Isaac Yiadom
Summary
Isaac Yiadom was selected in Round 3 (#99 Overall) in the 2018 Draft out of Boston College. Yiadom is a long‑armed cornerback known for his length, physicality at the catch point, and special‑teams contributions. Coming out of Boston College, he met many of the physical prototypes teams look for in boundary corners, and while his footwork and change‑of‑direction were still developing, he offered upside as a press‑man/zone hybrid on the outside. Over his NFL career, Yiadom has carved out roles as a starter and depth piece, and he enters his current stage of career with the tools and experience to contribute immediately if the scheme and technique are right.
Strengths
Size/length profile: Yiadom stands approximately 6‑1 with long arms, giving him the ability to contest passes, disrupt at the catch point and match up physically with larger receivers.
Press/physical style and contested‑catch ability: He shows willingness to jam at the line, get his hands involved, and contest throws rather than purely bail off. Bleacher Report
Zone awareness and backpedal fundamentals: Yiadom’s college and draft profiles noted his ability to play off‑man, read high‑low route concepts in zone coverage, and maintain spacing in his backpedal.
Special‑teams contributions and versatility: Early in his career, Yiadom added value on special teams while developing as a corner — a trait that boosts roster value. 49ers Webzone
Improved recent performance and coverage metrics: In 2023, Yiadom posted strong grades such as being in the top 10 percent for tight‑coverage percentage and low separation allowed, showing he still has high‑level traits at the professional level. San Francisco 49ers
Weaknesses
Change‑of‑direction, mirror and hip fluidity: Scouts have flagged Yiadom as sometimes being a bit stiff in transitions, with “choppy” backpedal or slower trigger when stemmed off his line, which can hurt against smooth route‑runners. Bleacher Report
Deep‑speed/straight‑line burst questions: While he can stay in phase at times, there are reservations about his ability to consistently match up with ultra‑fast vertical threats or when he must recover from a poor initial position. Bleacher Report
Press‑coverage struggle with quick‑release receivers: When faced with receivers who release cleanly and separate quickly, Yiadom may get off his spot or yield space early, which limits his one‑on‑one upside.
Block‑shed and deep‑run support in press zone: Although physical at the line, his positioning and block‑engagement when asked to immediately turn and run have been cited as weaker compared to elite boundary corner standards. CBS Sports
Translational consistency and “all‑down” starter lock: Despite his traits, doubts remain about whether he can be trusted in every coverage scenario (slot, deep half, press man) without scheme support or rotation.
Fit & Outlook
Yiadom fits best in a defensive scheme that leverages his physical traits — ideally one that employs press‑man or aggressive off‑man alignments, allows him to use his length and athleticism at the catch‑point, and rotates corners such that he doesn’t need to carry the full burden of every‑down one‑on‑one matching. He is well suited to a team that uses sub‑packages frequently, values special‑teams ability, and has a mix of zone/press coverage so that he can play to his strengths while mitigating his transitional/athletic weaknesses. Looking ahead, Yiadom’s outlook is solid. His floor is as a reliable boundary starter or key sub‑package corner who brings physicality, length, and special‑teams value. On the upside, if he continues refining his footwork, tightens his transitions, improves his burst and mirror ability, and remains healthy, he could elevate into a higher‑value starter who handles the tougher side of the field and takes fewer liberations from matchups. The risk: if those technique/athletic gaps remain unaddressed, he may settle into a quality rotational role or situational boundary piece rather than the “elite outside corner” category. Given his experience and recent uptick in performance metrics, he presents more upside than many with similar background — especially in the right system that matches his strengths.