“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) LB – Sonny Styles – Washington Commanders Pick 1.07
Styles got drafted into one of the best opportunities for an IDP in all of fantasy football. He played all four years at Ohio State. The last two years combined, he posted 182 tackles (94 solo), 17 tackles for a loss, 17 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 8 passes defensed, and 1 interception. He can do it all very well, and at 6’5″ and 244lbs, he is very athletic. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash, had an 11’2″ broad jump, and posted a vertical leap of 43.5″. Another strong point is that Styles missed exactly zero games due to injury.
The Commanders need defensive help, and Styles fits right in. Bobby Wagner was not re-signed, and Frankie Luvu is unspectacular. Wagner is leaving behind 162 tackles on 100% of the defensive snaps. Luvu played every game and nearly every defensive snap and posted just 86 tackles. Styles will step right in and take over the leadership and production from game one. Look for him to be selected in your rookie drafts near the end of the 1st Round.
2) LB – Arvell Reece – New York Giants Pick 1.05
Reece could have been the #2 overall pick and maybe should have been based on his overall statistics and age. He played three years at Ohio State and is just 20 years old. His last two seasons combined had him produce 112 tackles (52 solo), 13.5 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks, and 2 passes defensed. Reece stands 6’4″ and weighs 241lbs. Another great athlete at his size, who posted a 4.46 40-yard dash.
2025 starting LB Bobby Okereke is still an unsigned free agent. He was their leading tackler with 143 tackles on 100% of the defensive snaps. There was nobody else worth mentioning. The Giants signed Tremaine Edmunds, who will play next to Reece, and together they will play all defensive snaps and produce over 250 tackles. Reece should also be picked in the later part of the 1st round in your rookie drafts.
3) LB – C.J. Allen – Indianapolis Colts Pick 2.21
Allen played for Georgia for three years and got better every year. He is 21 years old and played in every game of his college career. Over the last two years, he produced 164 combined tackles. His junior year in 2025 was special, with Allen producing 88 tackles (47 solo), 8 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 4 passes defensed in 13 games. He is a good-sized athlete at 6’1″ and 230lbs that ran a 4.47 40-yard dash.
The Colts were a perfect landing spot for him as they desperately need LB help. He will no doubt start, as the competition will be Germaine Pratt, Jaylon Carlies, Akeem Davis-Gaither, and others. A huge hole was left with Zaire Franklin signing with the Packers. His 125 tackles are up for grabs, and Allen should have no problem filling that opportunity. He should go somewhere in the middle rounds of your Rookie Draft. Don’t let him slide too far, though, and miss out on a starting LB for your squad.
4) LB – Josiah Trotter – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick 2.14
Trotter played just two seasons in the FBS. He had one year with West Virginia and one year with Missouri. Both years were outstanding as he posted a combined 176 tackles (79 solo), 17 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 3 passes defensed, and 1 interception in 24 games. Standing at 6’2″ and 237 lbs, he is a typical size for the LB position.
The Buccaneers signed two LBs this offseason. The first was Christian Rozeboom, who received a 1-year $1.55 million contract, and the second was Alex Anzalone, who received a 2-year $17 million contract. Anzalone will probably see a decent amount of defensive snaps, but Rozeboom could be on the bubble as only $955,000 of his contract is guaranteed. If Trotter can show up and show he can make a difference, he will steal those defensive snaps quickly. Look for him to be available in the back half of your rookie drafts.
5) LB – Jake Golday – Minnesota Vikings Pick 2.19
Golday played just two years of FBS college football, and both years were with the Cincinnati Bearcats. His senior year in 2025 had him post 105 tackles (39 solo), 6 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 3 passes defensed in 12 games played. At 6’4″ and 235lbs, Golday can move as he is very athletic. At the NFL combine, Golday produced a 4.62 40-yard dash, a 39″ vertical jump, and a 10’5″ broad jump. He will get play time, and the play time will increase as the year moves on.
The Vikings have Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, and Ivan Pace Jr all returning for 2025. This depth chart doesn’t seem to be very inviting for Golday. However, Cashman missed four games, and Pace was a non-factor in defensive snaps after Week 6. Cashman will turn 30 this season, and it is the final year of his three-year deal. Wilson just signed a 3-year, $22.5 million deal this past offseason. Wilson will be 32-years-old this season. The opportunity will arise for Golday at some point in 2026. He will shine in that opportunity and should go in the third round of your rookie drafts.
6) LB – Jacob Rodriguez – Miami Dolphins Pick 2.11
Rodiguez played 5 seasons of FBS college football with Virginia and Texas Tech. He will be a tad older for a rookie, with 24 being his age for this season. He had two phenomenal back-to-back seasons to close out his college career with Texas Tech. Both seasons were nearly identical. His combined totals for those 27 games were 255 tackles (140 solo), 21.5 tackles for a loss, 6 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 10 passes defensed, and 5 interceptions. His size is not ideal at 6’1″ and 235 lbs, but his athleticism scores were great. He ran a 4.57 40-yard dash, posted a 38.5′ vertical, and delivered a 10’1″ broad jump. His 20-yard shuttle and 3-cone drill were the best of all LBs at the combine.
He will back up Tyrel Dodson and Jordyn Brooks to start the season. It will be hard to unseat one of them without an injury. Brooks played nearly 100% of the defensive snaps, while Dodson missed one game and significant snaps in three others. Brooks posted 183 tackles while Dodson posted 129 tackles, so the high production is available for the taking. Look for him to go by the end of the third round of your rookie drafts.
Here are other LBs that should be available at the end of your IDP Rookie Drafts that belong on your league’s rosters. Anthony Hill Jr – Tennessee Titans, Jimmy Rolder – Detroit Lions, Wade Woodaz – Houston Texans, Kaleb Elarms-Orr – Buffalo Bills, Kendal Daniels – Atlanta Falcons, and Red Murdock – Denver Broncos.
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.
