Linebackers may not be the king of IDP anymore, but they still can be building blocks to a champion. The 2024 rookie LB class is complicated, without many true stars but many immensely talented prospects. Let’s break down the top 2024 LB rookies pre-draft!
Linebackers are important to your IDP squads but have variability from year to year. Linebackers are one of the weaker positions in the 2024 class, but not devoid of talent. We will break down my top-5 LBs in the class and an additional best-of-the-rest list. If you want to dive deeper into these LBs and the other rookies, check out the IDP+ Rookie Guide!
1. Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
Measurables (Combine):
- DOB: 11/17/01 (22 years old)
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 230lbs
- Arm length: 34"
- Hand size: 9.75"
- 40-yard dash/10-yard split: 4.51/1.56
- Jumps (Vert/Broad): 34.5”/9’10”
- Agility (Shuttle/3-cone): 4.27/7.2 seconds
Strengths:
- Big, violent hitter against blocks and ball-carriers
- Big-time athlete
- Great eyes in coverage, including as a spy.
- Elite pass rush skill and production (as a blitzer and off the edge)
- Great in pursuit (speed, angles, explosion
Weaknesses:
- Doesn’t diagnose the play correctly always.
- Plays so fast that if he guesses wrong, he is out of position.
- Needs coaching up to help with over-pursuits and over-aggression.
- Tight hips, start-and-stop isn’t great.
Team Fits:
- Arizona Cardinals
- Carolina Panthers
- Dallas Cowboys
- Houston Texans
- Los Angeles Chargers
Fantasy Analysis:
Cooper is in a tier of his own as my top LB in this class. He is the best blitzing LB in the class, while also showing coverage chops over his years as a starter. Cooper has some rawness to his game, but his combination of instincts, raw athleticism, and on-field production set him above the rest of the class. He reminds me of a more refined Ernest Jones (a top-5 dynasty LB to me) and Devin Lloyd. Despite a preference to build around EDGE rushers, Cooper is my top overall IDP play with expected top-50 draft capital. If he lands with a smart DC in a shallow room (i.e. Carolina, Los Angeles, etc) he could push for LB1 numbers as a rookie.
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Thank you for diving into the rookie LBs with me! You can find my other work on the IDP Guys Author Page, and feel free to reach out to me directly to discuss other rookie profiles @JoeLow63 on X, where you can also find and follow @IDP_Plus !
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