2025 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Isaiah Bond, WR Texas
Isaiah Bond is a name dynasty fans have been monitoring for years. He burst onto the national scene after his game-winning touchdown against Auburn, but he was never able to string together enough consistent performances to fully emerge. Will Bond’s athleticism help him find a home in the NFL or will he struggle to find a consistent role?
Recruitment
Courtesy of 247Sports.
Bond was a four-star recruit out of Buford, Georgia who was the second-rated athlete in the class of 2022 and the 43rd highest-rated player in the country. Bond chose Alabama over other southern teams like Florida, Auburn, Miami, and his hometown Georgia.
One of Bond’s best skills is his speed, which was displayed in high school during his track career. Bond won the Georgia 6A 100-meter and 200-meter his junior year and added another state title in the 4×100-meter relay.
Collegiate Career
Courtesy of Sports Reference.
As highly as Bond was recruited, his college production didn’t quite live up to the expectations. He struggled to find the field during his first year at Alabama behind a lackluster receiving room of Jermaine Burton, Ja’Corey Brooks, and Kobe Prentice. Then in 2023, Bond was the second leading receiver on a run-heavy Alabama team quarterbacked by Jalen Milroe. Following the retirement of Nick Saban, Bond transferred to Texas to chase a national title but he was a huge disappointment. He struggled with injuries during the season, but down the stretch while healthy, it seemed like he lost his job. Over Texas’s last four games, Bond ran 20 routes just one time and has two total catches over that span.
There are some serious red flags in Bond’s statistical profile that worry me. First, his career 1.73 yards per route run mark is horrendous for an NFL draft prospect. He was also never able to handle a big workload; he eclipsed 100 yards in a game only once and it came against UTSA while he only had a single game with more than five receptions which came back in 2023.
Strengths
- Bond has legit track speed and the ability to take the top off a defense
- His acceleration is special and he’s a great route runner
- Very good hands and very few drops throughout his career
- Dangerous playmaker with the ball in his hands and a YAC threat
Weaknesses
- Size and strength are issues at the catch point
- Struggles in contested catch situations
- Lots of injuries at the college level make me skeptical he can last in the NFL
Draft Value
Courtesy of Mock Draft Database.
According to Mock Draft Database, Bond is currently the 48th overall player on the consensus big board which places him squarely in the middle of the second round. His stock has plummeted since mid-November when he was viewed as a first-round pick. His injury and performance over the last month and a half of the season caused many to sour on him as a player. As he struggled, all of the other Texas receivers stepped their game up and consistently produced in the offense while Bond couldn’t find the field.
While the draft stock is falling, Bond will have ample opportunities to improve his image in the eyes of NFL front offices. He’s the kind of player who will dominate 1-on-1 reps at the draft prep practices where his quickness and footwork can shine. He should also dominate the combine with an excellent 40-yard-dash time.
This is going to be a classic case of double counting. We already know that Bond is fast, but as soon as he runs a 4.38, Bond is going to get a massive bump for something that was common knowledge and will climb back up to the top of the second round.
Dynasty Outlook
I’m not sure how the community is going to view him, but if I had to guess I think Bond will be an early, second-round rookie pick. I liked the idea of Bond at the beginning of the season because of his speed and route-running ability, but after his performance this season I’m out on him at that price. I know he’s an incredible route runner who flashes high-end potential, but he failed to earn targets in receiver rooms without much competition and he often completely disappeared in games.
If Bond truly does command a price tag at the beginning of the second round then I might be out on him there. Unfortunately I think he has too low of a floor compared to the other players who could potentially be available in that range. But at the end of the second round, I’ll be back in on Bond because his speed and route running is truly special. He has the potential to be a pretty good WR2 at the NFL level but he just needs to put it all together on a consistent basis.
- 2025 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Isaiah Bond, WR Texas - January 27, 2025
- 2025 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Xavier Restrepo, WR Miami - January 19, 2025
- 2025 Dynasty Rookie Early Look: Dylan Sampson, RB Tennessee - January 13, 2025
