2024 NFL Draft Canadian Prospect: Isaiah Adams

As the NHL and NBA playoffs rage on, those with a greater affinity for the NFL can enjoy one of the iconic moments of the year. This Thursday sees the 2024 Draft kick off from Detroit. The first round is always the most exciting for the fans and media because it informs us what every team’s most pressing need is, or at least what each team believes it needs most.

But as history as shown, there are a ton of diamonds in the rough, and that goes for college players from Canada. We look at Ontario native and guard Isaiah Adams, who developed with the Illinois Fighting Illini.

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2024 NFL Draft Odds

Isaiah Adams, Guard for the Illinois Fighting Illini

Hailing from humble Ajax, the 6-feet-4, 314-pound Adams is a Laurier University alumni. His shift to the United States happened in 2022 when he was accepted onto Illinois’ roster. The Fighting Illini are not what one would describe as a powerhouse in college football, finishing eighth in the Big Ten last season with a 5-7 overall record and no Bowl games to speak of.

That doesn’t mean certain players can’t stand out from the fray. To Adams’ credit, he was team captain in 2023, was given a Big Ten Honourable Mention (as per the conference’s coaches and the media), and, according the CFL, ranked as the fifth-best Canadian prospect. During the season he was positioned at right tackle as opposed to his more natural spot at left guard.

What the Scouting Report Says

We defer to the experts who analyze NFL hopefuls during their college careers and pro days. Football is a game replete with details that vary from one position to another, and guards don’t get much of the limelight. In that sense, reading what NFL analyst Lance Zierlein had to say is revealing.

For one, Adams’ size does not preclude him from showing off a certain athleticism. That’s crucial in the modern NFL when safeties and linebackers are getting nimbler with every passing season. Said athleticism allows him to switch from his stance and into position for blocking with appropriate swiftness. He’s also gifted with great strength, helping win battles in the trenches, a crucial factor if a passing play takes an extra second or two to develop.

However, it appears that he’s a bit clumsy. Winning or losing a block is based on how a player uses their feet and hands, and Adams’ coordination could use work, especially for helping out the run game. Furthermore, as strong as he is, he doesn’t utilize his strength early in plays, thus lacks a “punch” to win battles early. That also affects him with regards to blocking the edges, allowing defenders to get around him more easily.

Pound for pound – no pun intended – the NFL gives Isaiah Adams a score of 6.10 out of a possible 8. In other words, he would make a good backup with the potential to one day become a starter. NFL Next Gen Stats award him a 71, making him a “good” prospect. He’s is projected to be taken in either the third or fourth round.

Good to you this weekend, young man.