Let’s get ready for this week’s 2023 NFL Draft. We have you covered with all of our NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles for this year’s class. Here’s a look at Isaiah McGuire.
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2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Isaiah McGuire (DE – Missouri)
Isaiah McGuire (DE – Missouri)
6’4″ – 268 lbs.
Background:
Played sparingly as a freshman in 2019, but has started nearly every game for the Tigers in the three years since, finishing with 18-4.0-3.0 in the shortened 2020 season before breaking out to the tune of 55-14.0-6.0 as a junior. Senior season was arguably even more productive: 40-14.0-8.5.
Positives:
Three-year SEC starter with escalating production and experience anywhere from the three-technique to the seven-technique, playing with his hand in the dirt or standing up. Has excellent size and very good functional strength for a pro edge defender. Plays with a solid level of intensity and physicality. Sets the edge well in the run game, with good extension and awareness to locate the football. Anchors well at the line of scrimmage. Does a nice job of shedding blocks on time, and shows the ability to make tackles while engaged as well. Length gives him a wide tackling radius. Plays with discipline in backside pursuit. Flashes the ability to penetrate out of his stance as a one-gap defender, although his overall quickness is closer to adequate. Covers a lot of ground with his first step and is capable of threatening the edge with his speed rush. Bends a relatively tight arc to the passer for his size. Strong enough to grind down opposing tackles and collapse the pocket with his bull rush. Rushes don’t undermine the integrity of the team’s run fits. Mixes in an inside move occasionally and can be a handful on such rushes. Rushes don’t undermine the integrity of the team’s run fits. Shows a nice closing burst, exploding into contact.
Negatives:
Needs to be more consistent about controlling his pad level. Doesn’t jolt opposing tight ends on contact with his hands as much as his size would suggest. Not the smoothest or most coordinated edge defender, with occasional balance issues. Flexibility in his lower body is about what you’d expect given his size. Range in pursuit is relatively limited, and motor wanes a bit with distance. Works in some different rush moves, but doesn’t really have a go-to counter. Has only taken a handful of snaps in coverage.
Summary:
A physical specimen with the size and strength to control blockers at the line of scrimmage, locate the football and shed on time. He can threaten with his speed rush, bull rush, or with an inside move, and looks like a future second-day pick who requires relatively little imagination to project to the next level. Would fit best as a strongside edge defender in a defense built around two-gap principles.
Projection: Round 2-3
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