Iowa’s NFL pipeline has never looked busier. Seven Hawkeyes were drafted this season, a school record that also pushed Kirk Ferentz’s total to 101 players selected. Add in five undrafted free agents who found homes after the draft, and there’s a fresh wave of former Iowa talent spread across the league as preseason action gets rolling.
Pittsburgh is loaded with Hawkeyes, and the Steelers made sure to grab two more this spring. Gennings Dunker went in the third round at No. 96, while Kaden Wetjen came off the board in the fourth round at No.
- Wetjen wasted no time showing why Pittsburgh wanted him as its top kick return option.
In the Steelers’ first preseason game, he turned a slant into a 74-yard gain, then followed it up on the next drive with his first NFL touchdown, a 5-yard catch. He also handled three kickoff returns for 61 yards, averaging 20.3 yards per return with a long of 25.
Dunker, meanwhile, is being treated more like a developmental piece, with a path that points to second- or third-string work for now. His footwork still needs work, but he did have a solid showing in the opener against the Packers.
He also recently missed practice because of an undisclosed injury and is expected to sit out the Steelers’ next preseason game against the Jets as a precaution. Pittsburgh’s roster also includes Logan Lee, Yahya Black, Sebastian Castro, Brandon Smith, Kaleb Johnson, and the team’s newest Iowa duo, giving the black and gold seven former Hawkeyes in all.
Johnson, though, is said to be on thin ice and may not survive the final cut.
Chicago added two Iowa players of its own. Logan Jones was selected in the second round at No. 57, and Hayden Large arrived as a UDFA.
Jones is trying to carve out a future at center after Drew Dalman unexpectedly retired at the end of last season, but he is not in line to start right away. Garrett Bradbury remains the clear favorite to open as the Bears’ center.
Chicago also has Tory Taylor entering his third season with the team.
Miami brought in two Hawkeyes as well, with Max Llewellyn going in the seventh round at No. 238 and Mark Gronowski signing after the draft. Gronowski’s path has already taken a twist.
The Dolphins released him on August 7, just before their season opener, but the situation changed quickly when rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers suffered a groin injury during the game and both backup quarterbacks struggled. Nine days later, Miami brought Gronowski back.
New Orleans added TJ Hall with the 219th pick in the seventh round. Hall has shown flashes while also working through the usual rookie mistakes, and he is expected to contribute mainly on special teams while he continues to develop. He joins veteran Noah Fant on the Saints’ roster.
Arizona spent a sixth-round pick on Karson Sharar at No. 183, and his early camp arc has already had a turn. A hamstring injury slowed him down after he missed most of the team’s spring program, but he broke through against the Raiders and led the Cardinals’ defense with five total tackles, all of them solo, plus a tackle for loss. The source also points to his performance against Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia in the ReliaQuest Bowl as part of what made him a Hawkeye fan favorite.
The Super Bowl champions also added a former Iowa player. Beau Stephens went to the team in the fifth round at No. 148 and has spent much of camp with the third-string offense. In the opener against the Cowboys, Pro Football Focus gave him a strong 76.8 run-blocking grade but a rough 11.3 pass-blocking grade after he allowed a quarterback hit and a pressure over 18 pass-block snaps.
Baltimore’s undrafted group includes Aaron Graves, who got a $60,000 financial guarantee from the Ravens - the biggest practical guarantee among their 2026 UDFA signings. He’s viewed as a bubble player, but he has reportedly put together a strong fall camp.
Kansas City brought in two more Iowa rookies in Xavier Nwankpa and Ethan Hurkett. Hurkett was initially waived after rookie minicamp, then brought back after defensive end Ethan Downs tore his ACL in camp and the Chiefs needed more depth on the defensive line. Nwankpa has been making noise all camp, with several big hits standing out.
And there was one more Iowa note tucked into the mix: UI Athletics said athletic director Beth Goetz has received a contract extension and a sizable pay bump. Her previous deal ran through January 2029, and the new one extends her through January 2032. Her guaranteed base salary rises from $850,000 a year to $1.4 million a year, effective Sept. 1, 2026, moving her to about the median among Big Ten athletic directors after previously sitting near the bottom.
In Other News...
Iowa's QB Battle Just Got A New Voice At A Crucial Time
Iowas quarterback competition has taken on a different feel with Billy VandeMerkt now helping guide the process alongside offensive coordinator Tim Lester. The new quarterbacks coach arrives with NFL experience from the New York Jets, and his background working with Lester at Western Michigan gives the Hawkeyes another familiar voice at a position where every detail matters. With Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski in the mix, the staff is sorting through a battle that could shape how the offense looks this season.
VandeMerkts arrival matters because the evaluation is happening collaboratively, with Iowa trying to identify the starter who gives the group the best chance to move forward. For a program that has long valued steady play under center, the timing of a fresh set of eyes is notable, especially as Lester and VandeMerkt work through the competition together. The next step is simple to say and harder to finish: finding out which quarterback separates himself when the coaching staff makes its call. [Read more 🡒]
Former Hawkeye Drew Stevens Just Gave Iowa Fans A New NFL Reason To Watch
Former Iowa kicker Drew Stevens has taken a fast track into the NFL spotlight. The undrafted free agent signed by Washington has now been named the Commanders starting kicker for the upcoming season, giving Hawkeye fans another pro connection to follow after a college career that left him atop Iowas record book in both field goals made and 50-plus yard field goals.
Washingtons move also came with a clear message for the rest of the kicking competition, as the Commanders released former kicker Jake Moody. For Iowa supporters, Stevens rise is another reminder of how much trust he built in Iowa City, and it gives them a new reason to keep an eye on Washington whenever the kicking game comes into play. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa May Have Found The Group That Keeps This Defense Together
Iowas defense is in the middle of a major reset, with plenty of familiar starters gone and the defensive line still carrying some uncertainty. Even so, the back end looks like it may give the Hawkeyes a chance to keep the whole operation stable, and much of that hope starts with Zach Lutmer and Xavier Styles in the secondary.
Lutmer already has the kind of track record that makes him an obvious anchor, after being ranked as the No. 4 highest-graded returning cornerback following the 2025 season. Styles, a transfer from Robert Morris, is expected to push for playing time as well, giving Iowa a pair of defensive backs who could help define the group if the rest of the rebuild comes together around them. [Read more 🡒]