Scouting New York Jets defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk

EAGAN, MINNESOTA - JUNE 10: Isaiahh Loudermilk #69 of the Minnesota Vikings participates in a drill during minicamp at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center on June 10, 2026 in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Jets recently signed former Steelers defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk to their practice squad. Today, we break him down in detail.The 29-year old Loudermilk is listed at 6’7” and 293 pounds and was a fifth round pick out of Wisconsin in 2021. He has started seven games in his NFL career, with 63 tackles, six passes defensed and one sack.BackgroundLoudermilk was a three-star high school recruit despite only having played 8-man football in a small town.He ended up going to Wisconsin, where he redshirted his first season in 2016, but then became a useful player over the next few years.In 2017, Loudermilk had six tackles in 11 games in a reserve role, adding 1.5 sacks and a pass defensed.He started the first six games of his career in 2018 and ended up with 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, three passes defensed and a sack in nine games.In 2019, he started all 14 games and had his most productive season with 24 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles.However, Loudermilk got all Big-10 recognition for the only time in his final season as he was named as a third-teamer by the media and an honorable mention by the coaches. In just six games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he had 13 tackles and two sacks.After not being invited to the scouting combine, Loudermilk played in the East-West Shrine Bowl and was eventually drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 2021 draft.As a rookie, he started two games and ended up with 23 tackles, a sack and two pass breakups in 15 appearances.In 2022, Loudermilk started three times but had just seven tackles and a tackle for loss in 11 games overall.He played in 16 games in both 2023 and 2024 but did not start a game during that time. He ended up with 33 tackles, three passes defensed and a quarterback hit over the two seasons.2025 saw Loudermilk start the first two games, although he didn’t generate any statistics. An injury in the second game sidelined him for the rest of the season. He was almost ready to return for the postseason but wasn’t cleared in time.Loudermilk signed for the Vikings in the offseason but failed to make their roster and was eventually added to the Jets’ practice squad last month.Let’s move onto some more in-depth analysis of what Loudermilk brings to the table, based on in-depth research and film study.Measurables/AthleticismThe Jets’ official website lists Loudermilk as 240 pounds but that is obviously a mistake. He was 274 at his pro day, which clearly meant he would need to bulk up for an interior role at the NFL level. He managed 21 bench press reps at his pro day.He lacks length and would not be athletic enough to play on the edge at the NFL level, having run a 5.08 in the 40-yard dash, with underwhelming explosiveness numbers for his size at his pro day. His agility numbers weren’t bad though.UsageBoth in college and at the NFL level, Loudermilk has been an interior lineman, most often employed as a defensive end in a three-man front.MotorLoudermilk is a player who was praised for his “never-quit motor” dating back to his college days. He will chase quarterbacks who are flushed from the pocket and shows hustle in pursuit.Although he has started a handful of games at the NFL level, the most snaps he has played in a single game is 45, in the final game of his rookie year.Pass rushLoudermilk had 7.5 sacks during his college career but his pressure rate has been extremely low at the NFL level. Nevertheless, he can be effective on stunts and shows some instances of pure power.He did get credited with one sack during his rookie year and also had two in preseason that year.Run defenseLoudermilk’s run defense grades on analytical sites such as Pro Football Focus have been primarily poor. There are times when he can be dominated in the trenches.He doesn’t penetrate into the backfield to make a lot of plays, with just one tackle for loss at the NFL level. He had 11.5 tackles for loss in college, but of course that includes his 7.5 sacks. However, he moves laterally well and bottles up runs.He has shown some ability to handle two-gap assignments, taking on blocks, making a read and then filling a lane or shedding the block to get in on the stop.TechniqueLoudermilk is tall, so pad level is a constant concern for him, especially when he lacks the ideal length to recover from an early leverage disadvantage.He brings heavy hands, but his hand placement can be inconsistent. However, when he gets this right, it gives him a good ability to control his man.He doesn’t have an arsenal of pass rush moves by any means but showcases a quick arm-over move to get past a blocker on this stunt, so there may be untapped potential in that area.The pressure he created on this play arguably prevented a certain touchdown.Special teamsLoudermilk’s primary role on special teams has been rushing kicks and punts. He blocked a field goal in college and has also blocked two at the NFL level.He’s also blocked on the placekicking unit in the NFL, and he has even played on the kick coverage unit for the Steelers, recording one tackle in 2024.TacklingLoudermilk has never been a particularly productive tackler and will miss tackles from time to time.He had two forced fumbles during his college career.CoverageLoudermilk has never dropped into coverage at any level although he has chased down receivers on dump-off passes to make a tackle a few times.He does contribute in the passing game with his length and ability to bat down passes at the line. He has done this six times during his NFL career and once had five in one year in college.Instincts/IntelligenceLoudermilk doesn’t have natural instincts as a pass rusher and can be caught out by down blocks and misdirection at times.He is good at reading the quarterback and getting his hands up in the passing lane to contest throws though.He graduated with a degree ahead of his final season at Wisconsin.Attitude/DemeanorLoudermilk is a coachable player with a positive attitude and made it to the NFL with a combination of grit and hard work.On-field discipline hasn’t been an issue for him, as the only penalty he has had at the NFL level was when the Steelers were flagged for 12 men on the field. He only had one defensive penalty in his college career too.InjuriesInjuries have been a factor throughout Loudermilk’s career, although these have mostly been minor issues.Ankle and knee issues affected him early on in his college career as he missed three games in 2017 and four in 2018. He then missed the bowl game at the end of the 2020 season.At the NFL level he missed one game due to a groin issue in his rookie year, but his most serious injury was the one that sidelined him for most of last season. This was a high ankle sprain that required surgery.Scheme FitLoudermilk previously played for the Steelers in a 3-4 base that has similarities to the system the Jets have been using. His defensive line coach was current Jets defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, so clearly he’s been identified as a potential fit by this staff.He has had some experience with two-gapping assignments which are something the Jets don’t use that much right now, but if they transition towards doing this more, that experience will come in handy.He has been a teammate of current Jets Minkah Fitzpatrick and Chukwuma Okorafor while with the Steelers and Joe Tippmann at Wisconsin.ConclusionsThe Jets brought Loudermilk in because they were struggling for depth on the interior, and he gives them an option with decent NFL experience, although the depth issues may resolve themselves soon if Harrison Phillips can play through his ankle issue and David Onyemata will soon be on his way back.The Jets opted to elevate Payton Page ahead of Loudermilk, so he has a hurdle or two to climb before he can crack the rotation, although that may be because Page is more equipped to play as a nose tackle, where they have more of a need right now. Dunbar’s familiarity with Loudermilk should mean he’s capable of hitting the ground running if called upon.Consistency appears to have been Loudermilk’s issue during his career so far, and last year’s injury was obviously a big personal setback at an important time. However, his experience could come in handy if the Jets continue to need fresh bodies at the position and maybe he can stick around if he gets a shot and does well.