Final Preseason Thoughts on Iowa Football 2025

My Iowa Hawkeye Preview was written before fall camp started and as with any preseason preview, it deserves a little update now that fall camp is in the books and the Hawkeyes kick off the season on Saturday.  So here are a few updates, some thoughts, and a look at the season ahead.

The QB position worked out how I saw it coming together, Mark Gronowski is the starter, Hank Brown is the backup and Jeremy Hecklinski is the third stringer.  After watching them at the open practice I’m not surprised.  It wasn’t the most impressive day for Gronowski but you could see the skills he brings to the position.  It’s a huge upgrade at QB, not just the starter, the whole roster at QB.    

At RB, Kamari Moulton and Terrell Washington both missed a chunk of fall camp but they are still listed as the top two RBs on the two-deeps.  That’s who I had and it proved to be true.  One thing to keep in mind is that on the two-deeps Moulton and Washington were listed as co-starters with Jaziun Patterson and Xavier Williams listed as co-backups.  The Hawkeyes have depth at RB and it shows.  I think we will see them use six RBs this year after true freshman Nathan McNeil had a great camp and redshirt freshman Brevin Doll is a talented player too.

At WR, I said Sam Phillips was a wild card and he moved his way all the way to he starting lineup.  Jacob Gill, Seth Anderson, and Phillips were the three listed starters.  Anderson looked great at the open practice and if he can stay healthy, he’s going to have a good year.  Gill is just the reliable target every QB loves.  Phillips is the speed demon this offense needs to give it the big play capability it needs. Last year, almost all the big plays came in the running game from Kaleb Johnson, with Anderson and Phillips, there’s potential for big plays in the passing game.  Kaden Wetjen, Reece Vander Zee, and KJ Parker are listed as the backups so there’s some real depth with Jarriet Buie and Dayton Howard not even on the depth chart. 

The starting offensive line has LG Beau Stephens, C Logan Jones, RG Kade Pieper, and RT Gennings Dunker which we all knew was how it would be for those spots.  LT is listed as Trevor Lauck and Jack Dotzler which means it’s still not decided.  Lauck seems to be trending towards being the starter but I’m sure they will rotate, especially in the first game, to get a better idea. This could be a competition for weeks before they decide on one guy, or they could rotate them all season.  Bryce George is listed as the backup LT but Lauck and Dotzler are both listed as the backups at RT so basically Dunker, Lauck, and Dotzler are the top three tackles.  That doesn’t bode well for Cannon Leonard since he’s not listed on the two-deeps at all.  One other thing to note is true freshman Lucas Allgeyer is listed as the backup RG, that does bode well for his future. 

On the defensive line the one change of note is that Bryce Hawthorne is listed as the starting DT next to Aaron Graves.  Jeremiah Pittman is still working his way back from surgery and while Jonah Pace looked like a potential starter inside, Hawthorne has really impressed the coaches. Also, Brian Allen is recovered from his off season surgeries and is listed as a backup DE while Will Hubert, a walk-on, takes the fourth DT spot.  There will be a heavy rotation in the first game against Albany so we will see plenty of the young guys. 

There were no surprises at the LB spots except that none of the redshirt freshman (Cam Buffington, Preston Ries, Derek Weisskopf) were listed at all. Jayden Montgomery and Landyn Van Kekerix were the only guys listed behind the starters. Jaxon Rexroth is listed as the starting LEO and the backup to Karson Sharar on the weakside. 

In the secondary we got some clarity on some things and a little confusion on others.  Zach Lutmer was listed as the starter at Cash with Koen Entringer set to be the strong safety.  That’s good to know, however, Entringer is listed as the backup at Cash and like a co-starter with Xavier Nwankpa at FS, that’s confusing.  Clearly, Entringer is going to be on the field at all times but it’s going to be interesting to see how Phil Parker uses his safeties this season. 

At CB, TJ Hall and Deshaun Lee are the starters, that’s not surprising.  Jaylen Watson is listed as the co-backup at both spots so that tells me he’s the third CB. Shahid Barros and Rashad Godfrey are the other listed backups so the Hawkeyes have some depth.

That is all the notes I have about the two-deeps but just a few thoughts on the season.  I think Iowa’s passing game is going to be much improved.  It’s not just the upgrade at QB and WR.  It’s the installation of the passing scheme that Lester wasn’t really able to implement last year at all.  McNamara was never healthy enough to really get it going and Sullivan wasn’t the passer you need to run it.  Gronowski has the skills to actually run the offense the way Lester wants to run it. 

The biggest obstacle to the Hawkeyes having great season might be the schedule.  There is some good news, the three toughest conference games are Indiana, Penn St. and Oregon and all come to Kinnick.  The bad news is the road schedule has some hazards in it.  First of all, three of Iowa’s biggest rivalry games are on the road; Iowa St, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.  The Hawkeyes have had good luck lately in Ames and Lincoln and Wisconsin doesn’t look all that good but playing all three of those games on the road, sucks.  It’s losing one of those games that could derail a really good year for the Hawkeyes.  Also, Iowa has to travel to the west coast to take on USC.  I’m not sure if USC will be good or not but going west hasn’t been kind to the Hawkeyes.

The Big Ten slate doesn’t have any gimmes because at Rutgers, Minnesota, and Michigan St. won’t be pushovers.  Not sure why Iowa doesn’t get to play Purdue this season, we could really use a Purdue game this year.  This is the reality of the new Big Ten, there are no easy weeks.  I think this team is going to be pretty good and I’m thinking 9-3 or even 10-2 is possible but if the defense faulters like it did last year against Michigan St. and UCLA, 7-5 might be the reality.  I don’t make predictions on final records because I like to be optimistic this time of year.  Iowa could be fighting for a bowl berth the last few weeks of the season or looking for a potential spot in the College Football Playoff, neither one would surprise me all that much.      

2025 Iowa Hawkeye Defense Preview

Iowa’s defense will be undergoing a pretty significant overhaul with DE Deontae Craig, DT Yahya Black, LB Jay Higgins, LB Nick Jackson, LB Kyler Fisher, FS Quinn Schulte, CB Jermari Harris, and DB Sebastian Castro all gone from last year’s lineup.  DE Ethan Hurkett, DT Aaron Graves, S Xavier Nwankpa, and CBs TJ Hall and Deshaun Lee are the only guys returning with starting experience and Hall and Lee were only part-time starters.  While there will be major turnover to deal with, especially at LB, Phil Parker has proven time and time again he can put together an excellent defense.  While they will be counting on some young guys and guys without a lot of experience, they do have talent and Parker will have them playing well. 

The defense probably won’t be a top 10 nationally ranked defense but if the offense is better in the passing game, the defense will have a little more breathing room.  DE Max Llewellyn was a part-time player last season who becomes a full-time starter and should be ready to breakout.  LBs Karsan Sharar and Jaden Harrell have been waiting patiently for their shot and now all they have to do is hold off the younger guys from taking those jobs.  Koen Entringer and Zach Lutmer are stepping in for Sebastian Castro and Quinn Schulte at Cash and safety and they are talented guys.  Lots of new guys, in Phil we trust.

Let’s take a look at the defense a little closer. 

Defensive Line
Starters: DE Ethan Hurkett (Sr), DE Max Llewellyn (Sr), DT Aaron Graves (Sr), DT Jeremiah Pittman (Sr)
Backups: DE Brian Allen (Jr), DE Kenneth Merriweather (So), DT Bryce Hawthorne (So), DT Jonah Pace (Sr)
Depth: DE Joseph Anderson (RS Fr), DT Luke Gaffney (Jr), DT Will Hubert (Jr), Maddux Borcherding-Johnson (So), DT Devan Kennedy (RS Fr), DE Chima Chineke (RS Fr), DE Drew Campbell (RS Fr), DE Iose Epenesa (Fr)

The Hawkeyes return two starters on the defensive line with DE Ethan Hurkett and DT Aaron Graves. While Hurkett isn’t the most dynamic pass rusher at DE he is as steady as they come in both the run game and the pass game. DE Max Llewellyn was kind of the designated pass rusher last season and he is the more dynamic player in that aspect. The question will be can he step in and be a full-time starter and will that hurt him when it comes to his pass rushing? He should be fine but it would really help this defense if Llewellyn can actually ratchet up his pass rush even more as an every down player.

Graves has been playing since his true freshman season and brings a lot of experience in the middle. He’s an excellent DT that I would expect to become an even more dynamic player his senior season. He has all the tools to be dominant as long as he doesn’t have to cover for the other spot. Yahya Black is off to the Steelers and he was the unsung hero for this defensive line for a few years. Jeremiah Pittman will get the first shot at replacing Black but he’s only ever been a part-time player and the Hawkeyes recruited two DTs in the transfer portal for a reason.

The two backup DTs for now are the two transfers. Jonah Pace was the more recognized DT transfer coming in from Central Michigan. He’s a senior and seems like a guy who has the size and experience to compete, he’ll be in the DT rotation for sure. The guy who stood out in the spring is Bryce Hawthorne, the transfer from South Dakota St. Coming from the FCS level and only being a sophomore made him more of a wildcard and most thought he might take a year or two to adjust to the higher level. He was impressive in the spring and coaches seem to be talking him up. Don’t be surprised if Hawthorne ends up getting more playing time at DT than everyone not named Aaron Graves.

The DE spot is almost wholly counting on the return to health for Brian Allen, who had surgery in the spring, to be the third guy in the rotation. Allen is a dynamic player when he’s on the field and he’s the only backup with any playing time. Kenneth Merriweather is the other backup and he looked good in the spring and hopefully grows to be a solid fourth DE as he grows into a bigger role.

It’s a hodge-podge of youth for depth. Joseph Anderson, Chima Chineke, and Drew Campbell are three redshirt freshmen the team is hoping develop quickly if they need a backup DE. The wildcard here is true freshman Iose Epenesa, he’s the younger brother of AJ and at 6’3 260 lbs., he already looks like a college football lineman. AJ made an impression as a freshman many years ago and it’s quite possible Iose does the same this year. That would be helpful. DTs Luke Gaffney and Will Hubert are walk-ons who have earned their place on the team and can give the Hawkeyes some snaps at DT if needed but both are still a little undersized. DT Maddux Borcherding-Johnson and DT Devan Kennedy are still trying to fill out their frames. Kennedy certainly has the bloodlines to be a Big Ten DT; his father was an excellent one at Penn St.

Linebackers
Starters: WLB Karson Sharar (Sr), MLB Jaden Harrell (Sr), LEO Jaxon Rexroth (Sr)
Backups: Landyn Van Kekerix (Jr), Jayden Montgomery (Jr), Derek Weisskopf (RS Fr)
Depth: Zach Twedt (Sr), Kelby Telander (Sr), Preston Ries (RS Fr), Cam Buffington (RS Fr), Nolan Delong (So), Burke Gautcher (Fr), Carson Cooney (Fr)

Iowa is replacing two of the most productive LBs in college football history with Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson moving on and Kyler Fisher was a pretty good starter too. All three of the expected replacements are fifth-year seniors who have waited their turn and should be ready for their moment. Karson Sharar has been talked about for years as a guy ready to step in but then he tends to get injured. It’s time for him to stay healthy and prove he can live up to the hype. I expect him to be excellent. Jaden Harrell is slated to step into Jay Higgins incredibly large shoes at MLB. He stepped in for Higgins during the UCLA game last year and he struggled but now as the full-time starter he should be ready to go. Rexroth is a former walk-on who started out as a safety and grew into a LB. He brings great athleticism.

Landyn Van Kekerix and Jayden Montgomery are two juniors who have been biding their time playing special teams and waiting for an opportunity too. Montgomery might get his chance at MLB if Harrell struggles and Van Kekerix might get a chance if Sharar can’t stay healthy. Derek Weisskopf is the other listed backup but that might be a function of which position he’s most comfortable with. I’m not sure he’s actually better than his two classmates Ries and Buffington.

The three redshirt freshmen LBs are all incredibly talented guys and the two true freshmen are pretty good too. Preston Ries is setting records in the weight room at LB and looks like he could be an incredible player. If Harrell struggles at MLB, I’m not sure it’s a given Montgomery gets the spot, Ries might take it away. The farther into the season we get and the more experience Ries gets, that becomes more likely. Buffington is also going to push for playing time and all three of these guys should help on special teams.

Special teams are where seniors Zach Twedt and Kelby Telander will make their marks. Nolan Delong came in as a walk-on and he’s fighting for relevance as the younger guys are just so good. Burke Gautcher and Carson Cooney are two true freshmen who enrolled early and they are very talented too. It’s a little crazy to think about how much young LB talent they have and the team so often uses the Cash position so they only play two LBs most of the time.

Defensive Backs
Starters: CB Deshaun Lee (Jr), CB TJ Hall (Sr), SS Koen Entringer (Jr), FS Xavier Nwankpa (Sr), CASH Zach Lutmer (So)
Backups: CB Shahid Barros (Sr), Jaylen Watson (So), S Kael Kolarik (Jr)
Depth: CB Alex Mota (So), CB Rashad Godrey Jr. (RS Fr), S Ty Hudkins (So), CB CJ Bell (Fr), S O’Lontae Dean (Fr)

The secondary lost some very good, very experienced players and it’s going to be hard to replace Sebastian Castro, Quinn Schulte, and Jermari Harris but there is talent here. Deshaun Lee and TJ Hall are two guys who both have starting experience at CB but neither one has proven to be a CB1. Hall has the size and athleticism to really breakout this season and be the top guy. Lee has struggled at times but has also had plenty of good moments. There is very little experience behind them at CB so they will be heavily counted on.

Xavier Nwankpa is heading into his senior season and is moving to free safety where I think he will be more comfortable and could have the big year we have all been waiting for. He’s been a good player but he was a much hyped 5-star recruit when he came to Iowa so big things are expected of him. The strong safety position and the Cash position will be interesting this year because I’m not sure the coaches know exactly who’s playing which one. Koen Entringer and Zach Lutmer are the two guys for the positions but which one plays which is not completely clear. I could make the case either way and their skill sets would be great at either position. I listed Entringer as the SS because I think when the team goes to three LBs it will be Entringer at safety and Lutmer will come off the field. The team has three starting safeties which is why I didn’t list a second safety with the backups. Entringer, Lutmer, and Nwankpa can be interchangeable pieces so they will rotate as needed to fill the safety spots.

The Hawkeyes needed some experience at CB and they found it late in the transfer portal with the addition of Shahid Barros from South Dakota. He’s a senior with the type of physical size to hold up as Iowa’s third CB and give them some solid snaps. If Hall or Lee faulter, he could be starter if needed. Jaylen Watson is a young guy the coaches like and for now he has the fourth CB spot but there are no guarantees he holds on to it, there are talented youngsters behind him. Kael Kolarik is the fourth safety because Iowa is a little thin at the position. If they need a fourth safety, he’s the only guy who knows the defense at all.

Alex Mota was a WR when he came to Iowa because he wanted to be one but eventually the coaches moved him to CB and now, he needs to see if he can really compete there. Rashad Godfrey Jr. is a good young CB and he’ll give Watson some competition. True freshman CJ Bell is a talented player who could also make a run at some playing time, Phil Parker has never shied away from playing a freshman if he thinks he’s good enough. Ty Hudkins was a late transfer addition at safety from Purdue and adds some much-needed depth. O’Lontae Dean is a true freshman that could also make a move at safety if Parker thinks he’s ready.

Special Teams
K: Drew Stevens (Sr) – He’s awesome, and hopefully he’ll be kicking more extra points than field goals this season. I also hope he wins the Groza Award, Iowa has gotten screwed a few times when their kicker deserved the award.
P: Rys Dakin (So) – He wasn’t as good as Tory Taylor the year before but he’s an excellent punter and he’s still very young, he’s only going to get better.
LS: Bryant Worrell (Sr) – How many teams in the country would prioritize getting a transfer long snapper? Just one, Iowa. They didn’t want to trust a redshirt freshman with the job so they got a transfer from Boston College. Lavar Woods likes being the special teams coach at Iowa for a reason, they value special teams.

 

2025 Iowa Hawkeye Offense Preview

The college football landscape has undergone massive changes of the past several years and while Kirk Ferentz had to be dragged into the new millennium on the offensive side of the ball, he seems to be embracing the changes otherwise. Revenue sharing, NIL, and the transfer portal have upended the sport but Ferentz seems to be rolling with it at this point.  Iowa desperately needed to fix the QB position if they are ever going to be good again and the entire position has been reset in the last year.  Not a single QB has been on the roster for more than the last year and every one of the new guys is Tim Lester approved.  It was a microcosm of what was wrong with the offense overall.  Poor recruiting evaluations led to a lack of talent.  Poor coaching of the position led to no development of any talent that was available.  And a bad offensive system highlighted every weakness. 

Tim Lester and his new Shanahan-style offense, plus his ability to find and recruit new talent has turned over the whole roster at QB and remade the offense.  This is year two and now he has the talent to make the passing offense a complement to the running game instead of an anchor.  Throughout the spring the reports were that the offense was playing far better than the defense and that was with the backup QB running the show.  It wasn’t just the QB position that was the problem, the WR group has been an issue for just as long as the QB group.  That position has seen turnover too and looks quite a bit different now.  That’s a very good thing.   

The RB position is stacked even after the loss of one of the most impressive RBs Iowa has ever had, Kaleb Johnson, to the NFL.  The production will more than likely be by the group as a whole as opposed to one guy running wild but the run game will be fine.  That’s because the offensive line returns some serious talent and the new Shanahan offense is built on running the ball.  The line is missing a few key players from last season but they should be able to replace them.  The fullback position has largely been phased out and the TE position took a step back last season but guys like Addison Ostrenga, Zach Ortwerth, and Hayden Large will still be used on offense.  This is the best Iowa’s offense has looked in quite some time and the expectations reflect that.  Let’s take a look at Iowa’s offense. 

Quarterback
Starter: Mark Gronowski (Sr)
Backup: Hank Brown (Soph)
Depth: Jeremy Hecklinski (RS Fr), Jackson Stratton (Jr), Jimmy Sullivan (Fr)

The QB position has been a massive disappointment since Nate Stanley graduated and while the Hawkeyes have tried multiple players, including transfers, to fix the position, it hasn’t gone well. The lack of a legitimate QB coach and the poor evaluations in recruiting were the main issues but the poor offensive system made it all worse. Tim Lester came in last year and tried to fix it but just didn’t have the talent available and implementing his passing offense takes time.
This year, the Hawkeyes overhauled the entire position and that starts with former South Dakota St. superstar Mark Gronowski. Gronowski has over 10,000 passing yards in his college career and was once the National Player of the Year in the FCS. Gronowski is 6’3 230 lbs., he’s a great athlete who can make plays with his legs as well as his arm and he’s the best QB Iowa has seen in quite some time. If the combination of Tim Lester as OC and QB coach and Mark Gronowski at QB doesn’t fix Iowa’s QB problem, all hope may be lost. Gronowski missed spring practice after having shoulder surgery but he’s stepped up over the summer and has taken a real leadership role as the Hawkeyes head to camp.
The Hawkeyes didn’t stop with just a new starter at QB, they overhaul continues down the roster. Hank Brown transferred in from Auburn after starting a few games last year as a redshirt freshman for the Tigers. He was the guy running the offense during spring practice as Gronowski was rehabbing his shoulder and Brown distinguished himself as the backup QB. It would be helpful if he can establish himself as the clear heir apparent so Iowa doesn’t have to go chasing another transfer QB next off season. It looks like the Hawkeyes got a good one and Lester seems to have confidence in Brown.
Jackson Stratton is the longest tenured QB on the roster, he joined the Hawkeyes last summer as a walk-on. Things got pretty rough last year at QB and Stratton actually started a few games at the end of the season. He wasn’t terrible and it’s nice to know the Hawkeyes have some depth but Stratton isn’t guaranteed to be the third QB. I would actually venture to say he loses that spot to Jeremy Hecklinski, the late arriving transfer from Wake Forest. Hecklinski transferred at the end of the spring semester but he started games as a true freshman at Wake Forest and while he’s pretty undersized, he’s a talented QB. True freshman Jimmy Sullivan arrived in December and seems like a solid young prospect but given the way the transfer portal goes, I’m not counting on anything from a freshman QB that likely won’t see the field for a few years at Iowa. If Sullivan is still around in 2027, then we can talk about him.

Running Back
Starters: Kamari Moulton (Soph), Terrell Washington (So)
Backups: Jaziun Patterson (Jr)
Depth: Xavier William (RS Fr), Brevin Doll (RS Fr), Nathan McNeil (Fr)

Kamari Moulton started the first game last season when Kaleb Johnson was serving a suspension for the first half of that game. Johnson took over in the second half and never looked back. That doesn’t mean Moulton isn’t a good RB, he’s actually an excellent talent. He’s most likely the starter to begin the season and he’s going to be productive. The Iowa offense isn’t going to have Kaleb Johnson to lean on and it would be foolish to expect anyone to have the type of year like Johnson had last year. That doesn’t mean the running game is going to suffer. The offensive line should be good and there is a stable of running backs to count on. No one guy will replace Johnson but the group can be great. Moulton also started the bowl game and was quite good. He’s a very good RB who’s going to have to hold off some very talented players behind him.

I listed Terrell Washington as the co-starter with Moulton because I expect big things from him this year. Washington has moved back to RB after spending time last year learning the slot receiver position. Now he brings his skill set back to the RB position and after watching him in the spring and hearing the coaches talk about him, I expect he’ll be a big part of the offense. He’s filled out physically and looks decisive as a runner. He and Moulton should make a good one-two punch.

They won’t be the only guys to get carries but they should get the bulk of them. Jaziun Patterson is the battering ram. He runs hard, he runs low to the ground, and he tries to run through anyone in front of him. He can break a run when he picks the right hole but he doesn’t always have the patience to wait for a hole to open. He takes the handoff and he’s full steam ahead. Patterson isn’t the biggest back but he has solid size.

The true big back would be Xavier Williams if the Hawkeyes decide to unleash him. Williams is 5’10 225 lbs. and has the power that could be really useful if he shows the type of patience we haven’t really seen from Patterson. His running style could be helpful in this offense. Brevin Doll is the other redshirt freshman RB with Williams and he’s the taller, longer, more explosive athlete who will give the Hawkeyes that speed element you want. I’m not convinced we will see Doll a ton this season with so many guys ahead of him but he’s also the type of talent that might force his way on to the field. True freshman Nathan McNeil was an early enrollee who was here for spring practice. He looks like a talented back but he’s going to have to wait his turn.

Wide Receivers
Starters: Seth Anderson (Sr), Jacob Gill (Sr), Reece Vander Zee (So)
Backups: Kaden Wetjen (Sr), Dayton Howard (So), KJ Parker (RS Fr)
Depth: Jarriett Buie (So), Sam Phillips (Sr)

The upgrade at the QB position is clearly the most important upgrade the Hawkeyes have needed to pull off over the last half decade for sure, WR was a close second. Having an offensive scheme that can help WRs get open is really nice but if the guys can’t play, it doesn’t matter. These guys look like they can play. Seth Anderson transferred to Iowa a couple of years ago but has yet to be healthy for any real stretch of time. He finally had a healthy spring practice this year and looked very good. Anderson has solid size at 6’0 187 lbs. and he has excellent speed. If he can add the downfield passing element to the offense, he opens up a lot of possibilities for Iowa. It’s the thing he was brought in to do, now he has to stay healthy and do it.

Jacob Gill was the most consistent WR the Hawkeyes had last year through all of the changes at QB and the shuffling of receivers due to injury. He brings a steadiness and an understanding of the passing game because he probably got the most reps last year during actual games. That consistency will keep him on the field. He may not be a gamebreaker but he’s a guy the QBs can rely on to be where he’s supposed to be.

Reece Vander Zee got off to a hot start in the first few games last season while starting as a true freshman. A true freshman starting at WR isn’t a common occurrence at Iowa so Vander Zee clearly has the talent. He got injured and never got back to full strength so we never really got to see him after those first few games. He steps back in as a starter and he’s filled out his frame so hopefully he can hold up to the rigors of Big Ten football a little better. He gives the Hawkeyes offense a different skill set as he’s the traditional X position receiver who’s 6’4 215 lbs. and he plays to his size. Iowa hasn’t had a guy like that since Brandon Smith graduated.

I can’t remember the last time Iowa had depth at WR, if there has ever been a time Iowa had depth at WR. Kaden Wetjen is the All-American returner who’s hoping to become more of a WR and this one didn’t transfer to Purdue to do it. Tim Lester seems to have a plan to use Wetjen’s game breaking speed and find ways to get him involved in the offense. Dayton Howard was a guy who stood out a bit in spring practice too and he gives the Hawkeyes size like Vander Zee does. He’s 6’5 215 lbs. and started to get some playing time late last season. Lester pointed out that he’s coming around mentally with his game. With his physical gifts, that could make him scary. KJ Parker was the star of bowl prep to end last season and kept it up during spring practice. He’s not overwhelming physically at 5’10 184 lbs. and he’s not just outrunning everyone, he’s got actual WR skills and that’s going to get him on the field.

Jarriett Buie was getting playing time at the end of last year including having a solid showing in the bowl game. At this point it’s not as if he’s not progressing but if seems like other guys are progressing more than he is and standing out. Buie should play this year but his time might be limited if Vander Zee and Howard are filling the big WR role. Sam Phillips is the wild card. He just transferred to Iowa and while he was around for spring practice, he’s still finding his way. He’s undersized but he’s got elite speed and has a lot of reps at WR so his experience should help him. If Phillips adds some more big plays to the offense, things get very interesting. I don’t remember a time when Iowa had eight WRs they could actually play and it wouldn’t be a total disaster. The depth they have is quite nice.

Tight End
Starter: Addison Ostrenga (Sr)
Backup: Zach Ortwerth (Jr)
Depth: Hayden Large (Sr), Michael Burt (RS Fr), DJ Vonnahme (RS Fr)

The TE position has taken a little bit of a backseat to the WR group given the new offensive scheme, it seems to favor three WRs over Iowa’s two TE sets, and even more so, replacing the fullback. That doesn’t mean Iowa doesn’t still have talent at TE. Addison Ostrenga probably isn’t Sam LaPorta or TJ Hockenson but he’s a very good TE. He’ll be a part of the offense he just won’t be featured in it as long as Iowa has some WRs step up.

Zach Ortwerth stepped in last year when Iowa needed some depth at TE and showed he has some skills when it comes to catching the ball down field. He’s next in line after Ostrenga and if teams don’t pay attention to him, he’s going to burn them. Hayden Large will be the third TE and if the team needs a guy to line up at fullback, Large will do that too.

Michael Burt and DJ Vonnahme are two redshirt freshmen who add depth but will hopefully not be needed in any meaningful way this season. Iowa also has three true freshmen TEs; Mason Woods, Thomas Meyer, and Eli Johnson, I wouldn’t expect any of them to play this season.

Offensive Line
Starters: LT Jack Dotzler (Jr), LG Beau Stephens (Sr), C Logan Jones (Sr), RG Kade Pieper (So), RT Gennings Dunker (Sr).
Backups: T Trevor Lauck (So), T Bryce George (Sr), G/C Michael Myslinski (Sr), G Leighton Jones (So), G Kale Krogh (Jr), T Cannon Leonard (So)
Depth: G Cael Winter (So), G Josh Janowski (RS Fr), T Will Nolan (RS Fr), T Bodey McCaslin (RS Fr), T Lucas Allgeyer (Fr)

The offensive line was excellent last year and they return essentially three starters and they should feel pretty good about a fourth. The fifth spot is a question and they may need most of, if not all, training camp to figure out the LT position. The three starters are two guys who are rock solid and one guy they need to stay healthy. C Logan Jones is one of the best centers in the country and he should be a fairly high NFL draft pick. It’s been a journey over his multiple years as a starter; it wasn’t always pretty. However, he’s become a rock and he’s powerful and athletic and works very well in the offensive scheme.

RT Gennings Dunker is the other sure thing on the line. He’s a beast on the right side and he was a big reason Kaleb Johnson had a great year running the ball last season. Dunker missed spring practice after having surgery but he did it then so he would be ready for the season. He’s going to be a guard in the NFL but he’s one of the better RTs in college football. LG Beau Stephens is the other returning starter but he’s a guy who needs to stay healthy. He’s essentially been a starter for two years but he can’t make it through a season fully healthy. The Hawkeyes should have some solid interior backups but the hope is that Stephens can stay on the field because he’s a monster on the interior. They also need him to stay healthy to stabilize the left side of the line as they figure out LT.

The fourth starter the team should feel good about is new RG Kade Pieper. He’s stepping in to the spot vacated by Connor Colby and those are big shoes to fill. Pieper has gotten playing time since he was a true freshman and if you can get playing time at Iowa as a true freshman on the offensive line, you’re good. He’s a great athlete with some serious power to his game; he should be fine.

The LT spot is the big question. Jack Dotzler has been listed as the backup at LT for years but he was never the top backup tackle to come into the game. Nick DeJong is finally out of eligibility so the Hawkeyes will have to count of someone else. Dotzler and Trevor Lauck were fighting it out during spring practice and while Dotzler seems to be listed as the starter for now, that fight isn’t over. Lauck and Dotzler give the Hawkeyes options but clearly the coaches weren’t convinced either is the answer at this point. Enter Bryce George.

George is a transfer from Div. II Ferris State. He was highly successful there as they won multiple National Championships while he was starting on the offensive line. George played RT at Ferris St. but Iowa isn’t looking for a RT, they need a LT and it looks like he’ll get a shot to take that job. He has the size and athleticism to hold his own, it’s the step up in competition that’s going to be hard to deal with. Trevor Lauck is still a young guy the coaches are hoping develops at the position but he may not be ready just yet. Hopefully the coaches can settle on a starter during camp and let the five guys come together as a unit.

The backups at all the positions on the line are inexperienced so hopefully the starters can stay healthy. Michael Myslinski is the only senior among the backups but he doesn’t really have more experience than the younger guys because he’s mostly been injured throughout his career. Kale Krogh is a junior who’s never played in four years. Leighton Jones is a guy the coaches like and he has some versatility as he could play guard or center, so can Mylinski. If Lauck or George don’t win the LT spot they could be viable guard backups as well as RT backups. Cannon Leonard is listed as the backup at RT but it feels like he’s on the Dotzler trajectory of being listed as the backup but not actually getting in to play. He’s going to have to hold off some young OTs as there is some young talent at OT coming up behind him.

Will Nolan, Bodey McCaslin, and Lucas Allgeyer are all young OTs with promise who just need time to develop physically and they can be the future of the offensive line. The Hawkeyes have lost some young offensive linemen before they ever really got going over the past year or two and that’s why they have five verbal commitments in the 2026 recruiting class. They may have to find a few more one-year stopgap starters in 2026 while they wait for the young guys to be ready to contribute.

This offense has everything it needs to finally be a good offense. They don’t have to be a great offense but being above average would be nice. With Mark Gronowski at QB and Tim Lester’s offense I do think the ceiling is higher than just above average. The running game is going to be effective and the passing game is going to be much improved. If they get healthy seasons from the WR group (I’m looking at you Seth Anderson and Reece Vander Zee), and they find a LT (come on Lauck or George), the sky is the limit, relatively speaking. Iowa isn’t going to be Oregon or Ohio St. on offense, but they can be good.

2026 NFL Draft QB Prospects

In the 2024 NFL draft there were six QBs taken in the top 12 picks, in 2025, Shadeur Sanders was the sixth QB off the board and he was taken in round five with pick #144.  In 2026 there probably won’t be six QBs that go in the top 12 (it’s not completely out of the question but it’s unlikely), but we won’t be waiting until pick 144 for the sixth one either.  When I made my preliminary list of QBs to look at just to get a sense of draft eligible guys who could reasonably get drafted, I had 25 to start.  That doesn’t include guys like Diego Pavia or Noah Fifita who just don’t physically profile like NFL prospects.  They could change my mind with incredible seasons but I’m not going there at this point.  I’m going to do my Top 10 QB prospects for now and then throw in some others to watch out for.  All these players are draft eligible meaning they have been out of high school for at least three years.  The heights and weights are generally from there school’s listing so take those with a grain of salt, and I’ll note any that seem really out of whack.  Also, their listed class, take that with a grain of salt too, with all the NCAA rule changes, transfers, redshirts, JUCO things, and other issues, some of these guys may have more eligibility than it seems.  While we should essentially be at the end of the Covid extra eligibility guys there was a TE at Miami last year who was in his 9th year of college eligibility so I’ll believe anything at this point.  Let’s take a look.

1. Arch Manning     Redshirt Soph    Texas

I’m going to start with this; Manning is the #1 QB prospect in this draft until we reach the deadline to enter the draft in January.  I don’t think Manning will be in this class, I think he goes back to Texas unless three things occur.  1. Texas wins the national championship, 2. He wins the Heisman Trophy, 3. A team he wants to play for has the #1 overall pick.  If he pulls off the first two things in his first year as a starter for the Longhorns, he’s a legend and has nothing left to prove, if he fails to achieve either one, he can say he’s got something to come back to accomplish and just cash some more checks; NIL and otherwise.  The third one is going to be the huge piece here. Do you remember his grandfather Archie Manning making the Chargers trade his uncle Eli to the Giants because he didn’t want to go to that organization. Well, if the Cleveland Browns have the first pick it’s not hard to see Arch saying, thanks but no thanks, I’ll stay in Austin.  If it’s the New Orleans Saints, a team where his grandfather was a legend, he might be more tempted to come out.  Now, as for Manning the prospect.

He’s a legit 6’4 225 lbs. QB with a rifle for an arm like his uncles (Peyton and Eli) but he is more athletic than they ever were (his dad Cooper played WR before an injury ended his career).  Arch has some serious wheels when he leaves the pocket and he can still throw on the run too.  He’s everything you want from a physical standpoint, plus he has Manning DNA.  The one thing lacking is playing time in college.  He stepped in for Quinn Ewers when he was banged up but he only has a few starts so his sample size is limited.  If he balls out at Texas this year, there will be no stopping the hype train and we will just be living in the Arch Manning world until he decides when he wants to go pro.  If he has just a good year and enters the draft, he’s going first overall because there isn’t a GM on the planet who will pass on drafting the next great Manning.  Like I said though, I think he has to be great and have a hugely successful year to come out and if he does that, he’s a no-brainer at #1 overall. 

2. Drew Allar     Senior     Penn St.

If I were a betting man and I had to bet who I think will actually be the first pick of the 2026 draft, I’m taking Allar.  He’s 6’5 235 lbs. and this is going to be his third year as the starting QB at Penn St.  He’s had his issues against the best competition the Nittany Lions have faced over the last several years but he was pretty good last year against some good teams, his team let him down.  He’s straight out of central casting with his size and build for an NFL franchise QB.  While he’s a big, strong-armed pocket passer, he’s not a statue, he can move out of the pocket and throw too.  They aren’t designing runs for him like the Longhorns do for Arch Manning but he’s not going to just stand in the pocket and get killed either. 

He has a howitzer for an arm and can make any throw necessary but his ball placement needs some work.  He doesn’t always give his WRs the most catchable pass and Tyler Warren bailed him out of some bad throws last year.  Allar doesn’t play with the greatest group of WRs so some of it is him and some of it could be them not being exactly where they should be.  The good news is that over the last several years you can watch Allar get better as he plays.  He’s making the progress you want to see and after another full year as the starter, he could easily be the best QB in the draft…if there’s no Arch Manning. 

3. Garrett Nussmeier     Senior     LSU

Nussmeier is the son of longtime NFL and college coach and former NFL QB Doug Nussmeier.  His father is the new OC for Kellen Moore with the New Orleans Saints.  Doug was a journeyman QB and Garrett has a higher ceiling than that.  Garrett took over as the starter for LSU last year after Jayden Daniels graduated and he didn’t miss a beat.  He didn’t have Malik Nabers or Brian Thomas Jr. to throw too but that didn’t slow him down. He did play behind a brick wall last year but OT Will Campbell, OT Emory Jones, OG Miles Frazier and G/C Garrett Dellinger all got drafted.  That’s a major revamp happening in front of him. 

Nussmeier is accurate and smart, two things you would expect from a coach’s kid.  He’s also fearless with where he will throw it.  He will chuck it all over the yard if you let him.  He has a good arm for sure, he thinks he has an elite arm, which can get him in trouble. One other knock on his is he’s not very big.  He’s listed at 6’2 200 lbs. and the height might be true but he looks really slight compared to other players.  I will be interested to see how he performs this season after losing most of his o-line to the NFL draft.  He’s not built to take a beating if the o-line struggles.

4. Sam Leavitt     Redshirt Soph     Arizona St.

I’m probably higher on Leavitt than many people but after watching him at the end of last season and in the college football playoff, I’m a believer.  He got overshadowed by all the Cam Skattebo hype but Arizona St. doesn’t sniff the Big 12 title game or the college football playoff without Leavitt.  He brings an attitude and a swagger you want in a QB.  He will throw the ball anywhere, anytime, and it does get him in trouble a little, but it really energizes his team.  He does have the same flaw as Nussmeier in the fact that he’s a bit undersized, listed at 6’2 200 lbs.  I actually think it maybe his height is a little exaggerated but he’s probably 200 lbs. at least.  I think he has a little bit more of a frame that could grow and he’s almost three full years younger than Nussmeier so he has some time to fill out his frame.  Leavitt does have a good arm with strength and touch and he plays in a more pro-style offense, they use some play action like pros.  His head coach is Kenny Dillingham who is an excellent QB coach too.  I’m a fan of Leavitt and there’s a good chance he could pass up Nussmeier if has a big year.  There’s also a chance he doesn’t enter the 2026 draft if he’s making good money at Arizona St. or someone else wants to pay him a big number in college he could return.  He doesn’t turn 21 until December so he’s got time. 

5. Cade Klubnik     Senior     Clemson

Klubnik was a highly rated recruit out of Texas who has been a multi-year starter at Clemson.  It wasn’t until last year, and mostly later in the year, that he truly started to put it all together.  He’s 6’2 210 lbs. so he’s not the biggest guy, and that 6’2 may be a bit generous.  The one big difference between him and guys like Leavitt and Nussmeier is he doesn’t show the same arm strength they do.  He has great mechanics and keeps them consistent but he just doesn’t have the same level of arm strength to make all the throws.  That means he has to have great anticipation because if he’s not ahead of the defense, he doesn’t have the arm to make up the difference.  His level of experience and accuracy make him a good prospect and guy someone is going to take a shot on early in the draft next year. 

6. LaNorris Sellers    Redshirt Soph     South Carolina

Sellers is a 6’3 240 lbs. athletic specimen who is everything you want physically in a modern QB.  He’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical, and he has a very strong arm.  He’s underdeveloped as a passer, which is understandable given his physical profile. In the college game, when your QB is a physical mismatch, coaches tend to lean towards a one-read and go offense.  That means teaching the QB to look for his one read and if that guy isn’t open, just get going.  That tends to lead to good offensive plays and winning for the team and coach but doesn’t develop great QB traits for the player.  If Sellers shows advancement in his ability to read defenses and make plays with his arm, it will really help him as a prospect.  He also isn’t a guy who’s great in the short game which is also a product of being a superior athlete.  You don’t teach great athletes to dump off short passes to guys who aren’t as athletic when Sellers can just take the ball and get yards.  He probably has the highest potential of anyone not named Manning in this class but it’s all going to depend on where his QB development goes this season.  His ceiling is being the #1 overall pick in the draft; his floor is being Jalen Milroe and dropping to the third round.  He is only a redshirt sophomore so he can always go back to school if the season doesn’t go great for him. 

7. John Mateer     Redshirt Junior     Oklahoma

This one is a bit of a projection because Mateer is transferring from Washington St. to Oklahoma and it’s a big step up from Washington St. to the SEC.  Mateer will be running the same offense he excelled in at WSU and I mean the exact same because his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, is now Oklahoma’s OC.  However, he’ll be getting used to a whole new team around him and way better competition.  Mateer is 6’1 219 lbs. and he’s got a pretty stout build to him.  He has great arm strength and he’s a great runner.  He picks up a lot of yardage on the ground and it’s a big part of his game and the offensive game plan.  While he has great arm strength, what he doesn’t have is great consistency with his mechanics.  He can get himself in trouble trying to make off balance and off platform throws and while his arm made up the difference against last year’s competition, the SEC is a different level.  He needs to make sure he’s in good position to throw and needs to throw with better anticipation or he could turn the ball over more.  If he’s awesome against the SEC, his prospect profile is going to skyrocket.    

8. Fernando Mendoza     Redshirt Junior     Indiana

There’s a trend here at the end of my top 10 which is the same trend that’s happening in college football, the last four guys are transfers for this season.  Mendoza was awesome last year at Cal and he’s got the prototypical size for an NFL QB.  He’s 6’5 225 lbs. and he’s an excellent athlete.  He’s very accurate with his ball placement and he understands coverages but he has a little of the same thing as Sellers, he takes off quickly and uses his athleticism instead of letting the play develop.  He does have a little bit of a strange follow through with his delivery and I wonder if they will change that at Indiana.  It will be interesting to see him in a new offense at Indiana.  Curt Cignetti, his new head coach, designed a great offense last year for his one-year transfer QB Kurtis Rourke and Mendoza is a better talent at QB than Rourke was.  The move from Cal to the Big Ten will also be a challenge and he doesn’t have the luxury of already knowing the offense the way Mateer does at Oklahoma. 

9. Nico Iamaleava     Redshirt Soph     UCLA

The saga of Iamaleava transferring from Tennessee to UCLA has been well chronicled and you can google it if you want to read about everything that is wrong with college sports, NIL, and the transfer portal.  The way he has handled that situation and himself could bother teams, we just watched Shadeur Sanders fall in the draft because of the way he handled himself.  Iamaleava is a far superior talent to Sanders but he could get dinged for the whole fiasco at Tennessee.  Dealing with the player as a prospect is another story.  Iamaleava is 6’6 215 lbs. and he’s a supreme athlete with a rocket arm.  He’s completely undisciplined and needs plenty of development as a QB but his physical gifts are incredible.  He’s transferring from Tennessee’s weird college spread offense that doesn’t translate to the NFL to a more pro-style system at UCLA.  They also don’t have the same supporting cast at UCLA that he had a Tennessee so it’s going to be an interesting transition.  I would say there’s a very good chance he declares for the NFL draft regardless of the season he has at UCLA.  How he plays and progresses will determine if he’s a top 15 pick in the draft or a mid-round developmental prospect for someone. Iamaleava could turn out to be Vince Young, and I mean that in both the best ways and the worst ways. 

10. Carson Beck     Senior     Miami

Beck was arguably the top QB prospect going into last season and oh how the mighty have fallen.  Beck’s season was a disaster and then he got hurt.  His draft stock was in shambles to end the season and instead of declaring for the draft, he took a huge NIL deal to transfer to Miami and replace Cam Ward.  It’s not a great sign that Georgia didn’t seem to want him back.  He needs a massive bounce back season and this is going to be a tough QB class to compete with.  He should be recovered from his elbow injury and ready to start for the Hurricanes but if he stumbles, they could turn to Emory Williams and that could be the end of things for Beck.  Beck has the physical profile of an NFL starter with his 6’5 225 lbs. frame.  He had the arm strength to go with is size but it will be interesting to see if his elbow injury affects that.  He struggled last year after losing his top targets from 2023 (Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers were awesome for him in 2023).  Beck doesn’t seem to be the guy who raises the play of the guys around him so I think he’s a mid-round pick at best. 

Out of my top 10 QBs only four are seniors.  Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier, Cade Klubnik, and Carson Beck are certain to be in the 2026 NFL Draft.  The rest of these guys could return to school and my best guess is Arch Manning, Sam Leavitt, and John Mateer feel like the best bets to return to college for the 2026 season.  That would leave LaNorris Sellers, Nico Iamaleava, and Fernando Mendoza as the wildcards for this draft.  I think Sellers has a great year and comes out, Iamaleava has a decent year and declares, and Mendoza has a very good year but goes back to Indiana to improve his overall position for the 2027 draft.  So, that would give us a top of the QB class of Allar, Nussmeier, Klubnik, Sellers, Iamaleava, and Beck. That would be a huge upgrade over 2025 but doesn’t rival 2024.  Unless…

What this class could really have is depth we haven’t seen in a long time.  While the 2024 class had six guys in the top twelve the seventh guy was Spencer Rattler who was a fifth-round pick.  This class has guys who can rise up or at least give great depth in the middle rounds.

Seniors to know

Mark Gronowski (Iowa) – The transfer from South Dakota St. had a chance to be in the 2025 class but is taking one last shot to show off at the Big Ten level.  If he can make Iowa’s new passing offense start humming, he’ll move up the boards.  He’s got the size of an NFL QB at 6’3 230 lbs. and he’s a good athlete.

Miller Moss (Louisville) – The transfer from USC should have a good year at Louisville under the tutelage of Jeff Brohm.  He’s undersized and doesn’t have a great arm but he’s smart and he should be able to run the offense effectively.  He doesn’t have Tyler Shough’s physical gifts but he’s a healthier guy than Shough. 

Young guys who could breakout

Aidan Chiles (Michigan St.) – A 6’3 217 lbs. athlete that would have NFL teams falling all over themselves if he puts together a good season.  He’s really raw as a QB and makes some really dumb decisions with the ball at times but he’s still young and has only started one year at Michigan St.  He needs time to play and learn from his mistakes. It would likely take a huge year from him to get him into this draft.

Eli Holstein (Pitt) – He started at Pitt last year after transferring from Alabama and had a solid year.  He doesn’t turn 21 until October so he’s still a very young prospect.  He’s 6’4 225 lbs. with a howitzer for an arm but you can see him thinking on the field.  He could be a beast if he figures it out and puts all his talent together. 

Darian Mensah (Duke) – Started last year as a redshirt freshman at Tulane and was really good and now he’s moved on to Duke.  He’s 6’3 200 lbs. so he needs to fill out his frame but he’s a good athlete who would be the type of modern QB NFL teams are looking for.

Dante Moore (Oregon) – Moore is stepping into the Oregon offense that has produced Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel the last two draft cycles.  Moore has a higher ceiling than either of those guys due to his frame and athletic traits.  At 6’3 210 lbs. as a redshirt sophomore NFL teams will have him all over their radar. 

There are other names who could have big seasons and move up in this QB class.  Luke Altmyer (Illinois), Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), Rocco Becht (Iowa St.), Taylen Green (Arkansas), Jackson Arnold (Auburn), Connor Weigman (Houston), and Avery Johnson (Kansas St.) 

This class has massive potential and it will be better than the 2025.  The questions are how good, how deep, and who’s in the class.  The Steelers, Browns, and probably the Saints are all going to be looking to start over at QB next year.  There are also a couple of other teams that may need new plans.  Matthew Stafford isn’t getting any younger for the Rams, Tua could be out the door if the Dolphins’ season tanks and Mike McDaniel gets fired, and if Kyler Murray regresses is Arizona, they may need a contingency plan.  The Jets have Justin Fields for two years but that’s not a big commitment, Geno Smith is 36 in Las Vegas, and if Sam Darnold flames out in Seattle would they really just go to Jalen Milroe?  Quarterback is the most important position in all of sports and more teams could need one than you think.               

2025 NFC South Draft Review

Atlanta Falcons

(15) Jalon Walker LB Georgia
(26) James Pearce Jr. Edge Tennessee
(96) Xavier Watts S Notre Dame
(118) Billy Bowman Jr. S Oklahoma
(218) Jack Nelson OT Wisconsin

Immediate Impact: LB Jalon Walker, Edge James Pearce Jr., S Xavier Watts

The Falcons’ defense was not very good last year and they haven’t had a pass rusher in years. They got three starters with their first three picks. Walker is a hybrid LB/Edge player who can step right in as a playmaker they have desperately needed for years. The traded up for James Pearce Jr. because they really liked him and they needed more pass rush, he’s going to start. Xavier Watts was a very good pickup in round three and he will start next to Jessie Bates and form a nice safety duo.

Best Value: S Xavier Watts

Watts isn’t the most physically gifted player you’ll find at safety but he’s intelligent and instinctive. He helps the back end of the defense as much as anyone reasonably could and will hopefully allow Bates to be even better.

Sleeper: OT Jack Nelson

There’s not a lot to choose from given this was a five-player draft. LT Jake Matthews is 33 and RT Kaleb McGary hasn’t always been the picture of health so Nelson could come in handy. He’s an athletic guy who’s 6’7 314 lbs. coming out of Wisconsin where they know how to make offensive lineman. Nelson isn’t going to be some superstar but if he ends up playing for his team at some point, he can hold his own.

Overall Analysis

This draft class will be judged by the impact of James Pearce Jr. The team traded their second-round pick plus a first rounder next year to move back into the first round to take Pearce after already drafting Jalon Walker. It was a bold move and if Walker and Pearce don’t transform the defense this could really backfire. If they end up with a bad record and give up a high pick next year to the Rams, it’s going to cost GM Terry Fontenot his job.

Watts was a great pickup and they must have liked Billy Bowman Jr. enough to think he could help the defense. The safety position isn’t stacked and Bowman can also help at nickel.

Nitpick or Concern: Trading up for Pearce is a big risk. He’s not a perfect prospect and he has had some maturity issues and coachability issues. If he flames out and they gave up future first for a guy who doesn’t work out, it’s going to cost the front office. I don’t think I would have made that big of a bet on a player as suspect as Pearce. Especially when you got good value on a pass rusher in round one to begin with.

Carolina Panthers

(8) Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona
(51) Nic Scourton Edge Texas A&M
(77) Princely Umanmielen Edge Ole Miss
(114) Trevor Etienne RB Georgia
(122) Lathan Ransom S Ohio St.
(140) Cam Jackson DT Florida
(163) Mitchell Evans TE Notre Dame
(208) Jimmy Horn Jr. WR Colorado

Immediate Impact: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Edge Nic Scourton, Edge Princely Umanmielen

Xavier Legette was a solid rookie WR last year and they like Jalen Coker but they needed a true WR1 and McMillan can be that. Bryce Young needed a real weapon and McMillan is going to be the true downfield asset that could unlock the offense. The Panthers also needed to get better on defense and they chose to pick a couple of pass rushers who will really help that. Scourton and Umanmielen are two different types of edge players but they should complement each other well. They probably won’t start right away but they will both play a ton.

Best Value: S Lathan Ransom

The Panthers signed Tre’von Moehrig to be one safety but they don’t have a lot of great options at the other safety spot. Ransom has a chance to take that other safety spot. He was a very good player at Ohio St. and he can be even better if he works on tackling guys instead of trying to get the big hit. As a fourth-round pick who could take a starting job at a position of need, that’s good value.

Sleeper: TE Mitchell Evans

The Panthers have Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders at TE, not exactly murder’s row. Evans isn’t a surefire player but he is a steady player who offers a little bit of everything. He’s not the most dynamic playmaker but he’s got good hands, runs solid routes, and can block when needed. He could eventually develop into a solid contributor.

Overall Analysis

The Panthers understood the assignment here. They got a real WR1 for Bryce Young and then they started to address the defense. They hit offense here and there throughout the draft and got some solid prospects there too. McMillan was the right choice at #8 overall. Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen are going to help the defense and they should be building blocks moving forward. The choice of Trevor Etienne seems a little strange considering they have Chuba Hubbard, signed Rico Dowdle, and should be hoping Jonathan Brooks returns at some point. I didn’t think Etienne was the type of RB you should feel compelled to draft.

Lathan Ransom has starter potential and then they drafted DT Cam Jackson. They have enough depth at DT to not need Jackson anytime soon but he’s a good investment for the future. He’s big, and he can be physical when he keeps his pad level down. He needs to work on that and he has some good veterans around him t learn from. TE Mitchell Evans has potential down the road too. WR Jimmy Horn Jr. is a pretty skinny player but he may have a future as a slot receiver. For now, they have Adam Thielen but he’s an older player and Horn could stick around if he beats out Hunter Renfrow.

Nitpick or Concern: The Panthers hit almost every spot they need to with WR and edge rusher being the primary objective, but also getting a TE, S, and a DT. The one thing they didn’t address was CB. They are paying Jaycee Horn a ton of money but Mike Jackson is a replacement level player at the other outside CB spot. They better hope their pass rush is considerably improved because the secondary is still a little concerning.

New Orleans Saints

(9) Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas
(40) Tyler Shough QB Louisville
(71) Vernon Broughton DL Texas
(93) Jonas Sanker S Virginia
(112) Danny Stutsman LB Oklahoma
(131) Quincy Riley CB Louisville
(184) Devin Neal RB Kansas
(248) Moliki Matavao TE UCLA
(254) Fadil Diggs Edge Syracuse

Immediate Impact: OL Kelvin Banks Jr, QB Tyler Shough

Banks could end up the LT, the RT, or the LG depending on how they want to deploy Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning. Fuaga is naturally a RT but he played LT last year and Penning played RT. If they want to use Banks at LT, Fuaga goes to the right side, and Penning goes to the bench but then they have to find a LG. Or Fuaga and Penning stay where they are and they plug in Banks at LG. No matter what, Banks gives them the opportunity to play their best five. Tyler Shough might get baptism by fire if Derek Carr’s shoulder injury keeps him sidelined. Shough will be a 26-year-old rookie so he shouldn’t be overwhelmed. The good news is he’s basically the same player as Carr from a skill perspective so the offense doesn’t have to change.

Best Value: CB Quincy Riley

I had Riley as a boarder line second round pick and the Saints got him in round four. They have Kool-Aid McKinstry as their top CB and Alontae Taylor at nickel but Riley could beat out Isaac Yiadom for the other outside CB spot. He doesn’t have elite size but Riley is a tough player who can hold up.

Sleeper: RB Devin Neal

Obviously, the Saints have Alvin Kamara at RB and he’s an excellent player. However, it might help Kamara be even more effective if the Saints had a RB to take some of the early down work and save Kamara from some of that workload. Neal is that type of RB and could be a guy to help save Kamara’s legs for later in the season. He has starter potential from a talent standpoint.

Overall Analysis

Banks and Shough are likely to either start or get a lot of playing time this season no matter how things pan out. Shough might not be the highest ceiling QB prospect at this point but he’s ready to step in an play. DT Vernon Broughton is an underrated pickup. He was overshadowed at Texas by Alfred Collins but he’s a very effective DT too. The Saints have several veterans at that spot but not a lot of high-end players.

Broughton started a run of four defensive players who might not be starters immediately, but could certainly end up as starters. S Jonas Sanker will back up Tyrann Mathieu who is 33 and not getting any younger. Then LB Danny Stutsman who could eventually make the lineup with Demario Davis being even older the Mathieu. Finally, it’s CB Quincy Riley who will certainly play a lot for this defense even if he isn’t a starter right away. Love the Neal pick up after that too.

TE Moliki Matavao was an interesting selection. They have Foster Moreau and just re-signed Juwan Johnson plus they signed free agent Jack Stoll and still have Taysom Hill. Hill is coming off an injury and is 34 so he’s coming to the end of the line. Matavao may be stashed on the practice squad until the depth chart clears up a bit. DE Fadil Diggs may be in a similar situation given they have bodies at DE but could use some youth.

Nitpick or Concern: It’s the same concern every year with the Saints, this roster is expensive, aging, and they don’t seem to have a plan to pivot from it. It all feels like half measures. Taking Tyler Shough, an older prospect who is a more athletic, maybe slight upgrade from Derek Carr isn’t exactly a great plan at QB. Are they moving off aging guys like Tyrann Mathieu, Demario Davis, and Cameron Jordan with Jonas Sanker, Danny Stutsman, and Fadil Diggs? All half measures with no real plan to get difference makers because they have put themselves in a no-win situation with their salary cap.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(19) Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio St.
(53) Benjamin Morrison CB Notre Dame
(84) Jacob Parrish CB Kansas St.
(121) David Walker Edge Central Arkansas
(157) Elijah Roberts DE SMU
(235) Tez Johnson WR Oregon

Immediate Impact: CB Benjamin Morrison

I’m struggling with the Egbuka pick because I love the player but him having an immediate impact with this WR corps seems unlikely. Morrison, on the other hand, can absolutely take a major role if not a starting one as long as his hip is healthy. He worked out late in the draft process to show teams he was recovering but still fell to round two. If he’s 100% by training camp, he’s going to give Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum everything they can handle and challenge for a starting job.

Best Value: CB Benjamin Morrison

Again, if he’s healthy, he’s got starting CB ability. Also, if he lives up to his talent level, he has legitimate CB1 ability. They stole him in round two and there are going to be teams that passed on him who are going to regret it.

Sleeper: DE Elijah Roberts

He’s not the flashy edge rusher they probably needed but he’s excellent depth at DE on their three-man line. They have Logan Hall and Calijah Kancey as starters but they have no depth. Also, they are going to have to make a call on paying Logan Hall as his rookie contract comes to an end. Roberts is the type of big, powerful edge setting DE they need and if they prefer to spend money on Kancey, they may let Hall walk in free agency. Roberts gives them that option if he plays well.

Overall Analysis

Emeka Egbuka is an excellent player and a great person to bring onto the team but his path to playing time right away is cloudy. Mike Evans is aging but hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. Chris Godwin is coming off another injury but the team just re-signed him in free agency. And Jalen McMillan looked good filling in for Godwin after he went out last season. Egbuka can fill in any of the three WR spots but I’m not sure he gets enough time this year to be an impact player. The Morrison pick is boom or bust depending on his hip and I would bet on him being awesome.

The team did a smart thing and doubled up at CB taking Jacob Parrish after taking Morrison. One caveat is that Parrish feels like a nickel more than anything and the team already has Tykee Smith at nickel and he was very good last season as a rookie there. Parrish may have to find his way to play on the outside. Edge rusher David Walker was a menace at the FBS level and has elite pass rushing instincts. The one problem is he is seriously undersized for the NFL and is going to have to find a way to make it work. Elijah Roberts was well worth the fifth-round pick they paid for him and gives them immediate depth at the DE position.

I love WR Tez Johnson and it would be an awesome story if he makes the NFL at his size but he’s fighting a tough battle on this roster. Most teams only keep five or six WRs and they have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, and Emeka Egbuka who are locked in meaning there’s only one or two spots left. They have Sterling Shepard and Trey Palmer as veterans they have had for a few years and that puts Johnson behind the eight ball.

Nitpick or Concern: They probably could have done more at LB and I mean both inside and outside on the edge (David Walker isn’t enough). They certainly needed the CB help but Jacob Parrish’s pick could have been used on LB with Lavonte David aging and them having no depth. Walker is a fun prospect to watch but there were players on the board there who may have been better at helping this team right away.