ESPN’s Mel Kiper slots multiple Iowa Hawkeyes high in 2024 NFL draft rankings
One thing that the Iowa Hawkeyes do extremely well year in and year out is get their players ready for the NFL. They send players each year and every Sunday there is a myriad of former Hawkeyes making big plays and putting out stuff for highlight reels.
Most recently, Jack Campbell, Riley Moss, Lukas Van Ness, and Sam LaPorta were drafted in the 2023 NFL draft. They are making immediate contributions to their teams just as they did at Iowa.
The 2024 NFL draft is still months away but teams are already scouting, ranking players, and creating their big boards of guys they like. ESPN’s Mel Kiper did the same. He released his 2024 NFL draft rankings which include his best prospects at each position.
The Iowa Hawkeyes are present at multiple positions and see another player who could be a future first round draft pick in the upcoming draft. Here is a look at the current Hawkeyes who will be future NFL players.
Cooper DeJean, CB
No. 20: Cooper DeJean, Iowa
Iowa’s defense produced two first-round picks (Lukas Van Ness and Jack Campbell) and a third-rounder (Riley Moss) in the 2023 draft, and yet it was DeJean who kept catching my eye when I went back through the 2022 film. He had five interceptions, including three that he returned for touchdowns. But it wasn’t just the big plays — I was impressed with his technique on a snap-to-snap basis. DeJean played in the slot and out wide, showing off tremendous speed to stick to receivers. He’s just silky as a cover man. He has the physical tools to be the top corner in this class. – Kiper, ESPN
Mel Kiper has placed Cooper DeJean well inside his rankings of prospects who could hear their names called on the first night of the draft. He has him as the 20th player overall and the No. 3 cornerback. His analysis is spot on. DeJean does make the splash plays when teams test him. That is also the big thing. When. Teams have stopped trying to go at him as the risk simply isn’t worth the reward.
DeJean doesn’t give up the big play, he tackles extremely well, and coming from a defense coached by Phil Parker he is very, very disciplined with a high football IQ.
Luke Lachey, TE
Luke Lachey comes in as the No. 3 tight end in Kiper’s tight end draft rankings. Despite the season-ending injury, this speaks volumes to how highly touted Lachey is at the position. He is behind Georgia’s Brock Bowers and Texas’ Ja’Tavion Sanders.
Lachey is set to be the next tight end in a long line of Iowa tight ends to be successful in the NFL. George Kittle, Noah Fant, T.J. Hockenson, and now Sam LaPorta are boasting their Hawkeye pedigree at the position.
Tory Taylor, Punter
You guessed it. Tory Taylor is absolutely among the top draft rankings for punters headed to the NFL in 2024. Tory Taylor comes in as the No. 2 ranked punter according the Mel Kiper.
Taylor is behind only Ryan Rehkow of BYU. Taylor has been incredible during his time at Iowa. Not only does Taylor boom the ball, as evidenced by his 48.2 yards per punt this season, but he is incredibly lethal in dropping the ball deep in the opponent’s territory setting up a long field.
Who else could make the jump to the NFL?
Each year Iowa sees a few players go later in the draft or sign as undrafted free agents and succeed. They will have a few of those this year that will have a chance to make an NFL team happy.
Quinn Schulte is the quintessential safety with a high football IQ, an understanding of the game, and the ability to consistently tackle well. His path to the NFL could be turning into a special teams ace which is well within his wheelhouse and skillset.
Connor Colby has appeared on some previous NFL draft lists. The offensive lineman has NFL size standing 6-foot-6 and 311 pounds. NFL teams will look at that size and give Colby a shot to come in and earn a spot along the line.
A quick glance at the 2025 NFL draft
Xavier Nwankpa can’t leave for the draft yet as he is in just his second year in college. When he can leave, he has the skill set that could transfer to the NFL. Nwankpa has the speed and ball skills to be a center fielder in the secondary as he has shown at Iowa. With some size added to his young frame, he could climb draft boards.
Like Nwankpa, Drew Stevens can’t leave for the draft yet due to age. When he can, he is certain to land with an NFL team. In his career, he is 24-27 on field goals and a perfect 35-35 on extra points. Stevens may stay two more years at Iowa through 2026, but whenever he leaves, an NFL team will be calling.
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