The NFL’s roster-cut grind has already started trimming the former Iowa pipeline, and a few names with real recognition are suddenly searching for their next landing spot.
Every team has until 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, August 30, to get down to 53 players, and that clock is forcing tough decisions across the league.
The Iowa program still has a strong footprint in the NFL, with 46 former Hawkeyes on rosters, but that number can shift fast once cut day hits. Being waived is not always the final word, but it does make the road back a lot steeper.
Among the Hawkeyes who have already been cut are tight end Luke Lachey of the Green Bay Packers, safety Geno Stone of the Buffalo Bills, quarterback Mark Gronowski of the Miami Dolphins, wide receiver Charlie Jones of the Cincinnati Bengals, linebacker Nick Jackson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and linebacker Kristian Welch of the Green Bay Packers.
So far, no former Hawkeyes have landed with new teams after the 2026 53-man roster cut down.
One of the more notable surprises is Gronowski. He was first cut and then resigned by the Dolphins after their opening preseason game.
Miami had already moved on from Quinn Ewers and cut Gronowski and Cam Miller, which left the team with only Malik Willis at quarterback. The Dolphins then worked out a trade with the Packers for Kyle McCord, giving them two quarterbacks on the roster.
Gronowski being waived again so soon stands out, though there is still a real chance he ends up back with Miami for a third stint, either as the third-string quarterback or on the practice squad.
Stone’s situation is also worth watching. He was a familiar presence in Baltimore before signing a two-year, $15 million deal with the Bengals in 2024.
After the 2025-2026 season, he became a free agent again and this offseason agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million deal with the Bills. Buffalo waived him before the regular season, leaving his NFL future unsettled.
Still, his experience as a starter gives him value, and if another team does not scoop him up, he could find his way back to the Bills’ practice squad.
In Other News...
Iowas Week 1 Offense Still Has A Few Spots Worth Watching
Iowas offense is starting to take shape as Week 1 against Northern Illinois approaches, with the projected lineup pointing to a few clear choices and a few spots still up for grabs. Jeremy Hecklinski looks like the likely starter at quarterback, Kamari Moulton is projected to lead the backfield, and the line and tight end group also appear close to settled as the Hawkeyes narrow in on their opening-game plan.
The real intrigue remains at receiver, where the rotation could still shift before kickoff and even after it. For a team that has spent much of the offseason sorting out how the pieces fit together, those final decisions matter, because Iowa is still trying to find the right mix of reliability and playmaking on an offense that could use both. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Commits Are Already Giving Hawkeyes Fans Plenty To Watch
Even before they arrive in Iowa City, a handful of Hawkeyes commits are already making the case for why fans have plenty to track on Friday nights this fall. The latest round of high school games gave Iowa followers a look at future pieces on both sides of the ball, with offensive prospects helping move the chains and defensive pledges showing up in games that mattered for their teams.
The appeal for Iowa goes beyond the box score. These are the kinds of performances that keep the recruiting classes feeling alive long after the commitments are made, especially when players are producing in different roles and different systems. For Hawkeyes fans, it is another reminder that the programs future is still being written on high school fields around the country, one game at a time. [Read more 🡒]
Kaden Wetjen Is Giving Iowa Fans Another Reason To Be Proud
Kaden Wetjen is wasting no time making a case for himself in Pittsburgh, and Iowa fans have had plenty to notice during his first preseason with the Steelers. The former Hawkeye flashed the versatility that made him an intriguing pro prospect, turning in a punt return touchdown against the Buffalo Bills and adding work as a receiver, too. Across three preseason games, he collected three catches for 86 yards, a receiving touchdown and 203 total return yards, giving the Steelers a real glimpse of how he can help in multiple phases.
Wetjens path now points to an opening role that should keep him on the field right away, with Pittsburgh expected to use him as its primary punt and kick returner while also keeping him in the mix as a backup wideout. For Iowa, it is another reminder of the kind of player the program has been producing - one who can arrive in the NFL and immediately carve out value through toughness, speed and special teams impact. The bigger question now is how much of that preseason momentum carries into games that count. [Read more 🡒]