Isaiah Foskey’s Draft Stock Plummeting

After watching six games of Isaiah Foskey over the past two seasons, he is off my draft board.

Thanks, but no thanks.

I was more impressed by Notre Dame’s No. 9 Justin Ademilola as an edge. He caught my eye more than Foskey did.

Some scouts bang on the table for prospects they want – – on this one – – I am banging on my keyboard, “BUYER BEWARE!”

If you don’t believe me, do yourself a favor and click on the North Carolina game embedded into his report below and watch Foskey get it handed to him…all…game…long.

That’s the PG-13 way of saying it.

Does anyone have some jumper cables?

Has anyone ever tried to jump start a car?

I have.

That’s what it’s like watching this Notre Dame edge who has recently declared for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Sure, once in a blue moon Foskey turns it on enough to let me know he has it in him, which only added to my frustration.

Most of the time he could care less against the run and he stalled out way too often on the edge, “trying” to rush the passer.

His lack of motor spikes his bust rate.

There is nothing elite about Foskey

He looks as vanilla as ice cream on most of his reps as a pass rusher. He lacks the speed, moves, and power it will take to win the edge in the NFL.

Foskey barely had enough speed to win against college offensive tackles.

He flashed a swim move one time in three games. From there, it was this repetitive and exhausting unimaginative outside rush that got him hung out to dry way too often.

He has a good straight-line close but lacks that coveted darting burst.

What about his bull rush attempts?

Foskey would have a hard time running through that red cape at a bullfighting contest.

He’s also stiff as a board.

Foskey disinterested against the run

More times than not he showed little to no real fight against the run.

Most all of my run notes over this three-game study were either neutral or negative.

Sure, he flashed the ability to use his hands to come off blocks, or he flew inside when he was unblocked and made nice wrapping tackles, which again, only added to the frustration.

It’s him to do it. I just don’t think football is important to him.

That’s what his game film said.

2021 vs. 2022

Going back and reading my previous article, I was more impressed with him then, than I am now.

Despite throwing up back-to-back 11 sack seasons, I liked him better on his 2021 game film.

Foskey showed more speed, burst and power in those three games than these three games in 2022.

His movements looked tighter and he appeared less interested this season.

I had a second-round grade on him, but not anymore.

#7 Isaiah Foskey 6-foot-5, 265 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: Fifth-Round (I would not select him)

Bust Probability: High

Projected by 69.0% (down from previous 69.4%) of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of December 14, 2022 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: North Carolina, CAL and USC (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Level of competition: High

2021 stats: 52 tackles (38 solo, 14 assists) 6 forced fumbles, 1 pass defended, 11.0 sacks (32 pressures pff.com)

2022 stats: 45 tackles (23 solo, 22 assists), 1 forced fumble, 11.0 sacks

Note: Did not miss a college game due to injury

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report:

Bland pass rusher with thick, stocky frame and methodical one-gear speed. Bad motor. Flip flopped right to left side standing up and sometimes hand in the dirt. Often tried to test the backdoor and got hung out to dry. Stalemated inside. Used hands well, but showed little when it came to pass rush moves. Tended to get pressure on longer-developing plays and garbage sacks (unblocked). Could not make quick adjustments or adjust back when the quarterback climbed the pocket. Flashed good straight-line close, but did not show burst of speed. Looked good dropping into coverage. Could take it or leave it versus run. Flashed fight to make nice-looking tackles, but often lacked fight and looked soft. Got downright easily handled too often. Hype prospect.

Final words

Save the receipts.

I’ll be adding this one to my GM resume.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.