Keith

Ismael

A deep reserve, Ismael was active for 13 games last season but played zero snaps on offense. The 2020 fifth-rounder turns 26 in July.

The team now known as the Commanders has also tendered ERFAs DE Bunmi Rotimi and DT Daniel Wise. C Jon Toth was non-tendered. We will treat these as re-signings since the players have no other option, unless they feel like retiring. A 2020 fifth-round pick who was waived and made his way back onto the 53-man roster, Ismael started five games in 2021. Ismael did not embarrass himself. He also did not have the looks of a long-term starter. He does have youth on his side, as he does not turn 24 until July.

Ismael (6’3/309) was a three-year starter at San Diego State who earned three-straight All-Mountain West honors while rotating between guard and center. His on-field play led to Senior Bowl and Combine invitations, where he tested as a 53rd percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete with better burst than agility. As a redshirt junior, he was the No. 1 center in PFF’s pass-blocking grade among 152 FBS qualifiers, only allowing one sack on 474 reps. Ismael checks boxes across the board (experience, production, athleticism, 21 years old) and figures to be a quality backup who could compete for a starting job in Washington given his attributes.

Ismael (6’3/309) was a three-year starter at San Diego State who earned three-straight All-Mountain West honors while rotating between guard and center. His on-field play led to Senior Bowl and Combine invitations, where he tested as a 53rd percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete with better burst than agility. As a redshirt junior, he was the No. 1 center in PFF’s pass-blocking grade among 152 FBS qualifiers, only allowing one sack on 474 reps. Ismael checks boxes across the board (experience, production, athleticism, 21 years old) and figures to be a quality backup who could compete for a starting job in Washington given his attributes.

The key point of value for Ismael (6'3/309) is his guard/center flexibility. Ismael has starting experience at both spots, which suggests he could theoretically be the backup for three spots along the OL at once. Considering most NFL teams only carry three or four backup OL on the active game-day roster (rather than an entire extra OL), having that kind of flexibility is huge. Zierlein also writes Ismael is a “rhythmic move blocker” who can succeed in a zone blocking scheme. While Ismael’s power and anchor can be lacking, he should still have the tools to be a solid backup.

Ismael’s time is middling, but it’s the other numbers that have others talking. As Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network noted on Friday, he left a quality impression after joining the 30-30-30 club in his bench press reps, vertical jump and Wonderlic score. The 6-foot-3, 309-pound offensive lineman didn’t enter with much helium, but Ismael is going to leave Indianapolis with plenty of it.

Ismael (6'3/310) left early from SDSU in order to pursue the draft and he’s apparently making a positive impression on teams at teams who have met with him according to Pauline. He spent most of his collegiate career at center, but has also spent time at each guard position when needed. The former two-star recruit has worked himself into a NFL caliber lineman who wants to hit “30-30-30" at the combine testing. Ismael is referring to a 30 on the Wonderlic, 30 bench press reps and a 30-inch vertical jump. He has vaulted himself into Day 3 consideration, but how high he is selected depends on if he can achieve his lofty testing goals.

Ismael (6'3/310) developed into a stalwart presence on the SDSU line after initially enrolling at the program as a mere two-star recruit in the 2016 class. After taking a redshirt his first year on campus, Ismael went on to start 38-of-39 games, missing out on a perfect starting streak only because of a concussion which forced him to miss a contest in November of 2018. The bulk of Ismael’s experience comes at center, though he has also dabbled at left and right guard during his time in the Aztecs program. If the Mountain West standout is to come off the board in April, it’ll likely happen on Day 3.

Ismael has been a three-year starter for San Diego State after he redshirted in 2016. Since Ismael has been a starter, SDSU have sported some incredible rushing attacks, including the 2017 season with Rashaad Penny in the backfield. Ismael is not a big name in draft circles right now, but if he’s got a Senior Bowl invite, NFL teams surely have their eye on him. Ismael will likely be a Day 3 pick or UDFA.