FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Illinois offensive lineman Isaiah Adams.
2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Isaiah Adams
Isaiah Adams (OL – Illinois)
6’5” – 315 lbs.
Background:
Isaiah Adams is a Canadian who attended high school and then Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario. Transferred to Garden City Community College (Kansas) before ending up at Illinois. Has started for the Illini for the past two years, with 12 games at left guard and one at left tackle in 2022 (four sacks allowed), then two games at left guard this past year before switching to right tackle for the last 10 contests (nine sacks on the year.)
Positives:
Team captain and academic all-conference selection who has experience starting at three different line positions. A well-built lineman with good thickness and above-average functional strength. Plays with a tough on-field temperament. Fires out with some explosiveness and looks good on initial contact. Shows good leg drive once engaging to create movement. Able to pull to the opposite side of the line and crack defenders. Does a nice job of attacking the outside shoulder to drive defenders off of a spot. Works hard to stick with opponents through the whistle. Takes advantage of opportunities to finish off opponents. Gets good extension in pass pro to lock out defenders. Anchor drops pretty early. Short-area quickness is good enough to chip and then get out in space to form part of a convoy in the screen game. Actively seeks out opponents to block when unopposed in pass protection.
Negatives:
There are some sloppy-looking reps on his tape related to his technique and balance. Pad level can be slightly high; doesn’t seem like the most flexible lineman in the lower body. His ability to sustain blocks is closer to average, in part because he plays outside his frame a little bit. Hand placement tends to be too far outside. He was flagged 15 times over the past two seasons. Struggled to protect the passer at right tackle, so his pro future is likely at guard. Can be too quick to abandon his technique in pass protection.
Summary:
A three-position starter over the past two years, his thick frame, tough/competitive temperament and ability to pull and play in space should help him draw interest in the middle rounds as a developmental swing reserve for a gap-based blocking scheme. May not quite have the agility and coordination to protect the edge as a tackle at the next level, but it’s not inconceivable that teams would believe technique improvements could allow him to play on the right side.
Projection: Round 5
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