“The 2026 NFL IDP Rookie Draft will be full of high-ceiling prospects. Here are the IDPs that you will want to draft for your IDP team!”
We just had a very exciting 2026 NFL Rookie Draft that will dramatically impact several players’ value. In this edition, we will look at the IDP Rookies that just got drafted in last weekend’s NFL Draft. The players below will be players you will want to find room for on your IDP rosters.
1) Edge – David Bailey – New York Jets – Rookie Pick 1.02
Bailey spent his first three years in college playing for the Stanford Cardinal. He played 32 games and recorded 111 tackles (73 solo), 22.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, and 1 pass defensed. All three years were very similar in production in all categories, which were good, but they weren’t spectacular. For his senior year in college, he transferred to Texas Tech and had a spectacular season. Bailey had career highs in tackles, solo tackles, tackles for a loss, and sacks. He didn’t just barely break the highs; he nearly doubled his previous highs. Bailey posted 52 tackles (32 solo), 19.5 tackles for a loss, 14.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 passes defended.
Bailey now becomes the immediate starting Edge opposite of Will McDonald. His defensive snap share should be at least 80%. The starter in that position last year was Jermaine Johnson II, who led the position in tackles in 2025. Johnson was signed by the Titans in free agency this year. The opportunity will be there for Bailey, and the player will take advantage of it. He will likely get drafted in the back half of your Rookie Draft 1st Round, so don’t hesitate to be the team that makes this pick and then reaps the rewards.
2) Edge – Reuben Bain Jr. – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Rookie Pick 1.15
Bain played three years for the Miami Hurricanes and missed just three games at the beginning of the 2024 season due to a soft tissue injury. He played 38 games during his college career at Miami. His junior year, last season, was his best in all categories, including 54 tackles (30 solo), 15.5 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass defensed, and 1 interception. Being the 15th overall pick in the 2026 NFL rookie draft, he will be expected to step right in and contribute.
Bain does not have deep competition for playing time at the Edge position this year. One starter from 2025 is returning, while the other is still an unsigned free agent. YaYa Diaby will be returning after posting 50 tackles (29 solo), 13 tackles for a loss, 19 QB hits, 7 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass defensed. Haason Reddick is not returning after producing just 31 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 13 games. The opportunity is wide open for Bain to become a 70% or higher defensive snap participant.
3) Edge – Akheem Mesidor – Los Angeles Chargers – Rookie Pick 1.22
Mesidor has the playing time experience in college with two seasons at West Virginia and four seasons with the Miami Hurricanes. In 2023, he suffered a foot injury in the third game of the season, which cost him the remainder of the year. Over his collegiate career, the 25-year-old has played in 65 games and produced a combined 208 tackles (123 solo), 52.5 tackles for a loss, 35.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and 4 passes defended. 2025 was by far his best season with 63 tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss, 12.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles in 15 games.
The Chargers have both of their starting Edge position players returning for 2026. Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack formed a nice duo in producing 18.5 sacks, 81 tackles, and 26 tackles for a loss combined. Mack is now 35-years-old and produced just 5.5 of those sacks, 32 of those tackles, and 6 of those tackles for a loss. Mack will definitely keep seeing defensive snaps, but they will be regressing. Mesidor will have his defensive snaps increasing as the year goes on, and his experience and number of games played will keep him ready for the opportunities when they arrive.
4) Edge – Malachi Lawrence – Dallas Cowboys – Rookie Pick 1.23
Lawrence played all four of his years with the University of Central Florida and was productive in his last three seasons. As a senior, Lawrence posted 28 tackles (17 solo), 11 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 passes defended in 12 games played. At 6′ 4″ and 263 lbs., he is a very explosive athlete. At the 2026 NFL combine, Lawrence posted a 4.52 40-yard dash, produced a broad jump of 10′ 10″, and also posted a vertical leap of 40″.
The Cowboys need to step up on the defensive side in a big way after their 2025 performance. There are plenty of 2025 players not returning for 2026. Lawrence will fit right in with his athleticism and experience to have a positive effect on the defense. Jadeveon Clowney and Dante Fowler Jr will not be back, and they contributed a combined 732 defensive snaps. They did bring in Rashan Gary to team up with Donovan Ezeiruaku as the starting edge position players. Gary and Ezeiruaku only played 50-60% of the defensive snaps on average in 2025. The opportunity will be there for Lawrence to contribute and shine very early in his career.
5) Edge – Keldric Faulk – Tennessee Titans – Rookie Pick 1.31
Faulk is 21 years old and ready to roll. He played all three years for Auburn and recorded 109 tackles (73 solo), 19.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, and 6 passes defensed in 37 games. Faulk is remarkably athletic for his size of 6′ 6″ and 288 lbs. He posted a very impressive 9′ 9″ broad jump and a 35″ vertical jump. At his age right now, the ceiling is very high to produce very quickly.
The Titans seem to be starting from scratch with the Edge position in 2026. Their highest defensive snap producer, Arden Key, has signed with the Colts, and Dre’Mont Jones signed with the Patriots. The opportunities will definitely present themselves for Faulk, and he should take advantage of them and be a 70% or higher defensive snap Edge position player.
These players were picked in the 2nd Round of the NFL Rookie Draft and should be drafted at the end of your IDP Rookie Drafts if you have a need for the DL/Edge position on your rosters. 2.03 – T.J. Parker, Buffalo Bills. 2.08 – R Mason Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs. 2.09 – Cashius Howell, Cincinnati Bengals. 2.12 – Derrick Moore, Detroit Lions. 2.13 – Zion Young, Baltimore Ravens. 2.23 – Gabe Jacas, New England Patriots.
Thank you for checking out my NFL IDP Rookie Must Draft article! You can read all of my articles on my IDP+ author page. Be sure to follow me on X at @OldMan_FF and @IDP_Plus (we have offense, too), and please consider becoming a subscriber.
