It is time for the third installment of the 2014 IDP Report, and this week we look at the top defensive back rookies you should have on your radar. It is a nice mix, three safeties and three cornerbacks. I have ranked them in the order I would draft them, at least at this early point in the pre-season.
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Calvin Pryor SS NYJ
At 5'11", 207 pounds, the first round pick of the Jets has good size to step in and play from the first game as a starter in the New York secondary. He has the physical skills to stuff the run, along with sufficient speed to come around the edge on blitz packages. The question is whether he can force Dawan Landry to slide over to provide deep coverage, or will Landry stay at the strong side. If the latter takes place, then Pryor's tackle opportunities will be limited more than if he was to start as the strong safety.
Projected 2014 stat line: 70 tackles (40 solo), 1 sack, 1 interception, 6 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble
Deone Bucannon SS ARI
Bucannon was a surprise first round pick, but like Pryor, figures to start off the bat in Arizona, with Daryl Washington out with a season long suspension and Tyrann Mathieu likely out for at least the opening month as he recovers from a torn ACL and LCL that he suffered in December last year. He can provide solid coverage but it is his physicality (6'1", 211 pounds) that will make him a worthwhile draft selection, as he figures to rack up great tackle numbers in the desert.
Projected 2014 stat line: 72 tackles (50 solo), 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 6 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix FS GB
Even if you don't follow IDP news, it is likely you heard Clinton-Dix name tossed around this draft season, just because of his nickname (his actual first name is Ha'Sean, just so you can toss out this bit of trivia at your draft). He is another defensive back that was a first round choice, being selected by the Packers with the 21st overall pick. He has the speed, size (6'1", 208 pounds) to provide effective pass coverage, but needs to work on his run stopping ability. He needs to beat out Micah Hyde to start at free safety, and has been trailing on the depth chart to begin the pre-season. If he is forced to provide deep coverage and not play in the box, then his tackle numbers will suffer but he could be extremely useful in big play leagues.
Projected 2014 stat line: 62 tackles (32 solo), 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 pass defended, 1 fumble forced
Justin Gilbert CB CLE
The Browns obviously liked Gilbert, trading up to select him with the 8th overall pick in this year's draft. He has good size at 6'0" and 202 pounds, to go with scorching speed, and he could eventually become a shut down corner. This season, however, he should be a tackle monster as offensive coordinators seek to test his skills in coverage. As a side note, if a rookie wins a starting corner job, use him until he proves to offenses that he is not to be tested without penalty. In 2014, though, he will play opposite Joe Haden, and should put up nice stat lines early on.
Projected 2014 stat line: 60 tackles (45 solo), 1 sack, 2 interception, 15 passes defended, 1 fumble forced
Jason Verrett CB SD
Yet another first round defensive player (25th pick overall), his size is a concern. At only 5'9", 189 pounds, he will have trouble when he matches up against larger receivers. Another impediment to his value is that the Chargers have Brandon Flowers and Shareece Wright on the roster, and both are currently listed as the Number One corners in the Charger defensive scheme. He has been campaigning to return kicks since he first hit camp, so that may add to his value, if he does not win a starting role to open the season. Be aware that he is coming off surgery to repair a torn labrum in March, which limited his availability early on in OTAs and training camp.
Projected 2014 stat line: 60 tackles (50 solo), 2 interceptions, 10 passes defended
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Kyle Fuller CB CHI
Our sixth first round pick, Fuller was the Bears' selection at 14 in the 2014 draft. He stands 6'0" and weighs in at 194 pounds, so he has the size to provide coverage, and can play in either a zone or man-to-man system, both of which the Bears' utilize. He is likely to start the season behind veterans Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings, but it is possible that Tillman will move to safety at some point, making Fuller more than a passing down third cornerback as the season progresses. In dynasty leagues, he would be a great stash for your bench, as Tillman will likely be gone come 2015, and at that point, Fuller will take over as a starting corner full time.
Projected 2014 stat line: 40 tackles (30 solo), 3 interceptions, 12 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
Having wrapped up the rookie class at all three primary IDP positions (linebackers, defensive linesmen and defensive backs), I will move on next week to begin the usual discussion of rising and falling players and injury updates, as we move fully into draft season and await the start of the season. Yeah, football is back!
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As ever, good luck and Godspeed in your fantasy efforts. Make sure to read all of our great articles to help you win your fantasy match ups every week and ultimately bask in championship glory. If you have any fantasy football questions, especially about IDP leagues, I can be reached at ia@fantasyalarm.com.
Player News
Panthers released TE Jordan Matthews.
Matthews converted to tight end a few years ago and hasn’t made much noise at the position. The change has, however, likely kept him in the league for a few more seasons. He appeared in four games with the Panthers last year but didn’t record any stats on offense. The Panthers also released or waived WR Dax Milne, C Andrew Raym, and TE Colin Granger.
Dolphins released LS Blake Ferguson.
The team also waived CB Ryan Cooper Jr., DT Neil Farrell and OL Chasen Hines. Ferguson has been the team’s long snapper for five seasons and earned a three-year contract extension just before the 2023 season. He should be able to find work snapping footballs farther than the average snap elsewhere in the league.
DetroitLions.com’s Tim Twentyman believes rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa “could make his earliest impact on special teams.”
It’s not much of a surprise, as most rookies cut their teeth with special teams duties. Twentyman mentioned return duties as a possibility, though the former Razorback never returned kicks or punts in college. At 6'4/212 with 4.43 wheels, TeSlaa is an explosive athlete who never translated his physical traits to on-field production at Arkansas. The Lions clearly saw potential for him to do so in the pros and traded two future third-round picks to move up to No. 70 overall for him. It’s going to be a slow burn for TeSlaa in the pros, making him a dynasty-only fantasy option.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team does not “have any feelings on competition” when asked about the quarterback room.
O’Connell was asked about a potential quarterback competition on the Rich Eisen Show Wednesday and was unclear on whether J.J. McCarthy would have to compete to start. He said, “we’ve got an obligation as coaches to put our players in position to attack that competition phase.” O’Connell discussed first putting Brett Rypien and the newly acquired Sam Howell in a position to play before any competition would occur. He continued that McCarthy is “owning it” this offseason and is taking snaps from starting center Ryan Kelly. After missing last season with a torn meniscus, McCarthy has been ramping up workouts in the offseason and is the front-runner to start for the Vikings in 2025. As of now, Howell looks to be reinforcement at the backup spot in case it turns out McCarthy is not ready to start.
Texans re-signed DT Foley Fatukasi.
Fatukasi initially joined the Texans last offseason on a one-year contract. The 30-year-old was a rotational defensive lineman, tallying four tackles for loss and one sack. He returns to Houston for 2025, where he will be a part of a deep Texans front seven.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Tyreek Hill’s second wrist surgery was part of the original plan and his timeline remains unchanged.
Hill announced the second surgery on social media and Pelissero quickly added some context to the situation. The speedy receiver suffered the wrist injury just before the start of the season and it lingered throughout the year, though he never missed a game because of it. If the second surgery truly is a non-story, an offseason to recover might be what Hill needs to return to form after a down 2024 season. On the other hand, Hill is 31 years old, played his worst football last year, and his offense prioritized targets for Jonnu Smith and De’Von Achane. As it stands, Hill might have the highest risk-reward split in fantasy drafts.