Chicago Bears 2017 draft position profiles: Offensive linemen

Isaac Asiata, Utah (6-foot-3, 323 pounds)

Here is another PAC-12 lineman on the list. Asiata is a big, athletic lineman whose quickness and agility helps in pass protection and in the running game.

Howard would love to run behind Asiata. Joe Williams ran for 222 yards in the Utes’ Foster Farms Bowl victory over Indiana. He just throws defenders out of the way with his powerful burst, opening up gigantic holes for his running back. The new Chicago Bears quarterback will love him as well.

The PAC-12 was filled with talented offensive linemen. Therefore, it was a huge honor for Asiata when he won the Morris Trophy as the league’s top offensive lineman. More so because the honor is voted upon by the DEFENSIVE linemen in the league.

Asiata is also smart on the football field. He anticipates stunts and acts accordingly. He has a lot of experience, playing 44 games (42 starts).

Asiata will have to work on his blocking downfield. He sometimes bends too far over and gets off-balanced when trying to block at the second level. He sometimes stops moving his feet and stays locked up with a defender. That footwork needs to improve because in the pros they can knock him down or blow past him.

Aisata would be a great pickup to provide depth early on, then start eventually. He also has experience at tackle so he can pitch in there as well. Seeing how linemen take a beating game in and game out, having depth on the line is crucial for success.