It’s the thick of the college football season, but the NFL is another beast that is never sleeping. While it is also in the midst of its season, teams and scouts are already preparing for the 2026 NFL draft and reviewing some of the best college talent each weekend.
The Iowa Hawkeyes are no strangers to the NFL, as they pump out talent year after year in the draft, and their crop of 2026 draftees looks to be no different. This year’s group of Hawkeyes heading to the NFL starts up front for Iowa in the trenches due to their offensive line success.
One offensive lineman having a breakout year, although all signs point to him returning to Iowa, is Kade Pieper. He is No. 40 on CBS Sports’ list of their top 100 NFL draft prospects.
40. Kade Pieper, OL, Iowa
Pieper is almost certain to return to school for a couple reasons. He’s only in his first year as a starter, and inexperienced linemen rarely declare early. He’s also playing out of position at guard — his NFL future is at center. Still, he’s the most athletic lineman in college football. – Mike Renner, CBS Sports
Kade Pieper, a product of Norfolk, Nebraska, chose to come to Iowa, a decision that has proved fruitful for the 6-foot-4, 290-pound sophomore.
Pieper is yet another example of the development that the Hawkeyes do every year. Coming out of Norfolk Catholic High School, Pieper was a three-star recruit viewed as the No. 1,756 player in the class of 2023, per 247Sports. The Iowa Hawkeyes were his only Division I FBS offer.
The Iowa Hawkeyes never fail. They find diamonds in the rough, get them into their program, and turn them into stars.
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