VT NFL Draft Prospect Spotlight: OG Isaiah Wynn
J.R.
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Isaiah Wynn | OG, Georgia
Measureables
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 308 pounds
Projected Round
Late 1st—Early 2nd Round
NFL Comparison
Ben Grubbs
Pros
Athleticism: By far the superior trait that stands out about Wynn is his nimbleness and how easily he operates. He has quick and active feet that never stop moving. It seems like Wynn is always ready to initiate contact and latch onto defenders. In pass protection, he’s rarely fooled by stunts or rush moves by defensive ends and tackles.
So much to like about Wynn’s tape at UGA. Not only does he show excellent competitive toughness, consistently finishing every rep through the whistle, but his stance, pass set, and hand usage are all very good IMO. Quickly ID’s threats and secures MDM. Will be a nasty OG. pic.twitter.com/AzeYUWzHMB
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) January 27, 2018
In the running game, Wynn has a keen understanding of using proper angles and elevated techniques. What you love most about him, though, is that he consistently plays through the whistle. The physicality and mentality are two traits you can’t teach, and he possesses both naturally. Having those characteristics at this stage gives Wynn a chance to play early on in his career.
Versatility: Prior to the 2017 season, Wynn primarily played as a left guard, making 12 starts in 13 games. Due to injuries and a need at the position, Wynn was listed as Georgia’s starting left tackle entering last season. He did not disappoint.
Wynn started all 15 games there and was named an All-SEC Second Team selection. Playing multiple positions makes an offensive lineman prospect much more valuable to NFL teams because of their flexibility in today’s injury-ridden game. An offense’s Week 1 group rarely finishes the season together in Week 17 (or beyond), making players who can slide across the line especially important to line-needy franchises.
Mean Streak: Nastiness and physicality are two traits coaches love, but can rarely teach in a player; it’s something they’re almost always born with. An offensive lineman, especially a college prospect like Wynn, is much more attractive to evaluators because of his “edge.”
As a run blocker, he plays with an angry, pissed off demeanor, consistently carving out run lanes for ball carriers. As a pass protector, he doesn’t play with the same command, but the glimpses are still there, and can certainly be unlocked by the right offensive line coach or unit.
Cons
Hand Placement: Even though Wynn plays with solid technique, the violence he uses with his hands leaves a lot to be desired. He doesn’t always punch defenders aggressively with his hands in pass protection. He undoubtedly shows a mean streak when run blocking, but as a pass protector, that can disappear.
Length: At 6’2″ and 308 pounds, Wynn lacks the ideal length to consistently play tackle in the NFL, but his success there at Georgia may prove his value if a team absolutely needed to call on him. But asking Wynn to play on an island for an extended period of time is a lot to ask. The former All-SEC selection translates much better on the interior.
Unique Fact
Prior to the 9th-grade, Wynn had no interest in playing football. He primarily enjoyed going to the local tennis courts to play games with his family and siblings. It wasn’t until he had a conversation with a future teammate at Lakewood High School (Florida) that he made the decision to finally give football a try. That teammate just so happened to be UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin.
Vikings Fit
After drafting Pat Elfein and Danny Isidora a year ago and signing Mike Remmers and Riley Reiff in free agency, the first year of the franchise’s offensive line rebuild should be considered a success. Still, Rick Spielman’s work is far from over, as the team still has some weaknesses, particularly at the guard spots.
Joe Berger is heavily leaning towards retirement, and adding competition to the position group is always a winning strategy. With Nick Easton entrenched as the starter at left guard, that leaves the team with a huge hole at right guard. Drafting Wynn could potentially solve those problems immediately.
His athleticism and skill set is ideal for the Vikings’ zone-blocking scheme. His versatility is a major strength, and while his length is below average — most likely preventing him from playing tackle — Wynn can play tackle in spurts if absolutely necessary.
Wynn is a prime candidate for the team to select with the No. 30 overall pick.
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