IDP Rookie DTs: Impact Players and Sleepers

The 2024 NFL Draft is behind us, and it’s time to take a look at some of the impact IDPs out there, with a few sleepers mixed in for good measure.  Let’s start with the defensive tackles.

If you want to reference our defensive rookie rankings, they can be found here.

The Big 2 IDP Rookie DTs

Byron Murphy II, Seattle

Murphy isn’t quite the freak that Aaron Donald was (in case you live under a rock, Donald retired, but there’s a shot that Murphy can come fairly close to being the game-wrecker that he was and is, therefore, a top IDP rookie.  He doesn’t have the mountain of a man in T'Vondre Sweat eating up space next to him anymore, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be ultra-productive.  In leagues that break up the defensive line position into tackles and ends, Murphy is by far the best tackle to own from this class.  He will likely slide right in as a starter for the Seahawks, flanked by the venerable Leonard Williams, and will have the underrated Jarran Reed next to him plugging the middle.  The only minor concern here is the fact that Seattle has traditionally utilized a rotation on the defensive line. However, that practice was done under a prior regime, so perhaps we see Murphy with close to all the defensive snaps for this Seattle defense.  Murphy has some solid pass rush moves and will most definitely help in stopping the run.  He's technically on the shorter side for a tackle, but that never stopped the aforementioned Donald.  Look for Murphy to be a stalwart on this Seattle line for a decade and will be an instant fantasy impact.  That said, in leagues combining the DT/DE positions into one, Murphy is probably coming off the boards far later than a guy like Donald would in redrafts.

Jer'Zhan Newton, Washington

This is a good spot for Newton to fall, as Jonathan Allen is approaching 30, and Da'Ron Payne has a gigantic contract that the Commanders could easily escape from if the current regime finds him to be expendable.  Even if Payne sticks around, Newton’s path to regular playing time is fairly clear.  Newton probably needs a year or two of seasoning as it is, so whereas Murphy is a legit plug-and-play option from Day 1, Newton is more of an asset you’ll want to park on your taxi squad for at least one season.  Newton’s got a high motor, and is both strong and physical.  And, like Murphy, he is slightly undersized for a tackle but gets it done nonetheless.  There have been some Sheldon Richardson comparisons here, and rightly so.  He could easily have the same career arc.  Probably not worth drafting in leagues that combine the DTs/DEs unless you’re in a bigger/deeper format.

RELATED: See IDP Rookie DEs here >>>