Jabaal Sheard

Sheard was excellent at defensive tackle in 2017, tallying 52 tackles and 5.5 sacks through 16 games. He also logged a monstrous 56 defensive snaps per game. A new season will shift him to defensive end, though, where the Colts hope he can unleash his full pass-rushing potential. If the transition is seamless, he could be a top DL pick considering his apt run-stopping skills as well.

Sheard brings his talents to Indianapolis on a three-year deal after spending the past two seasons with the Patriots. He has proven his ability to play both linebacker and defensive end during his career and could be a menace in 2017 as an every-down player. Last season he recorded 33 tackles, five sacks and four pass defensed in 15 games. To top it off, he notched one of his best performances in Super Bowl LI, registering two tackles and 0.5 sacks while covering all corners of the field. Sheard's high-pace energy could lead him to blossom as a leader for a defense that lacked an identity the past couple of seasons.

Keep a close eye on Sheard, because he has DL1 upside depending on the amount of playing time he receives. There's a chance that the loss of Chandler Jones will result in a big promotion for Sheard, though New England is deep enough in the front seven that it could turn to a committee of other players to replace Jones' snaps. If he does get a big snap increase, though, Sheard could go wild after totaling 37 tackles (28 solo), eight sacks and four forced fumbles in just 558 snaps last year. He has considerably more upside than most in this range, even if his floor is unclear.

The 26-year-old Sheard, who recorded 23 sacks in four years with the Browns, should help boost the Pats' pass rush this season, and possesses the versatility to play in either 3-4 or 4-3 alignments. Look for him to carve out a significant role this season while working in a DE rotation that also features Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich.

Sheard will compete with Barkevious Mingo to earn a starting outside linebacker job with the Browns in 2014. He saw a slight dip in production in 2013, but has the potential to rebound, depending on how he's used by the new coaching staff in Cleveland.

Sheard has been a productive player in his first two seasons in the NFL, but his impending position change from end to linebacker hurts his value in IDP formats for 2013. His 15.5 sacks the last two years display his ability to get after the quarterback, but his 77 total tackles also point to a lack of volume production which will be necessary to carry significant value for most IDP formats.

Sheard was quite promising in his rookie year, earning 16 starts and finishing with 55 tackles (40 solo) and 8.5 sacks. The five forced fumbles were a nice touch. It’s concerning that defensive tackle and 2011 first-round pick Phil Taylor suffered a pectoral muscle tear in May and will miss at least part of the season, but the presence of tackle Ahtyba Rubin and his elite power on the inside should be enough to keep Sheard free of double teams, with the exception of chip blocks. The addition of Frostee Rucker and Juqua Parker at end should be good insurance, too, and draft picks John Hughes (third round) and Billy Winn (sixth round) will hopefully help fill Taylor's gap. It doesn't hurt that divisional opponents Baltimore and Pittsburgh are a bit shaky at offensive tackle.

As Cleveland transitions from the 3-4 to the 4-3, it would be surprising if Sheard doesn’t end up starting in Cleveland’s four-man front. The 37th overall pick in this year's draft is an impressive all-around prospect, possessing above average athleticism for a 264-pounder and a strong bull rush. He was the Big East’s top defensive player in 2010, finishing the season with 14.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks in 12 games. Considering how late he'll be available in drafts, Sheard has one of the better cost-to-upside ratios among the IDP options this year.