NFL

Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame

Published

2 months ago

March 23, 2023

darragh

He’s sometimes the forgotten man at the top of the 2023 NFL Draft EDGE class, but Notre Dame EDGE Isaiah Foskey has a very intriguing production and athletic profile. Does Foskey deserve fringe first-round consideration, and how high could he rise in the 2023 NFL Draft?

Isaiah Foskey NFL Draft Profile

Position: EDGE
School: Notre Dame
Current Year: Redshirt Junior
Height/Weight: 6’5″, 264 pounds
Length: 34″
Hand: 9 7/8″

In a separate timeline, Foskey might have joined teammate Michael Mayer in the tight end room at Notre Dame. That was the other position that Foskey played as a two-way athlete in high school. And he found some success at De La Salle in Concord, California, catching 26 passes for 367 yards and six scores during his varsity career.

But college teams saw Foskey’s brightest future on the other side of the ball. He was a four-star recruit in the 2019 class and a top-250 recruit on ESPN’s board. Foskey fielded offers from powerhouses like Alabama and Clemson, but the interest from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was equally alluring.

MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board

Foskey signed with Notre Dame, and after redshirting in 2019, he began to emerge as an ascending young talent; 2020 saw him put up 4.5 sacks and five tackles for loss in a rotational role. In 2021, the Notre Dame EDGE took a massive step up, accruing 10 sacks and six forced fumbles in a campaign that earned him All-Independent and All-American recognition.

There was talk that Foskey might declare after his strong 2021 campaign, but he ultimately returned for his redshirt-junior season, and once again put up stellar numbers. This time around, Foskey logged career-high figures in both sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (13.5).

Foskey’s strong play over the final two seasons of his career earned him an invite to the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he flashed his devastating raw power and athleticism off the line. He has the tape, the all-star production, and the traits — but how does Foskey grade out in the 2023 NFL Draft?

Isaiah Foskey Scouting Report

There are many edge rushers in the 2023 NFL Draft class in the first-round discussion. Will Anderson Jr., Myles Murphy, Tyree Wilson, and Lukas Van Ness are the most popular names in that group, but does Foskey have what it takes to join them? Let’s take a look.

Foskey’s Positives

Foskey almost looks like he was built in a lab. He measured in at 6’5″, 264 pounds at the NFL Combine, but he sports a lean, streamlined, and compact frame that carries his weight incredibly well. He also brings excellent length with that frame — measuring with 34″ arms — which helps him in multiple phases.

At his size, Foskey also brings visibly elite explosive capacity. He’s an immediate accelerator off the snap who covers ground with awe-inspiring quickness out of his stance. His fast, long strides can be very hard to match. It also helps that Foskey reacts quickly to the snap. He gears up instantly and puts sudden pressure on blocking angles.

Foskey’s athleticism off the line was confirmed by his NFL Combine showing. Despite measuring in four pounds heavier than his listed college weight, Foskey still ran a blazing 4.58 40-yard dash, with a 1.66 10-yard split. He also registered a strong 10’5″ broad jump — in the 95th percentile among edge rushers — and put up good agility scores as well.

MORE: 2023 NFL Combine Results — Bench Press, 40-Yard Dash, Vertical, 3-Cone, and More

Foskey’s burst grants him venerable speed as a rusher. When blitzing from space, he can load up intense speed-to-power energy. Around the edge, he also builds up the necessary speed to surpass the apex and gain space inside from wide alignments. His ankle flexion only compounds his appeal in this regard.

Foskey can sustain curvilinear acceleration around the edge, as he has the necessary ankle flexion to dip and accelerate around the apex. His bend capacity most often shows up when he has a bit of space to work with, but he can also pinch the corner in congested situations. Additionally, with his ankle flexion, Foskey can loop around the formation as a stunting lineman.

Foskey’s package of high-end length and athleticism affords him excellent power capacity. The Notre Dame EDGE can blast blockers back on full extensions and effectively drive power through blocks with acquired leverage and constant leg drive.

With brutal long-arms and extensions, Foskey can send linemen reeling off-balance, and he’s then able to capitalize. With his leg drive, he’s able to channel his base through power rushes. He can also generate hip torque by extending and rotating through power exertions.

Explosiveness is a primary trait for Foskey, as is his agility. He’s an amped-up mover with visible twitch, which allows him to build momentum heading into contact. He’s a fleet-footed athlete whose fast foot movement can make him highly adaptable and unpredictable for blockers in short ranges.

Foskey has shown to quickly plant and divert inside after scraping past the tackle at the apex. He can also throttle down after surpassing the apex to pinch the corner with more control. With his lateral agility and twitch, he’s able to freely stunt across alignments and generate displacement quickly on reps.

Not only is Foskey powerful, but he’s also strong and fairly well-leveraged. He has the play strength to set the edge on running downs, fully extending and absorbing power with his base. He can use his hand strength to force himself free from anchors on the move, and forklift blockers and demolish running lanes.

In run defense, Foskey leverages himself very well. He sinks his pads and extends, then sidesteps blocks and squares up runners. But his leverage acquisition extends to other phases as well. As a pass rusher, Foskey’s shown to effectively lower his pads and load up power from his base. He can also dip underneath extensions and attack the torso while leaning to keep himself clean.

There are many impressive parts of Foskey’s game, but his hand usage might be chief among them. Foskey has a tremendous foundation as a hand fighter with his traits. He can effectively load up his hands to build potential energy and launch into contact on power rushes. But he’s also a very advanced rusher for his age, stacking violent swipes, extensions, and moving in rapid succession, effortlessly using his upper and lower body in sync.

Diving into the details, Foskey can bait linemen outside with initial rushing angles, then roll his hips and surge inside with a speed-to-bull move. He frequently multitasks around the edge, stacking quick extensions and hand moves while dipping his hips and breaching the apex. Foskey can long-arm with his inside hand to displace tackles, then club-rip quickly on the outside. He’s able to combine rip moves with bull rushes and long-arms — timing those moves effectively to win around the edge.

Additionally, Foskey’s upper-lower synergy makes him even more appealing as a rusher. The Notre Dame EDGE uses a quick Euro step cross-chop off the line, which helps him gain outside leverage, where he can then transition to a club rip around the apex, using his ankle flexion to penetrate the pocket.

There are other impressive moves and counters visible on Foskey’s tape, including a long-arm, club-swim combination. The bottom line is this: Foskey consistently comes with a pass-rush plan and doesn’t delay in executing it. His hands are fast and constantly active. He’s never idle, quickly processes leverage, and stacks advanced counters, using every tool at his disposal.

Foskey is a budding technician, but his hot motor is a fusing agent, both during and after application of rushing moves. Foskey consistently closes rushes, actively extending his arms as he closes on the quarterback. He seeks to disrupt plays in any way possible and is a constant threat for deflections and strip-sacks with his exhaustive use of length. He’s ruthless in pursuit of the QB and closes with intense speed and voracity.

For his size, Foskey shows off above-average change-of-direction ability and impressive functional athleticism in space. This helps him a great deal as a pursuit defender. The Notre Dame EDGE also flashes the necessary patience to read options and delayed handoffs. And once he commits, he explodes toward the ball. Foskey’s a strong tackler in pursuit, engulfing opponents with his length and athleticism, and chasing plays to the whistle.

Expanding on his pursuit, Foskey can quickly recognize screens and sell out to the sideline. Moreover, he has the long-strider speed and athleticism to drop out to the flats and seal off short passes. In pursuit on running downs, he sheds moving blocks and has the short-area athleticism to manage space on option plays. Moreover, he can stonewall pulling blockers, then shed and redirect his hips to match runners outside.

Foskey’s Areas for Improvement

Foskey is an extremely well-rounded prospect, but he isn’t perfect. Most notably, the Notre Dame EDGE doesn’t have elite bend. His hips have some flexibility but aren’t the most fluid. His midsection can get locked up at the apex at times, preventing him from dipping under and sustaining acceleration. He can’t always roll his hips through the apex and sometimes needs to decelerate and reset inside.

In a similar vein, Foskey’s frame is a bit high-hipped, which sometimes forces him to gather himself before making tight direction changes. He doesn’t always show the torso flexibility to consistently capitalize on burst and squeeze through gaps when stunting inside. Furthermore, in space, he can be a bit stiff when changing directions with his tall frame. He’s played off-ball before but should be primarily on-ball in the NFL.

Elsewhere, Foskey doesn’t have elite play strength. He can be worked off his spot in run defense and can’t always wrestle himself free from anchors when pressuring the apex. His leverage could also improve. His power rushes sometimes stall out when his pads drift too far up after contact. Once his pad level drifts too high, it can be difficult to recover. He also struggles to manage his pad level on approach at times.

Occasionally, Foskey extends past his base and lurches into contact, neutralizing his lower body and stalling his momentum. He lurches and loses his balance when his hands miss their mark. While Foskey is a formidable hand fighter, his hand strikes could be more precise and his placement cleaner. The Notre Dame EDGE’s hands sometimes slip past their targets and fail to channel maximum force.

Foskey maintained his high-level production in 2022, but his hand usage seemed to regress a bit on tape. He still has flashes of brilliance stacking counters upon his initial exertion, but Foskey wasn’t as consistent in 2022 as he was in 2021. Luckily, he’s at the very least shown the capacity to stack moves and vary his rush plan, and that’s something coaches can work with, along with his tools.

Lastly, in pursuit, Foskey sometimes drifts backward when faced with misdirections and exposes himself to blockers moving upfield. He’ll also occasionally overpursue option plays and commit to the QB prematurely.

Current Draft Projection for Notre Dame EDGE Isaiah Foskey

Even after a slight regression on tape in 2022, Foskey remains a top-25 prospect on my board and a worthy first-round candidate in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s not far below the initial group of power rushers, and you could argue that, at his best, he has some of the most dangerous hands in the entire class.

At his maximum, Foskey has legitimate blue-chip upside. Foskey’s size at 6’5″, 264 pounds, with 34″ arms, is incredibly unique. With that size, he’s an elite athlete with torrid explosiveness and amped-up energy off the snap. His mix of burst and length grants him elite maximum power capacity, and he’s shown to utilize all of his tools with his deep pass-rush arsenal.

Foskey will need to keep minimizing the drift of his pad level after contact and keep honing his precision as a pass rusher. Consistency is the name of the game for Foskey, who can use all the moves, but sometimes leaves opportunities on the table. Additionally, with his high-cut frame, he doesn’t always effectively align his base on power exertions, nor does he have elite bend capacity.

MORE: PFN Mock Draft Simulator

All told, however, these are fairly minor flaws in what is an incredibly complete and all-encompassing EDGE profile. Foskey has everything you need — size, length, explosiveness, power strength, active hands, and a red-hot motor. And he’s shown glimpses of the requisite ankle flexion.

Foskey has the tools to command Round 1 capital, and teams in need of a potential impact starter at EDGE should race to the podium if he’s still there on Day 2.

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NFL

Antonio Brown Recruiting Cam Newton for Arena League Game

Published

25 mins ago

May 29, 2023

darragh

Antonio Brown drew headlines recently (how surprising) when he revealed that he’s planning his return to professional football.

Of course, most (if not all) pro teams would be hesitant to bring Brown into their locker rooms. After all, he didn’t exactly leave the NFL on the best terms.

There’s one team where Brown assuredly does have a ready-made roster spot waiting for him: his own. Brown owns the National Arena League’s Albany Empire and is reportedly planning on suiting up for their next home game.

Antonio Brown Playing in the Arena Football League

Brown had eyes on playing this past Saturday, May 27, but ultimately said he couldn’t because his physical paperwork did not come through on time. But he assured NewsChannel 13’s Roger Wyland that he’d be suited up for the Empire sooner than later.

“Stay tuned, AB’s coming. There’s proper procedures you’ve got to do to play football,” Brown told NewsChannel 13. “You’ve got to pass the coach, the commissioner. You’ve got to be in physical condition. You can’t just pop up, so I’ve got to get my feet wet. We’ve got to get the proper equipment. We’ve got to do the right thing.”

“But I am going to be playing. You didn’t lie. Everything is going to fall in place,” he added.

MORE: Should Antonio Brown Make the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

4,500 fans showed up to Saturday’s Empire game in hopes of seeing Brown retake the field. That’s nearly double their typical average attendance of 2,500. Say what you will, but Antonio Brown is showing some business savvy by letting the anticipation build.

If he happens to pull off the next special guest he’s clamoring for, the Empire might triple or even quadruple their attendance.

AB Recruiting Former NFL MVP, Cam Newton

Brown took to Twitter recently to lobby for long-time Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to join him for a game with the Empire. He offered Newton $150,000 for a one-off appearance.

That’s not a bad game check. Especially considering the average NAL player makes around $200 per game.

Of course, Newton isn’t the average arena league player. The 2015 NFL MVP accounted for 269 touchdowns in his career (194 passing, 75 rushing) and is second to only Michael Vick for all-time rushing yards gained by a quarterback.

Newton and Brown made a combined 10 Pro Bowls in their careers. Both are just 34 years old and only a single year removed from football at its highest level. Arena games are like track meets, to begin with, and Brown and Newton going even half-speed would still probably threaten 100 points on the scoreboard in that setting.

But that, of course, is dependent on whether or not Newton accepts the invitation. The money is enticing, but Newton banked well over $100 million in his career, according to Spotrac. We also know that Newton’s interested in playing again, per CBS Sports. He could view playing in this game as a needless injury risk.

Or he could view it as a chance to put himself on tape, have a little fun, and make a little cash (relatively speaking). The football-loving people of Albany are certainly hoping he leans that way.

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NFL

Finding Landing Spots for Leonard Floyd, Jadeveon Clowney, and Other Pass Rushers

Published

1 hour ago

May 29, 2023

darragh

The opening waves of 2023 NFL free agency felt like they happened a lifetime ago, but there’s still one position group that has starting-caliber players available on the open market: EDGE. It’s rare to see an elite pass rusher in free agency, but veteran contributors — especially those on the wrong side of 30 — often remain on the market even as the calendar approaches June.

Let’s run through the best free agent EDGEs available and identify their best landing spots as teams begin to finalize their rosters before training camp.

Best Fits for the Top Free Agent EDGEs

For whatever reason, the EDGE market didn’t pop this offseason. Charles Omenihu (Chiefs) and Samson Ebukam (Colts) paced the group with $8 million-per-year salaries. The free agents on our list should come in well below that figure.

Leonard Floyd | Los Angeles Chargers

Coaching connections often play a significant role in free agent signings, especially at this late stage of the game. Leonard Floyd already has a relationship with Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, who worked with Floyd in both of their previous stops with the Rams and Bears.

When Floyd signed with the Rams in 2020, he said, “It’s going to be great playing for (Staley) again,” noting Staley’s preparation and communication skills. Networking aside, the Chargers have a need for another pass rusher behind Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.

MORE: Best EDGEs in the NFL 2023

Bosa has only stayed healthy for a full campaign in two of his five NFL seasons, while Mack played 921 defensive snaps at age 31 (which Los Angeles might want to prevent next season). Chris Rumph hasn’t developed into a reliable third option, while second-round rookie Tuli Tuipulotu might profile as more of a three-technique than a pure edge rusher.

Floyd is an incredibly durable player who hasn’t missed a game since 2017 and regularly sees action on 80-90% of his team’s defensive snaps. He’d be ready to step in if the Chargers suffer an injury, but he’d also be an overqualified reserve if everyone stays healthy.

Jadeveon Clowney | Kansas City Chiefs

Jadeveon Clowney talked his way out of Cleveland this offseason, blaming the Browns coaches for failing to put him in a position to succeed. Clowney’s persona — and the fact that he’s posted three or fewer sacks in three of the last four seasons — might make it difficult for him to find a new NFL home.

But the Chiefs are used to bringing in talented malcontents. Kansas City has a veteran roster in place to handle a personality like Clowney, and they could use another edge rusher even after signing Omenihu and using back-to-back first-round picks on George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

Steve Spagnuolo likes to deploy pass-rushing rotations, as no Chiefs defensive end played more than 64% of the club’s snaps in 2022. Omenihu has always been a part-time player, and Anudike-Uzomah will be adjusting to life in the NFL — there’s room for a player like Clowney on Kansas City’s roster.

Justin Houston | Chicago Bears

After adding contributors at seemingly every position on their defense except EDGE, the Bears have made it known that they’re not done bringing in veteran players.

“A lot of times, these guys want to see the landscape,” head coach Matt Eberflus said in March. “Sometimes it’s after the draft. They want to see the landscape of where teams are and what they look like. That’s certainly an option. Again, we’re always trying to add players all the way through, even up to training camp. We’re always going to do that.”

MORE: Best NFL Defenses in 2023

Eberflus was the Colts’ head coach when Indy signed Justin Houston in 2019. Given that the Bears still need defensive end help, Houston could be an option for the Bears, who didn’t use any draft capital on the EDGE and project to start Trevis Gipson and free agent acquisition DeMarcus Walker.

At age 34, Houston might prefer to land with a contender. But Chicago has the most cap space and could probably make a trek to the Windy City worth his while. Houston might not be able to convert 15 pressures into 9.5 sacks again, but he’d be a valuable veteran presence for a young Bears defense.

Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, US; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark (55) celebrates a play against the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Frank Clark | Jacksonville Jaguars

Josh Allen ranked third among NFL edge defenders with 1,005 snaps in 2023. Travon Walker finished 16th with 897. If the Jaguars want to practice load management next season, they could stand to sign a veteran pass rusher, especially after losing Arden Key to the division-rival Titans.

Jacksonville can’t rely on former first-round pick K’Lavon Chaisson, who has already had his fifth-year option and could be traded before the season gets underway. The Jaguars used a fifth-round pick on pass rusher Yasir Abdullah in April, but he’s undersized and is unlikely to make an impact in 2023.

With their sights set on more than simply winning the AFC South, Jacksonville could consider someone like Frank Clark, who was released by the Chiefs earlier this year. Clark, viewed as a leader within the Chiefs’ locker room and served as a regular tutor for Karlaftis during his rookie year, could become a mentor for Walker while providing stout run defense as a rotational player.

Yannick Ngakoue | Carolina Panthers

Now that free agent signings like Vonn Bell and Shy Tuttle are joining impact players like Brian Burns and Jaycee Horn in Carolina, the Panthers’ defense has the makings of a potential top-10 unit, especially with Ejiro Evero in place as defensive coordinator.

The most obvious hole remaining on the depth chart is at defensive end opposite Burns, where Carolina is still waiting on former second-round pick Yetur Gross-Matos to deliver.

MORE: Highest-Paid EDGEs in 2023

Yannick Ngakoue has serious issues as a run defender, and he was lucky to generate 19.5 sacks over the past two years, given that he ranked 91st and 60th in pass-rush win rate in those respective seasons, per PFF. But he’s still an NFL-caliber defensive end, and he played under Panthers head coach Frank Reich in Indianapolis.

“He’s got such good get-off. He’s explosive,” Reich said when the Colts traded for Ngakoue in March 2022. “He’s just really smart. He understands the game, he understands what offenses are trying to do. He’s good situationally, and more than that, what I’m coming to appreciate about Yannick more and more is really what a leader this guy is.”

Melvin Ingram | Washington Commanders

Although the Commanders declined Chase Young’s fifth-year option for 2024, they’re clearly hoping he has a standout year in 2023 and forces the team to regret their decision. Hope isn’t a strategy, though, and Washington needs to build more defensive end depth in the event that Young misses more time with injuries.

With Young sidelined last season, the Commanders were forced to give more than 300 snaps each to James Smith-Williams, Efe Obada, and Casey Toohill. Melvin Ingram is 34 years old, but he proved he was still capable of making the occasional splash play with the Dolphins last season. The Browns reportedly targeted Ingram before acquiring fellow pass rusher Za’Darius Smith from the Vikings earlier this month.

Kyle Van Noy | New York Giants

The Giants could use a veteran to compete with Jihad Ward and Oshane Ximines for the team’s EDGE3 role behind Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari. Meanwhile, New York also needs more bodies at linebacker, where Jarrad Davis — who was bouncing on and off practice squads in 2022 — is projected to start next to free agent addition Bobby Okereke.

Why not kill two birds with one stone? Kyle Van Noy spent most of his time rushing the passer for the Chargers in 2022 after Bosa went down, but he also has plenty of reps as an off-ball linebacker with coverage responsibilities. He should come cheap (which is important for the cap-strapped Giants) and is the sort of experienced veteran that Wink Martindale likes as depth on his defense.

Dawuane Smoot | San Francisco 49ers

Let’s finish up with Smoot, who may not have the name value of the other available edge rushers but has been a quietly consistent force for the Jaguars since 2019, posting at least five sacks in all five seasons.

Smoot tore his Achilles in December, which could put his availability for Week 1 in question. But that might not matter for a contending team like the 49ers, who could stash Smoot on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list for at least six weeks before inserting him into their pass-rushing equation.

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NFL

Top Fantasy Options at RB Include Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, and Saquon Barkley

Published

2 hours ago

May 29, 2023

darragh

The running back position can be one of the best positions to build your 2023 redraft fantasy football roster around, as the continued push for more value at receiver has made many rushers a value on draft day compared to years past. With another group of highly talented rookie rushers in the league, plus shakeups thanks to a wild offseason of moves, here are the current 2023 redraft running back rankings.

2023 Redraft Running Back Rankings

The below rankings are intended as a guide for 0.5 PPR formats. They do not take into account individual league rules and setups.

MORE: Fantasy Draft Strategy | Fantasy Scoring

Who Are the Best RBs To Draft in 2023 Redraft Leagues?

Despite everyone saying running backs don’t matter, they, in fact, do matter quite a bit for fantasy. While they are just one component of a roster, nailing the running back selections for your team will place you in a much better position than those who fade the position and roll the dice with mid-RB3s who might have some upside but lack a consistent floor or ceiling.

You likely don’t need to tell you that drafting Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler, or even Bijan Robinson is a good idea. But I would say to be aggressive with Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs.

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He landed in an ideal spot and fills the role left by D’Andre Swift, and while Swift did disappoint overall, he was third in points per opportunity with a 70-target season despite Jamaal Williams breaking Barry Sanders’ rushing TD record with 17.

David Montgomery isn’t going to do that. Gibbs is not just a better prospect than Swift but is the best receiving back we have seen since the 2017 class and has a top-six upside if things break right.

At 214 pounds with sub-4.5 speed and receiving versatility, Buccaneers RB Rachaad White has lead-back upside, and we saw this start last season.

In Weeks 10-17, White averaged 15 touches and over 70 yards per game, which would be a 17-game pace of over 1,200 yards on 275 touches, with over 70 coming in the passing game while playing on 49% of the snaps. If he even sniffs that volume level, White could close in on high-end RB2 status in 2023.

Bank on a bounceback from Najee Harris in 2023 as well. Between Weeks 1-8, Harris was the RB23 and 29th in points per game at 10.9 (PPR). But we also have to remember that Harris was dealing with a Lisfranc injury he sustained during training camp.

Yet, Harris finished the season much stronger, and it seemed to go a bit under the radar. From Weeks 10-17, Harris was the RB8 overall and ninth in points per game with 15.3 (PPR). He was tied for second in rushing attempts (141) and averaged 20.6 opportunities.

Add in Week 18, and Harris averaged 20 opportunities, 87.8 rushing yards, and 0.8 touchdowns per game. He also sat 14th in routes run while recording 20+ carries in five of his last eight games.

As for mid-round value or later picks to target in fantasy football RB rankings, keep an eye on James Conner, Alexander Mattison, Zach Charbonnet, Devon Achane, Roschon Johnson, Jaylen Warren, Samaje Perine, Tank Bigsby, and Pierre Strong Jr.

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