2020 NFL Draft prospect profile: Isaiah Wilson, OL, Georgia

The New York Giants need help at multiple positions on their offensive line. The need to find long-term answers at center and right tackle, and they could need a new left tackle as soon as 2021.

But while those are pressing needs, they also need to build their depth chart on the offensive line so it isn’t broken by a single injury. By the same token, they would also do well to find eventual starters to replace aging veterans or players potentially lost to free agency.

Georgia’s left tackle has long been a popular pick for the Giants, but what about Isaiah Wilson, Georgia’s right tackle? He is massive, powerful, and surprisingly athletic for his size. Even if he isn’t a tackle at the NFL level, could he be an eventual answer at guard?

Prospect: Isaiah Wilson (OT, Georgia)
Games Watched: vs. Florida (2018), vs. Alabama (2018), vs. Vanderbilt (2019), vs. LSU (2019)
Red Flags: None

Measurables

Quick Summary

Best: Size, length, power, run blocking
Worst: Hand usage, leverage, pass protection against speed
Projection: A reserve lineman with the potential to vie for a starting job as a converted guard.

Game Tape

Full Report

Georgia offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson is an exceptionally large blocker with good height, long arms, big hands, and great thickness through his upper and lower halves. Wilson carries his weight well and does not appear to be a “fat” 350 pounds. He has adequate quickness off the ball and is able to explode into blockers with surprising quickness. Wilson has exceptional play strength and is able to anchor against power rushes even when he lacks leverage. He has some ability to mirror speed rushers over a short area and is able to shut rushes down when he gets his hands on defenders.

Wilson is a powerful run blocker who plays with a nasty streak. He is able to generate movement at the line of scrimmage in power runs and has enough mobility to execute zone blocking schemes. Wilson shows very good quickness in releasing to the second level on man-gap runs or in screen plays and seems to revel in blocking linebackers and defensive backs. He consistently tries to finish reps with the defender on the ground and will jump on them to keep them from getting back into plays.

Wilson has limited range on the edge and struggles against fast and agile rushers in pass protection. Wilson struggles with hand usage, with his hands consistently falling low and wide on defenders, and his elbows flared. He rarely wins inside leverage and consistently gives up his chest plate to defenders. Wilson also has a tendency to let his feet stop in pass protection and pad level rise, limiting the amount of play strength he is able to bring to bear on defenders.

Overall Grade: 6.0D - A traits based prospect who will need a long-term plan for development. Has the potential to be a starter but has a low floor as well. An early day 3 prospect. [Grading Scale]

Projection

Isaiah Wilson projects best as a guard in a power-based offensive scheme. He has intriguing physical tools, but he might find it easiest to develop his feet and hands playing inside where he doesn’t have as much ground to cover.

That comes with its own risks, namely that the action happens much quicker inside and his hands will have to be that much quicker. Likewise he will need to make sure he is always playing with leverage to deal with stouter and more powerful defensive tackles. However, playing inside would also maximize his positive traits, namely play strength and downhill blocking.

Wilson has the kind of nasty streak you love to see from an offensive lineman and he has rare physical tools. Wilson has long arms, big hands, impressive power, and is quick for a player of his size. Scouts will prize those tools and coaches will want to work with them, but he will need development before he is ready for a starting job.