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Iowa State football and the NFL Draft: How the Hawkeyes fared and who's next.

adminBy 008 Mins Read


IOWA CITY, Iowa — Four Iowa State players were invited to the NFL Combine, and all four were drafted.

Surprisingly, Cooper Dejean didn't go in the first round. That means the most recent Iowa defensive back drafted was Tom Knight in the 1997 draft. That was two years before head coach Kirk Ferentz and defensive coordinator Phil Parker arrived at Iowa.

However, DeJean went to the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round with No. 40, tight end Eric Orr went to the Cincinnati Bengals, punter Torrie Taylor went to the Chicago Bears in the fourth round, and defensive lineman Logan went to the Chicago Bears in the fourth round. -Lee was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round. The Hawkeyes had a maximum of 89 draft picks under Ferentz, and 220 players signed with NFL teams during his 25 years as coach. There is also a chance for several other players to sign contracts in the coming days.

Here are some other draft-related notes regarding Iowa State football.

• With DeJean landing in Philadelphia, the Eagles drafted 17 Hawkeyes, tied for second among NFL teams with Detroit. Only Green Bay (22) has selected more Iowa State players.

• Unofficially, the Bears have sent more personnel (16) to the Iowa State game than any other team over the past three years. It's clear scouts have seen a lot of Taylor's punts.

• Under Ferentz, the Hawkeyes have true balance between draft rounds. 13 picks in the 1st round, 12 in the 2nd round, 15 in the 3rd round, 16 in the 4th round, 14 in the 5th round, 12 in the 6th round, and 7 in the 7th round. has been done.

Among positions, defensive backs trailed offensive linemen with 19 draft picks each. Defensive linemen are No. 3 (17), with 13 tight ends and 10 linebackers. All of these numbers should increase next year.

The Hawkeyes have 39 players on their active NFL roster, including seven free agents who were with the team last year.

Let's take a closer look at Iowa State's draft picks this year, free agent acquisitions, and what the 2025 draft will look like.

How do draft picks fit in?

With each team starting the draft with 14 offensive players, it was inevitable that several defensive players would be squeezed out of the first round. Even in the second round, there were few, if any, places Dejan could have landed better than Philadelphia.

The Eagles' secondary was abysmal late last season and was one of the reasons the team plummeted from Super Bowl favorite to wild card contender. DeJean's last stop before the draft was in Philadelphia, where the Eagles traded two second-round picks and moved up 10 spots to acquire him. Along with first-round cornerback Kunyon Mitchell, DeJean could immediately rejuvenate the Eagles' defense. No matter where Dejan plays, he will make an impact from day one as a defenseman and returner.

Despite Iowa State's success in sending players to the NFL, the Bears had only drafted one Hawkeyes player since 1990 before selecting Taylor in the fourth round. has been perplexing. That said, Taylor is the perfect player for the Bears' roster as they enter the playoff conversation this fall.

The Bears ranked 31st in net punts (38.0) and 25th in yards per punt. Taylor's ball placement is second to none, and his ability to successfully punt in all types of weather removes the uncertainty that comes with northern climates for punters. Anecdotally, Taylor appears to have forced Iowa's opponents to take four or five extra first downs per game. Maybe those numbers will drop a little bit in the NFL, but he'll be a weapon.

It's unclear how much Orr, who suffered a torn ACL last October, will help Cincinnati this year. Everything is back to sprinting and could be ready by training camp. In the offseason, the Bengals added former Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki to their starting lineup and drafted another tight end in the sixth round. It's the fifth consecutive season that Cincinnati has changed its No. 1 tight end, and the position is purely a complementary piece considering what the Bengals have at receiver.

He hails from the Cincinnati area and oozes athleticism. If healthy, he could become the Bengals' No. 2 tight end by the second half of the season and be a solid future contributor for quarterback Joe Burrow.

Lee is the perfect guy at the bottom of the roster. His personality and work ethic are impeccable, and he has the size and positional versatility to fit into Pittsburgh's 3-4 defense. Lee played defensive tackle at the University of Iowa and could fit anywhere from a five-technique defensive end to head-up at center.

At Iowa, Lee played a key role in tying up blockers in two-gap schemes, and will likely do the same in Pittsburgh while freeing up edge rushers. Lee will likely play on special teams as well, so he won't be given any obligations.

What happens to undrafted players?

With the exception of NFL teams trapped in a salary cap dungeon, undrafted free agents rarely make their opening day rosters. That's why the Los Angeles Rams were the perfect spot for tackle Alaric Jackson in 2021. None of the teams that signed the three Iowa State players to free agent contracts this year have salary cap issues. But at least two of Iowa State's undrafted players have a chance to earn NFL paychecks this fall.

The biggest question for Iowa defensive end Joe Evans was at what position the team would sign him. Baltimore responded by signing him as an outside linebacker in the Ravens' 3-4 defense. Evans makes the most of his 6-foot-1, 246-pound frame, and no one can utilize his body better.

Evans put together one of the best pro day performances in recent memory. Evans' 41.5-inch vertical jump would have tied him for seventh among combine invitees. His shuttle and his 3-cone drill were faster than any edge performer at the combine. Evans, a former walk-on, had 29 sacks in his career, including four in the Citrus Bowl.

Baltimore, which drafted Penn State outside linebacker Adisa Isaac in the third round, has two starting edges in former Big Ten defenders Odafe Oweh (Penn State) and David Ojagbo (Michigan State). They have rushers. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh traditionally limits byes to one or two games and emphasizes special teams. Let's hope that Evans will play an active role there. He will find a way to survive.

Defensive tackle Noah Shannon, who was suspended by the NCAA last fall for betting small amounts (less than $100) on the Iowa State women's basketball team, has agreed to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders. Shannon was a technically gifted interior lineman at the University of Iowa, starting 28 games in her career. Outside of her new signee, Christian Wilkins, and 2023 first-round pick Tyree Wilson, the Raiders have several defensive tackles in positions similar to Shannon's, and this weekend they will play a defensive lineman. Didn't draft. If she has a quality training camp, Shannon should at least be on the practice squad.

Tight end Steve Stilianos became a valuable contributor last year after Orr and Luke Lachey suffered season-ending injuries. Stilianos transferred to Tennessee and won a roster spot that won't be easy, but his two seasons playing tight end at Iowa should help him compete in training camp.

Who's next?

The Hawkeyes have the potential to set a program record for overall draft picks next spring. Since the AFL and NFL merged into one draft in 1967, Iowa State has reached the No. 6 draft pick multiple times (excluding the expansion draft). This record is likely to increase by at least 25% in 2025.

Tight end Luke Lachey could become the program's 27th first-round pick next year. With his combination of size, speed, blocking ability, and freakish athleticism, Lachey may have a better starter kit than most tight ends to date. If he can stay healthy, he will likely become a Mackey Award winner.

Several defenders could be drafted in the top 100. They include defensive tackle Yahya Black, safety Sebastian Castro and linebacker Jay Higgins. Defensive end Deonte Craig and cornerback Jamari Harris could join them after strong seasons. In addition, linebacker Nick Jackson, safety Quinn Schulte and defensive end Ethan Harkett will be given NFL opportunities.

Offensive linemen Connor Colby, Mason Richman and Logan Jones are likely to be drafted, while swing lineman Nick DeJong and running back Leshon Williams should be NFL candidates. Perhaps long snapper Luke Elkin could join them.

Some third-year players with NFL potential who could leave early after strong seasons include safety Xavier Nwankpa, defensive tackle Aaron Graves and offensive lineman That includes man Jennings Danker and running back Caleb Johnson.

(Tori Taylor Photo: Stacey Revere/Getty Images)





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