Following the NFL Combine is a great time to look at dream landing spots for 2020 IDP free agents. This is a look at the best fantasy landing spots for this years' top IDP free agents. It may not fit with NFL salary caps or franchise tags. Hey, that's what dreaming is all about.
This is a great time of year for IDP lovers to picture the dream landing spots for top free agents. Teams have yet to draft. Franchise tags have yet to be given out. This is for fantasy purposes and where players would have the best chances to excel. This list is, of course, a fluid one. Injuries, franchise tags, or even suspensions could alter things.
Yannick Ngakoue to the Washington Redskins
Ngakoue excels in strong defensive line rotation. He has amassed 37.5 sacks in his first four seasons in Jacksonville. He has also racked up 14 forced fumbles and scored twice over that time. Playing alongside the likes of Calais Campbell, Dante Fowler, and Josh Allen has benefitted him greatly.
A dream landing spot for this top 2020 IDP free agent would be in Washington. The Redskins' defense is switching to a 4-3 scheme this season. He would find himself in a very strong defensive line rotation. The defense would boast him along with Matthew Ioannidis, Jonathan Allen, and Montez Sweat. The trio combined for 21.5 sacks last season. It would be a pick your poison situation because of all the talent along the defensive front.
Jadeveon Clowney to the Miami Dolphins
Clowney battled through multiple injuries last season but he was still dominant at times. The Dolphins' defense had a league-low 23 sacks last season. He would step right in as the lead man along the defensive line. He finished 2019 with just 3 sacks but did put up 13 quarterback hits on 624 snaps.
Clowney also flashed big-play abilities. He put up 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 defensive touchdowns last season. Miami may decide to retain free-agent Taco Charlton, who led the team with 5 sacks. They will likely address the edge rush position via the draft as well. This would be a dream landing spot for one of the top 2020 IDP free agents.
Chris Jones to the Detroit Lions
Full disclosure. I am an unabashed fan of the Detroit Lions. One of the curses of being born and raised in Michigan. This is by far my favorite dream landing spot of the top IDP free agents. The Lions' interior defensive line is in dire need of restocking. Damon Harrison has been replaced and A'Shawn Robinson is likely to walk via free agency.
An early-season core injury caused him to miss some time. That being said. He put up 6 sacks in the final 7 games before suffering a knee injury that hampered him. On the season, he put up 36 total tackles, 9 sacks, and was credited with 20 quarterback hits. In most balanced scoring formats he finished with solid DL3 numbers. Not bad. Especially considering that he played just 13 games.
It's a match made in IDP fantasy heaven should Jones land in Detroit. With Trey Flowers offering pressure off the edge, he would be an interior force along the Lions' defensive line. This is indeed a dream landing spot for a top 2020 IDP free agent.
Cory Littleton to the Las Vegas Raiders
Since taking over as the starting linebacker for the Rams' defense he has been a fantasy force. Los Angeles knew something when they traded away Alec Ogletree. Ogletree was recently released by the New York Giants. Littleton, on the other hand, continues to be an IDP. He has posted back-to-back triple digits tackles seasons. He has also been a big play producing machine.
CORY LITTLETON WITH THE TAKEAWAY! pic.twitter.com/Tpx2ftMbwz
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 11, 2018
A closer look at the numbers reveals he has actually averaged a whopping 129 total tackles per season. As for big plays. He has posted 7.5 sacks, 5 interceptions, a pair of forced as well as a recovered fumble. He has also scored a defensive touchdown in that time.
The Raiders' linebacking corps is a very weak one. Veterans Vontaze Burfict and Brandon Marshall were 2019 busts. Their top player at the position, Tahir Whitehead, put up low end LB3 totals last season. Signing with Las Vegas would be ideal for Littleton. He is one of the top 2020 IDP free agents and would post another top-10 finish with the Raiders.
Joe Schobert to the Kansas City Chiefs
The Browns' defense is losing a top IDP option at linebacker and the Chiefs' defense needs major help at the position. He's never been the sexiest name to be called out on draft day but Schobert has been very productive. He has put up triple digits tackles in three straight seasons. He has, quite simply, been a tackling machine.
JOE SCHOBERT WITH THE TAKEAWAY‼️ https://t.co/tDO6d7R4Aa
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 21, 2018
However, there has been big-play production as well. He has 8 sacks, 6 interceptions, and 7 forced fumbles in that time. He is solid in all facets of the game and would revive a sub-par Chiefs' linebacking corps. Last season their top two linebackers, Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson, finished outside the top-60 in scoring. A move to Kansas City would definitely mean Schobert is a top-10 fantasy option in 2020. In other words, this would be a dream landing spot for a top IDP free agent.
Blake Martinez to the Philadelphia Eagles
The City of Brotherly love would be a dream landing spot for the fifth year linebacker out of Stanford. Martinez has all the attributes that IDP owners covet. He has posted huge tackle numbers because he has exceptional sideline to sideline speed.
He has been extremely durable since taking over a full-time role in 2017. In that time, he has not missed a game and been very consistent. How consistent? Consider this, he has been a top-10 linebacker in each of the past three seasons. He has averaged 147 tackles per season and thrown in 15 big plays over that time.
There are few teams as thin at linebacker as the Philadelphia Eagles. They recently released Nigel Bradham and the cupboard is nearly bare. Martinez would step right in as an every-down player and post huge numbers. This dream IDP free agent landing spot scenario would ensure another top-10 finish for Martinez.
Vonn Bell to the Dallas Cowboys
It took a bit longer than expected but Bell has arrived as a fantasy force. The reason we like him more now is that his big-play production has picked up. He's always been a solid tackle producer, never having finished with less than 83 in a season. However, he has now become somewhat of a consistent big-play producer, having posted 9.5 in 2020. There was a defensive score included in those big plays last season.
Vonn. Bell.
Fumble Recovery MACHINE 🔥
Coach wins the challenge ☑️ | #NOvsCHI pic.twitter.com/hju0wAxkwb— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 20, 2019
The Cowboys' secondary is going to look a lot different in 2020. Cornerback Byron Jones, as well as safeties Jeff Heath and Darian Thompson, are going to be free agents. Bringing Bell on board could help in replacing all three. He has been a strong tackle producer as well as solid in coverage. For his career, he has been credited with 14 passes defended and posted his first career regular-season interception last year. He would be poised for another very productive season as a member of the Cowboys' secondary.
Logan Ryan to the New York Giants
Let's show a little love to the cornerback position, shall we? The Giants' secondary could use a veteran to line up alongside and mentor Deandre Baker. Who would be better for that than the top overall scoring defensive back in fantasy from a year ago? That is exactly what Ryan brings to the table.
Wow. The Patriots are stunned at home and lose to the Titans.
In what may be Tom Brady’s last throw, it’s a pick-6 to his former teammate Logan Ryan.
— GBP Daily - Rob Westerman lll (@GBPdaily) January 5, 2020
He got it done in every facet of the game in 2019. He posted career highs in tackles, sacks, and forced fumbles last season. The Giants' offense may struggle (I'm being kind) and that will mean a lot of playing time for Ryan. We love him in New York because of this. Another top-10 finish is in store in this dream IDP free agent landing spot occurs.
As I mentioned earlier. Looking dream landing spots for top 2020 IDP free agents is one of my favorite guilty pleasures. We will continue to monitor offseason moves that may affect where everyone ends up. In the meantime. We can always dream.
Here's hoping you enjoyed this trip to the IDP realm. Remember to follow me on Twitter @Walton Spurlin. I am always game to talk IDP or anything fantasy football related for that matter.
