Fowler is the perfect addition if your team needs edge rushers. He is a former number 3 overall pick with the talent to justify that selection. After missing his rookie season with an ACL tear, he has since proceeded to total 12 sacks over the last two seasons. At the age of 24, he has plenty of time to develop as well. Fowler is clearly athletic enough to play in a 4-3 or a 3-4 as well.
Vita Vea, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Vea was clearly the best interior defensive lineman in the draft class, with 41 bench press reps at the combine along with great tape at Washington. Already at a 79 overall, Vea works well in a 3-4 or a 4-3 and is a great run stopper.
Carl Lawson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals
Lawson was a great fifth-round pick last year. As a situational pass rusher, he had 8.5 sacks as a rookie. This season he will be looking at a bigger role, which could lead to increased production. In Madden terms, though, he is already a very polished pass rusher who can consistently produce pressure. His run stopping ability is very limited, though, so he is definitely better as a 4-3 defensive end. Due to his athleticism, he may be able to play 3-4 outside linebacker if need be.
Takkarist McKinley, DE, Atlanta Falcons
Takk was drafted by the Falcons to complement Vic Beasley rushing off the edge. Like Fowler and Lawson, he is a great pass rusher who needs to improve his run game. Also, like Fowler and Lawson, he is athletic enough to play in a 4-3 or a 3-4.
Sean Lee, LB, Dallas Cowboys
Lee, despite his 96-overall rating, is quite easy to acquire due to his age of 32. He is a great coverage linebacker who is also a good run stopper. He is not a pass rusher at all, but in a 3-4 he can function in an inside linebacker role.
Kwon Alexander, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Despite only an 81-overall rating, Kwon is a tackling machine who is surprisingly easy to acquire. He is an average coverage linebacker, but an elite run stopper. He can’t pass rush, but is better as an inside backer in both schemes anyway.
De’Vondre Campbell, LB, Atlanta Falcons
Campbell is only listed here because he is a great coverage linebacker. In a Tampa 2 scheme, Campbell is a very useful outside linebacker. He is a horrible pass rusher and only a decent run stopper. Unless you are running a Tampa 2, I wouldn’t recommend acquiring, or using him.
Desmond King, DB, Los Angeles Chargers
In a zone scheme, King can be a solid corner. In a scheme relying more on man coverage, King could also be a solid free safety. Even in an already-solid defensive back group, because of his versatility, he could back up every defensive back position and be a nickel corner.
Marlon Humphrey, CB, Baltimore Ravens
Humphrey is a solid, young corner for a man-to-man scheme, who is one of the best young corners in the game. In a zone scheme, he is less useful, but nonetheless solid. As he is only 22, he could still develop into a solid player in either scheme.
Shaquill Griffin, CB, Seattle Seahawks
Shaquill is a very solid, young corner in either scheme. As he is now the top corner in Seattle, he may have a slightly higher price than the two mentioned above, he still can be a very good player for the price.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB
Rodgers-Cromartie is a very solid man-to-man corner. He can be a great piece if you are going for a Super Bowl in season 1. Other than that, he’s not much other than trade bait.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Miami Dolphins
Minkah is a great, young, defensive back who can play both corner and safety. However, unlike Desmond King, he is just as good of a man corner as he is a zone corner. With 90 speed, 83 man coverage, and 83 zone coverage, he can pretty much play any position in the secondary.
Malik Hooker, FS, Indianapolis Colts
Hooker is an elite zone safety and a great ball hawk. He is a very good safety in any scheme that uses a deep safety but is NOT a useable in-the-box safety.
Budda Baker, DB, Arizona Cardinals
Baker is the most versatile safety listed yet. He is a solid coverage safety who can also be a solid run-support contributor. He can’t really play corner, but he can play nickel/slot corner fairly well.
Derwin James, SS, Los Angeles Chargers
James is similar to Baker, as a solid all-around safety who doesn’t really shine in any one area. However, if you need a man-coverage corner, James’ 90 speed and 81 man coverage are more than solid.
