These 2020 rookies are ranked for long-term dynasty purposes based on talent, coaching, supporting cast, and other factors. To get their outlook for 2020 alone, view our site projections, available in early May.
Remember to download Greg Cosell’s 2020 NFL Draft Guide for detailed breakdowns on the skill sets of many of these prospects.
Don’t see a DE or OLB listed? Be sure to check the EDGE Rookie Breakdown article!
1. Derrick Brown (Car, 1st round, 7th overall from Auburn)
As the NFL shifts to more versatile pass-rushing threats on the interior line, a player like Brown becomes more and more valuable. Brown profiles as the prototypical modern 3-Tech. He’s a plus pass rusher and equally strong against the run. He can play 1-gap and 2-gap and fills a major need for this rebuilding defense. Without other-worldly stud LBs Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis to try and clear space for, the Carolina D-line will be asked to penetrate more. In recent years, the Panthers have said goodbye to veterans like Bruce Irvin, Gerald McCoy, and Star Lotulelei. Incoming younger defenders such as EDGE Brian Burns and DT/DE Efe Obada will give new DC Phil Snow a lot of young talent to build around.
While all indications are that Brown will start at the 3-Tech, he does have some veterans to work within. Kawann Short and Stephen Weatherly are currently in line for the starting interior spots. But the path looks clear: Weatherly has never been a full-time starter, nor a pass-rushing threat, and Short should be locked in at the 5-Tech. The only thing to watch is the aforementioned Obada. The coaching staff is really high on him. If Obada’s development results in splitting snaps with Brown in 2019, it’s not a long term threat. The 31-year-old Short is a $20 million cap hit in 2021, so there may be plenty of snaps for both Brown and Obada in the long term.
Including all factors, it’s hard to not see Brown as an immediately disruptive force at the 3-Tech, who should develop into a 5-8 sack, 40-50 tackle DT sooner rather than later.
2. Javon Kinlaw (SF, 1st round, 14th overall from South Carolina)
When the 49ers traded stud DT DeForest Buckner to gain the 13th overall pick (they previously didn’t have a 1st-rounder in this year’s Draft), they had their sights set on Kinlaw. The team was in a tough position: to have enough talent to make it to the Super Bowl, they were running out of money to pay their younger up-and-coming stars, and they were bereft of the draft picks used to trade away for top talents like QB Jimmy Garappolo, WR Emmanuel Sanders, and LT Trent Williams.
So to rebuild the dike, they traded Buckner to get a 1st-round pick and then traded back to the 14th overall pick for a few more middle-round picks. And still landed their man Kinlaw.
Kinlaw will fit right into Buckner’s old role as the 3-Tech who can move around, depending on the package. He’s a big-bodied, long-armed beast who can eat QBs or plug gaps. And while we don’t think he’s quite as talented as Buckner, he’s close. Certainly close enough to be productive, and to own that role for several years. We’re expecting about 80% of Buckner’s production, making Kinlaw a backend DT1.
3. Ross Blacklock (Hou, 2nd round, 40th overall from TCU)
With clear 1st-rounders Derrick Brown and Davon Kinlaw, it’s easy to sleep on Blacklock. He’s not the complete player that Brown and Kinlaw are (he’s not as versatile nor as strong a run defender), but from a pure pass-rushing perspective, he has the chops to be a problem in the interior.
Houston is a great landing spot for him, as the Texans are in desperate need of some pass-rushing presence from someone not named J.J. Watt. Losing Jadeveon Clowney was a big blow, but having a 1-tech or 3-tech apply pressure is likely more effective than Clowney off the edge in their defensive scheme. Blacklock’s weakness is stopping the run, so he might be a situational pass-rusher for now, but he’s got the physical tools to be a productive DL in this scheme.
4. Marlon Davidson (Atl, 2nd round, 47th overall from Auburn)
Atlanta’s Super Bowl run from a few years ago was fueled in part by penetrating, disruptive players like EDGE Vic Beasley and DT Grady Jarrett. While Jarett has continued his dominant play, the team was never able to get Beasley or disappointing former 1st-rounder Takk McKinley to be that dominant force next to Jarrett. The team let Beasley walk in favor of another inconsistent pass-rusher in Dante Fowler. But that might not be enough.
The Davidson grab gives HC Dan Quinn a third option. Davidson can set the edge as a 5-tech, but also has plenty of experience kicking inside as an interior pass-rusher. He might start as simply a subpackage player, but it won’t take much slippage from Fowler or McKinley to thrust Davidson on the field more. Also of note is that the Falcons declined McKinley’s 5th-year-option, paving the way for Davidson to get a clear shot at significant snaps in the future.
5. A.J. Epensa (Buf, 2nd round, 54th overall from Iowa)
Epensa is one of the strongest and well-built DLs in the Draft. He would have been a little higher had it not been for his landing spot. Buffalo has moved to a heavy rotation on their D-line, with as many as 8 or 9 DLs playing snaps in a game. Given Epensa’s limited arsenal of pass-rushing moves, he’s not likely to be a major contributor for fantasy yet. But as veterans like Jerry Hughes and Star Lotuleilei move on or retire, Epensa should get his chance to shoot his shot.
6. Jabari Zuniga (NYJ, 3rd round, 79th overall from Florida)
Zuniga is a versatile DL, who played everything from outside in Wide 9 to 3-tech at Florida. He proved productive everywhere he lined up and will give the Jets some much-needed versatility. Zuniga should compete with the inconsistent Henry Anderson for that starting 5-Tech spot, but don’t be surprised if he isn’t all over the place. Err, in a good way.
7. Neville Gallimore (Dal, 3rd round, 82nd overall from Oklahoma)
Gallimore has a little traffic to get through (Gerald McCoy is currently in Gallimore’s ideal fit, plus there’s Randy Gregory and his immense potential still hanging around), but long-term this is a great fit for Gallimore. He will likely start off in a rotational backup role, but the Cowboys love him, and he’s more the type of 3-tech the league is favoring these days than McCoy.
8. Raekwon Davis (Mia, 2nd round, 56th overall from Alabama)
Davis is currently the perfect foil for Miami’s pass-rush heavy but leaky D-line. Davis was one of the better run-stoppers in a very tough conference but consistently failed to create QB pressures. His floor is a solid rotational guy on early downs (think tackle-heavy DT-required leagues), but his talent could push his ceiling into a major interior force with coaching and time.
9. Davon Hamilton (Jax, 3rd round, 73rd overall from Ohio State)
Jacksonville is clearly in rebuild mode, as they’ve jettisoned most of their once-dominant defense in favor of draft picks. The chances of Yannick Ngakoue lasting to 2021 are pretty much nill. That leaves just Taven Bryan for the 3-tech/5-tech spots, and Bryan has consistently underperformed. Hamilton’s strength is run defense. That would be a huge help in a division with Derrick Henry and the Colts’ dominant O-line. Hamilton’s pass-rushing skills are underdeveloped, but he could be a consistent tackle option as the team tries to focus on the future.
10. Alton Robinson (Sea, 5th round, 148th overall from Syracuse)
Robinson is a raw prospect who should be considered nothing but a deep dynasty stash. But the tools he possesses translate to an elite pass rusher. It will take time to develop, but on a D-line that has had a ton of turnover lately, and still has a ton of question marks, Robinson’s path to a starting job isn’t too hard to see.
