Defensive Notes

I'm working on the individual defensive player rankings for the magazine this week. We've learned that fewer than 1 in 5 fantasy owners use IDPs, but that number should gradually increase. It's a wrinkle that gets you more involved in the game on both sides of the ball.

It's early, and there's only been one minicamp for most teams, but we can still make some quick judgments on who the top rookie IDPs will be. Not surprisingly, most of them will be linebackers. Coming up with lofty tackle numbers as a rookie is a lot easier than coming up with a bunch of sacks for defensive linemen. Especially with the ever-increasing number of 3-4 defenses out there, linebackers rule. The other obvious choice is safety; there will no doubt be some rookie contributors there, too.

1. Rolando McClain, Oakland. Pretty easy choice. It's a near certainty he'll start from Day 1 at middle linebacker in Oakland. Not only did the Raiders give away last year's starter, Kirk Morrison, and not only was McClain the top linebacker drafted, but after putting Darrius Heyward-Bey in the lineup all season, it's clear Oakland isn't concerned about whether a player is actually ready to start. McClain will be, and he'll be the top rookie defender right away.

2. Daryl Washington, Arizona. As with McClain in Oakland, the Cardinals have a pretty sizable hole to fill in their defense (where they lost Karlos Dansby) and a high draft pick to put there. The team's other options are journeymen nobodies; it will be difficult for Washington not to win the job.

3. Brandon Spikes, New England. New England's draft has some question marks, particularly its choices at wide receiver (passing on Dez Bryant) and running back (none), but it used its three second-round picks on good players. Spikes need only beat out Gary Guyton to start next to Jerod Mayo, and I suspect he will.

4. Eric Berry, Kansas City. Kansas City has little choice but to start Berry at strong safety, and there's not much doubt he'll earn the spot regardless. On their defense, which has holes all over the place, he should be very busy making tackles, mostly on runners who pick up big chunks of yards loping easily through the front seven.

5. Earl Thomas, Seattle. Thomas is also likely to be an immediate starter, after Seattle said goodbye to Deon Grant in the offseason. The Seahawks will need to prove they can stop the run before expecting their free safety to post huge numbers defending the pass, but their shaky-looking pass rush should make Thomas busy, too.

6. Sean Weatherspoon, Atlanta. Weatherspoon's journey to the starting lineup is a little less certain, as the Falcons will be moving aside at least a serviceable veteran to make him a starter, which might not happen right away. Still, as the team's first-round pick, he definitely has the talent to make that leap, plus Atlanta's defense needs to get better -- it's not going to happen with their returning veterans.

7. Koa Misi, Miami. A defensive end in college, Misi will play outside linebacker in Miami, where both of the team's starters last year -- Jason Taylor and Joey Porter -- are gone. Misi won't be handed a starting job, but he's definitely a candidate to play right away.

8. Derrick Morgan, Tennessee. Not a fan of rookie linemen. But the Titans don't have much in the way of veteran pass rushers to keep Morgan off the field, after letting Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jevon Kearse go. He's the most likely rookie defensive lineman to contribute this season.

9. Morgan Burnett, Green Bay. The Packers have been trying to replace Atari Bigby at strong safety the last two years, as his game doesn't live up to his name. Third-rounder Burnett should contend for the job right away.

10. Rennie Curran, Tennessee. This third-round linebacker has some bodies to get through to crack the starting lineup, but there's nobody special ahead of him. Call him a rookie IDP sleeper; some risk involved, but you never know. Other candidates include Bears safety Major Wright, Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham and Browns cornerback Joe Haden.

--Andy Richardson

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