IDP Roundtable, Your Impact Rookie LB

Gary Davenport's IDP Roundtable, Your Impact Rookie LB Gary Davenport Published 05/03/2023

The 2023 NFL Draft was quite a spectacle—over 300,000 people attended the event live in Kansas City, and over 50 million people watched the draft on television.

Eat your heart out, NBA playoffs.

Much of the hype leading up to April 27 centered on the top quarterback prospects, but there was no shortage of firepower on the defensive side of the ball as well. However, this year's crop of linebackers wasn't considered either especially deep or talented. Only one off-ball linebacker (Iowa's Jack Campbell) was drafted in Round 1, and only six were drafted during the draft's first two days.

Still, given the importance of the linebacker position in IDP leagues, these newcomers will still have a significant impact on the IDP landscape, both in 2023 and beyond. In an effort to gauge that impact and help fantasy managers best take advantage of the new talent available to them, the IDP staff here at Footballguys has gathered for a series of IDP Roundtables.

This time, it's Campbell and the linebackers who take center stage.

See the discussion on rookie defensive linemen here >>>
See the discussion on rookie defensive backs here >>>

The Detroit Lions raised plenty of eyebrows on Thursday when they drafted Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell with the 18th overall pick, but Day 2 was when the off-ball linebackers started coming off the board in earnest. Outside Campbell, which off-ball linebacker prospect do you feel has the clearest path to a three-down role early in his career?

Kyle Bellefeuil: After Jack Campbell, this linebacker class is going to require some patience in year one. However, Daiyan Henley has a nice path to snaps as a rookie and a potential prominent three-down role in 2024 if he develops as we all hope. The Chargers signed Eric Kendricks to a two-year deal this offseason, but they have a potential out after this year. As expected, they also just declined the fifth-year option on Kenneth Murray, making him a free agent after this season. Henley has a chance to pass Murray up for snaps in 2023 but could be looking at an even bigger role in 2024 if Los Angeles chooses to move on from Kendricks.

Tripp Brebner: The Ravens declined to exercise Patrick Queen's fifth-year option and plan to move on from Queen next winter. Trenton Simpson should play full-time next to Roquan Smith in 2024 and beyond in a defense that wants full-time players in the back seven to reduce the need to rotate and neutralize no-huddle offenses.

Already a subscriber?

Continue reading this content with a ELITE subscription.

An ELITE subscription is required to access content for IDP (individual defensive players) leagues. If this league is not a IDP (individual defensive players) league, you can edit your leagues here.

Photos provided by Imagn Images
Share This Article

Featured Articles

 

Muddy Backfields: Sorting the Kansas City Chiefs RBs

Phil Alexander

A look at Kansas City's murky backfield, how much it matters, and which players to target or fade before training camp brings clarity and the market adjusts.

07/17/25 Read More
 
 
 
 

More by Gary Davenport

 

The 10 Most Undervalued IDPs in Fantasy Football

Gary Davenport

Gary Davenport Looks at Fantasy Football's Most Undervalued IDPs in 2025

07/17/25 Read More
 

The 10 Most Undervalued Players in Fantasy Football

Gary Davenport

Gary Davenport Looks at Fantasy Football's Most Undervalued Players in 2025

07/16/25 Read More
 

2025 Fantasy Draft Strategy Guide: Team Defenses

Gary Davenport

Gary Davenport examines the differing fantasy draft strategies on defense, as well as some DSTs to target and avoid.

07/06/25 Read More
 

The 10 Must-Have IDP League-Winners as Fantasy Draft Season Opens

Gary Davenport

Gary Davenport looks at 10 IDP league-winning picks you need to make.

07/03/25 Read More
 

The 10 Must-Have League-Winners as Fantasy Draft Season Opens

Gary Davenport

Gary Davenport looks at 10 fantasy league-winning picks you need to make.

07/02/25 Read More
 

IDP Green Dot Linebackers

Gary Davenport

Gary Davenport examines the NFL's Green Dot and Three-Down linebackers. These are the players who stay on the field.

07/01/25 Read More