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Defensive Linemen Camp Battles

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Key Defensive Linemen Camp Battles You Should Be Paying Attention To

Finally, the time has almost arrived for players to pad up and coaches to dawn their headsets. Football is about to be back in full swing, and team camps are set to begin this week. With each camp comes a time for players to battle against each other for starter and rotational spots. Player evaluations, as well as increasing stamina and getting into and learning the playbook, are all things going on during a training camp. Some seasoned veterans and stars on the team are already assumed to be starters and lead their teams to victory, but what about the players who aren’t? Which players are in the mix for a starting or rotational spot worth rostering for fantasy football and, more specifically, in IDP leagues?

In the final article of the RPO Football series of camp battles, I will highlight some key NFL camp battles at the defensive line position. Defensive linemen are the front of the defense and act as the first line against the offense in the trenches. Defensive linemen are responsible for controlling the line of scrimmage, rushing the offensive passer, and combatting with offensive linemen during run defense. Some are even utilized in coverage, and the defensive line can sometimes assist the secondary with their pass rush, forcing the quarterback to make quicker decisions than he may have anticipated.

I will key in on five major battles and leave a list of other camp battles that may be of interest or fantasy relevance at some point in the season.

Did you miss the other two articles in the camp battle series? Be sure to check out the defensive back article HERE by Steve Hungarter and the linebacker article HERE by Pedro Decker

Miami Dolphins

Chop Robinson (Rookie) vs Jaelan Phillips / Bradley Chubb

The Miami Dolphins drafted former Penn State edge standout Chop Robinson in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Robinson is primarily known for his athletic ability. He lit up the combine with his speed and size while performing drills. Robinson ran an eye-opening 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the end of February. 

Robinson played three seasons in college. His freshman season was at Maryland, where he was on the field for 263 snaps. He then transferred to Penn State for his sophomore season, where he stayed another season at Penn State and played in 758 defensive snaps before entering the NFL Draft this past April. Chop Robinson is still getting his techniques down and may take longer to develop his pass-rush moves to be an efficient rusher off the NFL-level edge. 

The Dolphins have beefed up the edge position this offseason. As previously stated, Miami drafted Chop Robinson and fellow edge Mohamed Kamara. Kamara stood out at Colorado, finishing his collegiate career with 30.5 sacks. Still, he may have fallen in the draft due to his inconsistency against the run and reliance on his true power on many pass rushes. 

Miami has veteran Bradley Chubb, who is a real problem for offenses when he is on the field. Chubb can contribute to one’s IDP roster with multiple sack weeks, and he finished every game last season with at least one tackle. However, on December 31st, 2023, Chubb tore the ACL in his right knee while playing against the Baltimore Ravens.  

Former Broncos and Buccaneer edge Shaquille Barrett signed with the Dolphins in free agency this offseason. It was recently announced that he was retiring to spend more time with his family, so since then, the Dolphins contacted current free agents Yannick Ngakoue and Emmanuel Ogbah but ultimately decided to sign Ogbah onto the team to a one-year deal.

The last player I’ll mention is Jaelan Phillips, but like Chubb, he suffered a season-ending injury in 2023: a torn Achilles tendon on November 24th. Phillips was on track to have his best season to date but only played 366 snaps in 2023. Phillips, Chubb, and fellow edge Cameron Goode are starting camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List. This leaves the question of whether there will even be a camp battle as these players return from injury.

My take: The rookie Chop Robinson gets snaps early in the season, but the edge position becomes a rotation when Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips return. How quickly Chop Robinson can adjust to the NFL will determine whether he gets on the field more as the season progresses.

 

Minnesota Vikings

Dallas Turner (Rookie) vs Andrew Van Ginkel

The Vikings made a few moves in the off-season to bring in defensive players but decided to draft some youth on the edge of the defensive line. The Vikings spent a mid-first-round draft selection on former Alabama standout Edge rusher Dallas Turner. Turner played three seasons at Alabama, totaling 22.5 sacks, 32.5 tackles for loss, and 120 combined tackles. In his freshman season, he finished with only 370 snaps but had 8.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Early in his collegiate career, you could tell he was a talented player. Turner is known for his speed and length, which helps him chase down quarterbacks and ball carriers. 

While adding youth, the Vikings signed former Houston Texan Jonathan Greenard to a four-year, 76-million-dollar deal. Greenard is expected to be one of Minnesota’s two starting edge players come week 1.

Another new face in Minnesota in front of Turner is former Dolphins edge/linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, whom Miami signed for two years at 20 million dollars in the off-season. Van Ginkel is on the Vikings’ injury report for a foot injury. Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reported that Van Ginkel is “close” to participating in training camp. Van Ginkel started in 11 games last season at inside linebacker and edge rusher. He finished the season with six sacks, 69 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, 19 quarterback hits, one interception, and one defensive touchdown. Andrew Van Ginkel can be an absolute menace to offenses when he is healthy.

The Vikings added UDFA Owen Porter, Bo Richter, and Gabriel Murphy, but if they make the immediate roster, they will be special teamers or have deeper depth. Minnesota also has Andre Carter II and Jihad Ward from the Giants.

My take: The Vikings signed Andrew Van Ginkel to be the starter until Dallas Turner gets up to speed at the NFL level. With Van Ginkel set to return soon, I think he gets the immediate nod to start, but the job could be Turner’s for good by the end of the season.

New Orleans Saints

Chase Young vs Payton Turner / Cameron Jordan

It’s been a less-than-perfect ride for the former second-overall selection of the 2020 NFL Draft. Chase Young started his career strong as a rookie, then finished 2021 and 2022 with less than 500 defensive snaps. Last season, Young was traded from Washington to San Francisco to help the 49ers in their quest for a Super Bowl, though Young and the 49ers came up short. Young did have a stat line similar to his 2020 rookie season in 2023, finishing with 7.5 sacks, quarterback hits, and 25 combined tackles. 

In the offseason, New Orleans signed Chase Young on a mercenary / prove-it deal (1 year, $13 million). Chase Young had neck surgery shortly after signing with New Orleans and should be ready before the season starts. Young will begin camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

The Saints have other defensive ends such as Isaiah Foskey, who was drafted in the second round of the 2023 draft, Trajan Jeffcoat, and Tanoh Kpassagnon, who is on the PUP as well, will all get a shot to provide depth and special teams reps.

Cameron Jordan has been playing for the Saints since he began his NFL career in 2011 and has played in 12,000+ snaps for New Orleans to date. Jordan hasn’t played over 831 snaps in the past three seasons, and it’s apparent that the Saints are ready to rely on the seasoned veteran for another season. Jordan has eight Pro Bowls and 117.5 sacks in his career with the Saints. 

The last player up for a starting spot on the edge of the New Orleans defensive line could go to a former UDFA out of Wyoming in 2019. Carl Granderson started his career with 123 snaps in 2019 but has since worked his way up to the top of the depth chart, totaling 874 snaps in 2023. 2023 was a career year for Granderson. He finished with 58 pressures, 8.5 sacks, 78 combined tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 20 quarterback hits. Granderson recently signed a contract extension with the Saints (4 yr, $52 million), so it’s apparent he is a part of the Saints’ future defensive plans.

Granderson led the edge group last season in New Orleans in snaps (874), Cameron Jordan was second in snaps (770), and Tanoh Kpassagnon was third (406).

My take: Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson are the two to start at the beginning of the season, while the Saints slowly bring Chase Young into the rotation to see what they have in him. Isaiah Foskey should take the rotational spot until Young sees the field.

Green Bay Packers

Preston Smith vs Lukas Van Ness / Kingsley Enagbare

In recent years, the Packers have been beefing up the defensive side of the ball via the draft. The leader of the edge group is Rashan Gary, a former first-round draft selection out of Michigan in 2019. Gary is coming off his second-best season in the NFL, where he finished the season with 66 pressures, nine sacks, and 44 combined tackles on 667 snaps. The Packers signed Gary to an extension last season, and he is on the books until after the 2027 offseason, with a potential out in 2025, where his salary will double if the Packers keep him. 

In the Green Bay edge room, aside from Gary, the Packers drafted Lukas Van Ness in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft; Preston Smith, an addition from Washington in 2019 who remains on the team; Colby Wooden, a fourth-round draft selection in 2023; and Brenton Cox Jr., a UDFA last season.

Last season, Preston Smith led the edge group in defensive snaps with 838, Rashan Gary was second with 667, Kingsley Enagbare was third on the list with 493 defensive snaps, and Lukas Van Ness was fourth in the pecking order with 444 total defensive snaps.

My take: Rashan Gary is primed to lead the edge group this season as Green Bay assesses if Gary will be the long-term headliner for the Pack. Behind him, it’s anyone’s job to win, though the Packers would like Lukas Van Ness to see the field more, given his draft capital and youth. Kingsley Enagbare should be the fourth man in the rotation, while Preston Smith plays the primary rotational role. Smith does have a path to being one of the top edge players on the team, but it depends on whether Van Ness can take a step forward in his game. This camp battle will be one of my favorites to watch, as there are a few players here with a lot to prove on this defense.

Philadelphia Eagles

Josh Sweat vs Nolan Smith Jr. / Bryce Huff and others

The Philadelphia defensive line is relatively deep as they have multiple players at the edge position who could play well on any given week. Currently, on the roster in a position to be a starter or role-playing rusher, the Eagles have former Jets edge Bryce Huff, who was signed in the offseason to a three-year deal(Eagles have a potential out of his contract in the 2026 offseason), Josh Sweat, who has been with Philadelphia since he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Nolan Smith Jr. who was a first-round draft selection in 2023, and rookie Jalyx Hunt out of Houston Christian who was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Eagles have an insane number of high-value depth players, and it’s hard to think which player will be the most effective for the team overall. Last season, Haason Reddick led the Eagles edge group in snaps with 910, but he has moved on to the Jets, where he is currently holding out for a new contract. Josh Sweat was second on the team in snaps (875),  and Brandon Graham was third with 427 defensive snaps. Newly added edge Bryce Huff never finished a season with over 500 defensive snaps during his four years in New York, so the Eagles signed him to help in the pass rush. In his NFL career, Huff has yet to be known for bringing down many ball carriers in run defense. 

Brandon Graham is set to make the most money of the edge players in Philadelphia in 2024, followed by Josh Sweat and then Bryce Huff.

My take: I imagine the Eagles use this season to assess all positions in their front seven aside from the interior defensive line. In recent years, the Eagles have utilized three leading-edge players who finish with 500+ defensive snaps and one other who finishes around 200-350 snaps. Brandon Graham and Bryce Huff could split time for second and third in the rotation on the season, while Josh Sweat is the more “complete” starter and leads the pack in snaps. Jalyx Hunt will play in relief of the ones before him and in special teams, while Nolan Smith Jr plays in for Josh Sweat when he needs a break.

Other Defensive Linemen Situations to Keep an Eye on

They can’t all be zingers; however, here are some other intriguing camp battles for those not faint of heart looking for sleepers in those deeper rostered / heavy manager / True Position leagues.

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