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Dynasty players are heading into the fantasy football offseason when fantasy platforms switch over to 2026 following the Super Bowl, which will open up trades for managers looking to get an early start on improving their rosters for next season.
For the defensive line position, utilizing the proven stable metrics, specifically expected sacks (as highlighted here), can be used as a strong indicator of which players have performed above and below their potential production ceilings, creating a good window to make moves in dynasty leagues.
The full list of top IDP scorers, scoring settings, and production versus expected numbers can be found here.
Defensive linemen to target via trade
ED Josh Hines-Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Highest ideal trade price to acquire (draft picks): Late 2026 second-round pick
Hines-Allen's IDP managers over the past two seasons have been frustrated with the idea that he should be delivering more sacks than he has, finishing with just eight in each of the past two years after delivering an elite 17.5-sack season in 2023. For those looking to take advantage of that frustration and buy into the now two years of due positive sack regression, this is the window we should be looking at to acquire a potential ED1 for the 2026 season.
Hines-Allen has consistently delivered high-end pass-rush metrics on ideal playing time, which is in no real danger of disappearing in the foreseeable future, and it makes him more than capable of reaching that 14-17 sack ceiling once again. Despite just the eight sacks these past two years, Hines-Allen has finished no worse than top-12 at his position in pass-rush grade or total pressures, often bringing with him an elite pass-rush win rate as well. Considering that Hines-Allen has also finished as a top-24 IDP edge defender in each of these under-performing sack seasons as well, there’s plenty of room for him to hit on that ED1 upside once that expected positive regression hits.
The absolute highest price to pay right now for IDP managers willing to make a bet on positive sack regression for a locked-in weekly starter is a late 2026 second, though ideally, you’ll be able to negotiate for a slightly better deal if the Hines-Allen managers are indeed frustrated and willing to move on.
ED Abdul Carter, New York Giants
- Highest ideal trade price to acquire (draft picks): Any second-round pick
Carter is the “buy” candidate in IDP right now, and while he’ll still be difficult to acquire considering that IDP dynasty managers who drafted him this past offseason are likely willing to be patient with him, there is a better window to acquire him than would have been the case heading into the 2025 season. Carter went the first 12 weeks of 2025 with just a half-sack to his name despite strong play and ideal playing time, and while that opened up a potential window to acquire him before he went on a four-game sack streak, that window isn’t necessarily closed considering he was relatively quiet in the stat columns in Year 1.
Carter averaged nearly 50 defensive snaps per game, which is nearly as good as it gets for defensive linemen in IDP. Carter looking every bit the part of the top-three pick he was drafted to be as a rookie was also encouraging, as he delivered a top-10 pass-rush grade for the position (84.5). For reference, that is the best pass-rush grade for a first-round rookie edge since 2012, surpassing last year’s 83.7 set by Jared Verse. Similarly to Verse, Carter should also see an increase in sack production in Year 2 with one of the best long-term outlooks, based on his Year 1 metrics and an elite score in the rookie edge model coming out of college.
Again, those who are locked into the data on Carter will likely be less willing to part with him after what was really a very encouraging rookie season in terms of his underlying metrics. It’s possible that closer to rookie drafts, IDP managers will be able to acquire him for a second-round pick, which is likely what he cost to draft last season, and if his IDP manager isn’t pleased with the Year 1 production, then that’s a deal I’d still be happy with that deal as the highest price point.
DT Mason Graham, Cleveland Browns
- Highest ideal trade price to acquire (draft picks): Late 2026 third-round pick
Similar to the previously mentioned Carter, Graham was a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft who greatly underperformed in the sack column, though all signs point to him being significantly better for IDP in the years ahead, specifically for DT-required formats. Graham finished 2025 with just a half-sack, making him essentially an afterthought on the year, especially with teammates Myles Garrett breaking the NFL sack record and Carson Schwesinger potentially being the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The fact that Graham was a total workhorse in Year 1 shouldn't be overlooked. He deserved better results in the sack column, represented by his 81st percentile mark in expected sacks, which is an encouraging accomplishment for a rookie defensive tackle. Graham’s overall playing time was a significant contributing factor to this strong expected sacks mark, as his pass rush metrics were mostly average for the position. However, Graham came out of college with one of the most promising profiles in recent years, scoring an elite 8.75 (98th percentile) in the (soon-to-be-released) rookie defensive tackle model, where there was a 70% hit rate to finish as a top-12 defensive tackle and 80% hit rate to finish top-24, scoring over an 8.50 in the model.
DT-required leagues will be the primary format to target Graham via trade, and while IDP managers can start at a high fourth-round pick, or an asset of similar value, he’s likely to be worth more than even a third-round pick down the road. As a player due for positive sack regression and a long-term workhorse role, his window to acquire him won’t likely last much further beyond the start of his second year.
Defensive linemen to trade away
ED Tuli Tuipulotu, Los Angeles Chargers
- Minimum ideal trade return (draft picks): 2026 third-round pick
Tuipulotu is coming off a career year in terms of his IDP production, as well as sacks (13), pressures (70) and pass-rush grade (74.4). However, based on his 2025 profile as a whole, he greatly overachieved as an IDP due to those sack totals, specifically, which is bound to lead to regression in 2026 and potentially make 2025 Tulipulotu's absolute ceiling, creating a potential window to sell him at his highest value.
Because of his solid pass-rush metrics, there’s no reason to panic-sell Tuipulotu, as he should remain a solid IDP asset in 2026, even if not the ED1 that he was this past year. However, knowing the instability of sacks and that those who greatly outperform in sacks versus expected will see some regression the following year, he becomes a player you may be able to profit off of this offseason. While Tuipulotu may have another great year, we’re banking on the odds with this one, and the most likely outcome is that he doesn’t repeat his stellar 2025 production.
While a third-round pick is fair, it’s possible that we can push for a little more, either in terms of draft picks or assets, depending on the potential buyer and their needs. Any of the trade targets on this list would also be a win for those looking to acquire the better long-term projections.
DT Jordan Davis, Philadelphia Eagles
- Minimum ideal trade price to acquire (draft picks): 2026 late third-round pick
As was the case with Tulipulotu, Davis is coming off a career year as an IDP, almost entirely due to an elite tackle rate – which will be difficult to sustain – and by outperforming his expected sack totals by a decent margin. Unlike Tuipulotu, however, Davis did not have a career year in terms of his pass-rush metrics, which puts him at greater risk of regression – even from just 4.5 sacks – in 2026. Davis ranked outside the top-100 players at his position in pass-rush win-rate (5.0%) and outside the top 70 in pass-rush grade (62.3).
Part of the reason that Davis’ expected sack total just barely even cracked the top 70th percentile was due to a significantly increased workload in 2025, playing a career-high 686 defensive snaps – over 150 more than his previous best (2023) – and 380 pass-rush snaps – nearly 100 more than his previous best (2023). Davis was on the field a lot more due to Jalen Carter playing just 11 games this season, both due to injury and suspension. With great playing time and a little luck, Davis was a top-five defensive tackle for IDP this year, with a big boost from his tackle totals, though it isn’t likely to reach those heights again based on his profile.
Any IDP managers in dynasty DT-required leagues who were able to benefit from Davis’ career season may also be able to benefit from trading him this offseason. He comes with a name value as a former first-round pick, and now an elite IDP season to back that up. Considering how difficult it was to find consistent IDP defensive tackles this season, there may be an opportunity to get a late third or better, depending on defensive tackle value in your leagues, as IDP managers will be interested in Davis as a potential asset now.