
Aaron Curry |
SEA |
|
17. |
Ray Lewis |
BAL |
41. |
Keith Bulluck |
NYG |
|
18. |
London Fletcher-Baker |
WAS |
42. |
Brian Orakpo |
WAS |
|
19. |
David Hawthorne |
SEA |
44. |
Clay Matthews |
GBP |
|
20. |
Lance Briggs |
CHI |
45. |
Dhani Jones |
CIN |
|
21. |
Nick Barnett |
GBP |
46. |
Bradie James |
DAL |
|
22. |
DeAndre Levy |
DET |
47. |
Darryl Washington |
DEN |
|
23. |
Stewart Bradley |
PHI |
48. |
Rey Mualuaga |
CIN |
|
24. |
Clint Session |
IND |
49. |
Demorrio Williams |
KC |
|
25. |
Lamarr Woodley |
PIT |
50. |
Dan Connor |
CAR |
Some may question my reasoning for putting David Hawthorne before Lafu Tatupa, but as we've already seen in camp this summer, Tatupa cannot stay healthy, making Hawthorne even more valuable.
Top 50 IDP Defensive Lineman Rankings
Top 50 IDP Defensive Back Rankings
|
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
||
|
1. |
Patrick Willis |
SF |
26. |
Michael Boley |
NYG |
|
2. |
Jon Beason |
CAR |
27. |
James Harrison |
PIT |
|
3. |
Paul Posluzny |
BUF |
28. |
Gary Brackett |
IND |
|
4. |
James Laurinaitis |
STL |
29. |
Keith Bulluck |
NYG |
|
5. |
Curtis Lofton |
ATL |
30. |
DeMarcus Ware |
DAL |
|
6. |
Barret Ruud |
TB |
31. |
Chad Greenway |
MIN |
|
7. |
DJ Williams |
DEN |
32. |
EJ Henderson |
MIN |
|
8. |
D'Qwell Jackson |
CLE |
33. |
David Hawthorne |
SEA |
|
9. |
David Harris |
NYJ |
34. |
Geno Hayes |
TB |
|
10. |
Rolando McClain |
OAK |
35. |
Lofa Tatupa |
SEA |
|
11. |
Jerod Mayo |
NE |
36. |
Brian Urlacher |
CHI |
|
12. |
Brian Cushing |
HOU |
37. |
Anthony Spencer |
DAL |
|
13. |
Kirk Morrison |
JAX |
38. |
Justin Durant |
JAX |
|
14. |
Jonathan Vilma |
NOS |
38. |
Stephen Cooper |
SD |
|
15. |
DeMeco Ryans |
HOU |
39. |
Ernie Sims |
PHI |
|
16. |
Karlos Dansby |
MIA |
40. |
Aaron Curry |
SEA |
|
17. |
Ray Lewis |
BAL |
41. |
Lawrence Timmons |
PIT |
|
18. |
London Fletcher-Baker |
WAS |
42. |
Brian Orakpo |
WAS |
|
19. |
Stephen Tulloch |
TEN |
44. |
Clay Matthews |
GBP |
|
20. |
Lance Briggs |
CHI |
45. |
Rey Maualuga |
CIN |
|
21. |
Nick Barnett |
GBP |
46. |
Bradie James |
DAL |
|
22. |
DeAndre Levy |
DET |
47. |
Demorrio Williams |
KC |
|
23. |
Stewart Bradley |
PHI |
48. |
Rocky McIntosh |
WAS |
|
24. |
Clint Session |
IND |
49. |
Darryl Washington |
ARI |
|
25. |
Lamarr Woodley |
PIT |
50. |
Dan Conner |
CAR |
