2026 Dynasty IDP Rookie Rankings: A Strong Class Across the Defense

Here’s something both exciting and scary about the players below …

We don’t know more about them than we do know.

Sure, everyone in these dynasty IDP rookie rankings has 3+ years of college football behind him -- most in prominent programs. That’s 3+ years worth of stats, game film, and advanced metrics.

But we don’t yet have testing numbers, draft positions, NFL landing spots, or -- obviously -- any actual professional playing time.

We know how quickly they got on the field in college and how they performed once there. We’re guessing at how they’ll fare in the pros. And the further away from the draft we sit, the more guesswork comes into play.

2026 IDP Rookie Rankings

With that said, consider this a starting point. These 10 guys look like good bets to go at least relatively early in the 2026 NFL Draft, at positions of value to IDP leagues …

1. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
2. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
3. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
4. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
5. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
6. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
7. T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
8. Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
9. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
10. Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri

This class looks strong at LB, which should help add youth to your IDP rosters. Most of the top LBs are also adept at rushing the passer. That could boost sack numbers but limit tackle totals in the NFL. We could even see multiple LBs moved to edge roles at the next level.

The edge class is also fairly strong but is built around massively sized, multi-faceted athletes who can play inside as DTs or outside. The system each player lands in will help determine his IDP upside.

The safety and DT classes are stronger than we have seen over the past two seasons, especially at the top. Elite options at both positions could command top-10 draft capital and potentially boost their rookie-draft values.

We highlighted how the 2026 offensive rookie class disappoints, but the IDP group benefits from the lack of offensive skill options.

For now, here are 10 players to know, plus some others who could rise in prominence through the spring.

Early Top 10 IDP Rookies

1. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

Reese played the “Mike” LB role for the Buckeyes, but his usage involved more pass rushing than most MLBs. He finished the season with 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss, but only 69 total tackles.

Despite being a one-year starter, Reese has Micah Parsons-type upside as a pass rusher. That could make his eventual IDP position a mystery until he is drafted.

With the potential to be a top 5 NFL Draft pick, Reese could move to the edge instead of playing LB. If he stays at LB, especially at Mike, he could be a first-round rookie pick.

2. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Styles has picked up first-round buzz recently and is more likely to stick at LB than Reese. He played on the weak side for the Buckeyes at 6’5, 243 pounds.

Styles excels in coverage while also playing downhill against the run. His 82 tackles led the defense, and he could find a tackle-heavy role in the NFL.

3. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

Bain profiles as a classic DL ’tweener. He lined up on the edge, 5-technique, and 3-technique throughout the 2025 season. His electric first step and violent hands make him difficult to block from any alignment, leading to 9.5 sacks and 15.5 TFLs this year.

The major criticism of Bain is his arm length, which is rumored to be around 31 inches. That falls well below the 34-inch ideal for NFL edge rushers and could push Bain toward a role that moves him inside on third downs.

4. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

Hill looked like a future NFL LB in 2024 when he led the SEC with 17 TFLs and totaled 113 tackles. A fractured hand ended his 2025 season prematurely, but he still showcased smooth sideline-to-sideline range and excellent wrap-up tackling.

He profiles as a classic Mike with the instincts to plug gaps and post massive NFL tackle totals. In the right situation, Hill could be one of the most valuable rookie LBs in tackle-heavy scoring.

5. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

Allen joins Hill as another Mike who could lead his NFL team in tackles.

He fits the mold of past Georgia LBs such as Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean. A tough defender who can shed blocks and stay in position against both the run and pass, Allen could start immediately.

He carries a Day 2 grade.

6. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Downs might be the safest IDP selection in this class. He has been an elite defender since stepping on the field as a true freshman at Alabama three years ago.

He recorded 2 INTs in each season and showed versatility as both a box and deep safety. As a true freshman, he even posted 107 tackles for the Crimson Tide.

Expect Downs to make a Kyle Hamilton-type impact and come off the board as a top-15 NFL Draft pick.

7. T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson

Parker joins Bain as a bigger edge defender who has moved all over the D-line in college. At 260 pounds, his bend and strength allow him to win with power as a blitzer.

Parker recorded 11 sacks in 2024 and six in 2025. Teams will want to maximize those pass-rushing traits, making him a better fit in scoring systems that reward sacks more heavily. Parker appears locked into the top 50.

8. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Bailey led the nation with 14.5 sacks, taking his game to another level after transferring from Stanford. His long arms and diverse set of pass-rush moves allow him to stand up or play with his hand in the dirt.

Bailey will be drafted highly for his pass rushing, but he can also set the edge and clean up tackles on outside runs.

9. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Thieneman transferred from Purdue to Oregon after recording 6 INTs in 2024. He had only 2 this season, but his coverage instincts and ball skills still make him dangerous.

Thieneman posted at least 96 tackles in each of his three college seasons. That combination of reliable tackling and playmaking ability gives him intriguing IDP upside.

He may not crack the first round of the NFL Draft, but he should land early on Day 2.

10. Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri

Trotter transferred to Missouri from West Virginia and made an immediate impact. He excelled as a strongside LB with sharp instincts against the run.

He finished the year with 13 TFLs and flashed pass-rush ability despite recording only 2 sacks. Trotter could land on Day 2 for a team looking to bolster its run defense.

More Prospects to Watch

It’s early. You can bet the rankings above will change. And it’s quite likely that some new guy (or two … or three) will enter the top 10.

Here are some candidates (not necessarily in order) that we’ll be watching over the next few months …

Edge

• Keldric Faulk, Auburn
• Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
• Akheem Mesidor, Miami
• R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
• Zion Young, Missouri
• Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State

DT

• Peter Woods, Clemson
• Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
• Caleb Banks, Florida
• Christen Miller, Georgia

LB

• Deontae Lawson, Alabama
• Harold Perkins, LSU
• Jake Golday, Cincinnati
• Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
• Taurean York, Texas A&M

DB

• Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
• A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
• Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
• Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
• Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

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Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format, including redraft, dynasty, devy, C2C, IDP, CFF, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and a King's Classic Champion. Shane utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance. He led the industry in 2024 preseason Kicker Rankings and ranked second in preseason QB Rankings. He also ranked eighth in preseason IDP rankings.