Pittsburgh’s Adam Bisnowaty is one of the more interesting offensive line prospects eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft.
Adam Bisnowaty features a long frame and arms that help him get his hands on the defender. He shows a commitment to fighting for inside hand placement where he uses his upper body strength to control the action.
His overall hand usage is above-average and includes a powerful punch. This punch comes also comes in handy in pass protection where he’s able to push the rusher past the quarterback. In the run game, Bisnowaty delivers a good jolt which gives him some space to operate.
Bisnowaty’s ability to Velcro to the defender makes him a good fit for a zone-blocking scheme. He does a good job using angles and his hands to seal the defender from the play. Bisnowaty also gets a good jump off the ball which gives him strong positioning.
Pittsburgh operates a run-heavy offense which has provided Bisnowaty the opportunity perfect his craft. However, it has also helped mask some of his issues in pass protection.
Bisnowaty isn’t a fluid athlete and will struggle protecting the edge against elite speed rushers. He’s a waste bender which impacts his balance and quickness of his feet. His issues in pass protection aren’t as noticeable at Pittsburgh because of how they operate their offense and the fact he’s not facing elite competition on a consistent basis.
It seems likely that Bisnowaty will need to move inside to guard where he should excel. The strength of his game is run blocking and hand usage. His strengths as a pass protector would also be more noticeable.
Bisnowaty does a good job keeping a wide base which allows him to absorb contact and anchor. At guard, he’d be able to keep pressure out of the face of his quarterback.
It’s important to note that Bisnowaty isn’t a major liability working at tackle. He could carve out a career in the NFL on the outside, but he would perform at a higher level inside. The fact that he can hold up playing tackle helps his draft stock due to the versatility.
There is still time for him to improve his technique and show more upside protecting the edge. This would make it easier for NFL teams to project him as an offensive tackle.
Current Draft Status: 3rd Round