Rookie IDP Series: Middle Linebackers
Welcome to part 4 of my ongoing series of Rookie IDP players. Having finished the defensive line, we now get to the real moneymakers in IDP: the linebackers. The linebackers have the insane tackle totals to go along with the handful of sacks and interceptions and are considered gold in the IDP format. Today, we will be looking into some rookie middle linebackers who could end up winning you some games during the season.
Kenneth Murray, Chargers
Murray was drafted into a wonderful situation, as he steps in to start immediately at MLB in the Chargers scheme. He is an explosive athlete who uses his large frame to wrap up and make consistent tackles. His extra gear helps him go sideline to sideline and make tackles on the edge others would miss. He has good recognition ability to go along with the speed to get to the boundary and make the play. Playing behind Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram is gonna do wonders for his tackle numbers. He is immediately there most talented linebacker on the team, and he should parlay that into solid overall stats as he adjusts to the speed of the game. He should be one of the first IDPs off the board and a great building block for rebuilding franchises. Snag him in the early 2nd round.
Patrick Queen, Ravens
Queen steps into a great spot, as the Ravens are legendary in developing linebackers. Queen slots in as the starting inside linebacker next to LJ Fort in the Ravens defense. Patrick is a little undersized at 6 feet tall, but he makes up for that in premier coverage ability. In the passing game, he is excellent. He has shown the athleticism to go stride for stride with the TE up the seam. He shows good awareness and is able to flip his hips when dropping in coverage. His football IQ is off the charts. He does an excellent job of assisting defensive lineman with their shifts and also aligning other defenders in addition to his own responsibilities. He is an asset in the run game, as he combs through the trash in the middle and is able to make the tackle. His INT upside combined with his athleticism should make him a strong candidate for a mid to late 2nd round rookie pick. The only word of caution is don’t expect extreme tackle numbers immediately, as the Ravens defense is full of players capable of putting up decent numbers.
Logan Wilson, Bengals
Wilson was a dominant four-year starter at Wyoming, and he had the number to prove it. Wilson made plays all over the field, and he was the leader in college. He steps into a situation that has plenty of opportunities, as the Bengals linebackers leave something to be desired. Wilson possesses excellent read and react ability when processing running plays, allowing him to move to the correct point to make the play. Logan maximizes his range by reading quickly which also helps him get ahead of blocks, avoiding the trash altogether. The Bengals sit in the NFL’s most run-heavy division, which should pay huge dividends to Wilson tackle totals immediately in his career. Though he may start as the SAM linebacker, expect him to take over as the MIKE sooner rather than later. He struggles a bit in coverage, but no so much that he shouldn’t secure a three-down role. He could be a sneaky good upside pick in the 3rd round.
(For clarification, SAM means strongside linebacker and MIKE means middle linebacker)
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