The NFL Draft is in the books, and dynasty drafts are underway. Who are the biggest IDP rookie losers from the 2023 class?
Rookie drafts are kicking off all around the fantasy football world, and IDP players are no strangers to that. Not every IDP rookie can get the golden landing spot or draft capital that fantasy football desires.
Several promising prospects fell too far, or simply landed in a position that won’t yield success for the beloved IDP rookie class.
Click here to check out the rookie winners from the NFL Draft. Now let’s jump into the losers!
IDP Rookie Losers
Will McDonald, Edge, New York Jets
In a different world — the one where my mock draft is perfect — McDonald is playing in an amazing situation for another New York team in the Giants. McDonald is an awesome athlete who can use his skills as a former linebacker to drop into coverage.
But the Jets utilize such a steady rotation that it seems impossible for McDonald to stand out. Hell, just a year ago everyone was excited for what Jermaine Johnson — another first-round edge rusher — could do in this system. But Robert Saleh’s darn good coaching strategy just isn’t as good for fantasy as we may hope. And McDonald isn’t the type of prospect to break the mold.
Adetomiwa Adebawore, DE, Indianapolis Colts
Adebawore fell all the way to Day 3 before being snapped up by the Colts in the fourth round. It’s disappointing for Adebawore, who tested off the charts at the Combine and was rumored to be a late Day-1 candidate.
The landing spot is favorable though, with only Samson Ebukam likely ahead of him on the depth chart. Still, it’s a disappointing slide from the Northwestern product.
Keion White, DE, New England Patriots
White is another prospect who received first-round buzz. Still, draft capital isn’t what drops him into the loser category after being a second-round pick. It’s the landing spot.
Sure, it’s awesome to work with Bill Belichick. But Deatrich Wise is a very good player who is still under contract for the next two seasons at an affordable cost. Lawrence Guy may be replaceable, but even then the team has Christian Barmore and Davon Godchaux working the middle in a 3-4 that fully utilizes Matthew Judon off the edge.
He just seems destined for a rotational role early on, with some potential down the line. It’s not the landing spot fantasy owners should’ve wanted.
Marte Mapu, LB, New England Patriots
Back-to-back Patriot picks! Mapu got third-round capital, but there are just not many spots for him to make an impact. He’s versatile to play linebacker or safety — possibly even nickle corner — but the team is deep at safety and has decent talent at linebacker.
Mapu will likely spend his rookie season on special teams. Don’t overdraft him on capital alone.
Ivan Pace, LB, Minnesota Vikings
Pace was thought to be a borderline Day 2 option. Instead he fell undrafted, likely due to his size concerns at 5’11.” It’s never good to fall in the draft, but being undrafted makes it an uphill climb to make the roster, let alone your fantasy lineup.
The upswing is the landing spot, which is an incredibly bare LB room in Minnesota. There’s upside to be had, but ultimately 32 teams continually passed on pace. Fantasy teams will probably follow suit.
Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Houston Texans
Fifth-round draft capital AND a crowded LB room? To’oTo’o did not win the draft lottery, so to speak.
There’s Christian Harris, Christian Kirskey and Denzel Perryman all firmly ahead of To’oTo’o, not to mention the others still on the roster. Barring injuries to several starters To’oTo’o is absolutely off the redraft roster.
There’s a wide-open spot for the LB2 spot or better in 2024. But To’oTo’o, as a Day 3 guy, will face an uphill journey to even get an interview for the job.
Veteran Honorable Mention
Carl Granderson, DE, New Orleans Saints
I’ve been a staunch Granderson supporter. And I still am. But boy, did the incumbent edge rusher take a hit this weekend.
The Saints drafted Notre Dame prospect Isaiah Foskey, a beast himself, early in the second round. In the first round, they also took Clemson DT Bryan Bresee, who could slide out wide. Granderson can still be the breakout candidate many thought him to be, but now there’s a much tougher road to it actually happening.
A shortened version of this article first came out in The IDPGuys Newsletter. It comes out every Wednesday morning straight to your inbox. Click here to sign up!
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