The draft is over! Which 2022 IDP rookies went to what NFC West teams, and which of them have the best outlook, from now on, for fantasy?
The draft certainly had Its share of twists and unexpected picks, but now that most of the dust has settled and players are signing rookie contracts. So, where do the current NFL teams stand? More importantly, what does this mean for your fantasy team?
If you have not drafted, you may want to know landing spots for players with more opportunities than others. Not that landing spot is everything, but some teams were more greedy than others for certain positions. Some NFL teams addressed their assumed needs, and others may have just taken the best available player, so I am here to help sort out some of the mess.
If a player is listed as an EDGE, they are dual-eligible as a defensive lineman and linebacker on fantasy platforms. You can find our IDP Guys’ rankings here to see what value our staff gives players. All stats are from PFF.
In this article, I will be reviewing the NFC West 2022 IDP rookies, a few UDFAs, and their potential for assisting your fantasy team.
NFC West Teams and their 2022 IDP Rookies
The Seattle Seahawks
Which NFC West rookie would you rather draft in your IDP league?
— Mase (@caliking49er17) May 7, 2022
Pick # | Player | Position |
40th | Boye Mafe | EDGE |
109th | Coby Bryant | CB |
153rd | Tariq Woolen | CB |
158th | Tyreke Smith | EDGE |
To my surprise, Seattle drafted a pair of edge rushers and did not touch the linebacker position in the 2022 NFL Draft. Even the UDFA class consists of various defensive backs and two defensive linemen. Former Golden Gopher, Boye Mafe, was one of the crowd favorites at the Senior Bowl with his power and explosive first step.
With Mafe being taken in the second round, I wouldn’t anticipate he would be an immediate starter on one’s fantasy team. If he does need time to develop, I wouldn’t be drafting Mafe or any other defensive Seattle rookies in the early rounds of a rookie draft. I don’t mind spending a mid-third or later on Mafe in IDP-only formats.
Boye Mafe is the EDGE11 in the IDPGuys May rookie rankings. Unfortunately, no other players that Seattle drafted are in the IDPGuys consensus rankings.
Coby Bryant from Cincinnati is a dual-threat corner efficient in man and zone coverage. I see him as an outside player who will need additional time to develop. He’s a possible late-round selection in corner-specific IDP leagues.
If you are looking for another late-round corner-specific dart throw, may I suggest Tariq Woolen? Woolen’s athleticism is off of the charts as displayed at the combine, and with his size (6’4” 205lbs), he is a difficult prospect to overlook.
I have not drafted any Seattle rookies in conjoined leagues with six or fewer rounds in rookie drafts this off-season.
The San Francisco 49ers
Pick # | Player | Position |
61st | Drake Jackson | EDGE |
172nd | Samuel Womack | CB |
220th | Kalia Davis | DT |
221st | Tariq Castro-Fields | CB |
UDFA | Leon O’Neal Jr. | FS |
UDFA | Kevin Atkins | DT |
The 49ers made some “on-brand” selections in the 2022 NFL Draft. The 49ers’ first selection in the draft came in the second round. Drake Jackson, EDGE from the University of Southern California, seems like a player that defensive coordinator Demeco Ryans can work with and get the best out of.
It also doesn’t hurt that Jackson will have one of the best (if not the best) defensive ends in the NFL in Nick Bosa on the other side of the 49ers’ defensive line. Jackson is best known for his explosiveness off of the line of scrimmage. His run defense will need some development; however, I see some fantasy value that could be in store for his future.
Drake Jackson is the EDGE15 is the IDPGuys May rookie rankings. Once again, this is the only player that San Francisco drafted that is ranked in our consensus rankings.
Samuel Womack was selected just over one-hundred selections after Jackson. Womack, a former cornerback from Toledo, considers himself a ‘lockdown, press corner.’ He only made five interceptions throughout his collegiate career. Womack did break up twenty-seven passes in his final three seasons at Toledo.
Aside from Jackson, I am not overly excited or hopeful for any of the other 49ers’ prospects for fantasy.
The Arizona Cardinals
Pick # | Player | Position |
87th | Cameron Thomas | DE |
100th | Myjai Sanders | DE |
244th | Christian Matthews | DB |
256th | Jesse Luketa | LB |
UDFA | LaRon Stokes | DT |
UDFA | Manny Jones | DE |
The Arizona Cardinals made a semi-shocking trade in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. They did not select a defensive player until the third round and doubled down on the line. Cameron Thomas is a defensive end from San Diego State who tallied one hundred and twenty-nine combined tackles and twenty-three sacks in his three years as an Aztec.
Thomas is known for his ability to play at multiple positions at the line and get on the inside shoulder of offensive tackles.
Shortly after selecting Thomas, the Cardinals selected another somewhat underrated defensive lineman in Myjai Sanders. Sanders was a pivotal part of the Bearcats’ defense in 2020 and 2021. His 6’5” frame lets him wrap defenders in the backfield with ease. Sanders is another lineman drafted in the West that could use a year to polish up his game before we can genuinely see what Sanders is capable of.
Cameron Thomas is the DE01and Myjai Sanders is the EDGE14 is the IDPGuys May rookie rankings.
The Cardinals selected Christian Matthews and Jesse Luketa in the seventh and final round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Matthews is a 6’4” aggressive press corner double transfer from D-II schools Georgia Southern and Samford.
Luketa is a coach’s player from Penn State who gives his all with every play. If he is to earn a role, it will be via special teams, and then it could be possible he finds his way into the rotation. I wouldn’t mind saving a taxi spot for Luketa in IDP-only leagues, but unfortunately, I wouldn’t hold my breath for any immediate production from either player.
The Los Angeles Rams
Pick # | Player | Position |
142nd | Decobie Durant | CB |
211th | Quentin Lake | S |
212nd | Derion Kendrick | CB |
253rd | Russ Yeast | S |
UFDA | Jake Hummel | ILB |
UDFA | Dion Novil | DT |
The fantasy train for the NFC West comes to a screeching halt here in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Rams have not selected a player in the first round since the 2016 draft (Jared Goff). The Rams didn’t draft a defender until the fourth round, and even then, it was a corner.
No disrespect to Decobie Durant, but I’m not hopeful that he or any other rookies will have an impact this season (again, about fantasy).
On April 25, Los Angeles traded a 2023 fifth-round selection for Troy Hill. I presume he will take the nickel-back role, lessening Durants chances to make an impact anywhere other than special teams. Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp have the back end of the secondary “wrapped up.”
In the 2020 draft, the Rams had four defensive selections. Terrell Lewis and Terrell Burgess combined for less than two hundred snaps, and Clay Johnston didn’t see the field. The Rams’ only outlier is the sixth-round selection out of Ohio State, Jordan Fuller.
Fuller logged over 800 snaps in his rookie season. 2021 was a tad different as third-round selection Ernest Jones saw 519 snaps, of the other two players selected on the defensive side of the ball combined for four snaps.
None of the players selected in the 2022 NFL draft are in the IDPGuys consensus rankings.
A thousand thank yous for reading my NFC West 2022 IDP Rookies article! If you enjoyed it, read all my work on my IDP Guys author page and follow me on Twitter @Caliking49er17.