Where Iowa, Iowa State players were picked in 2025 NFL Draft

IOWA CITY — It did not always seem like it, but Iowa football is well represented in the 2025 NFL draft class.

Five former Hawkeyes heard their names called during the three-day event (with three of them being selected in the final 25 picks). It’s the biggest draft class for Iowa since 2020, when the Hawkeyes also had five draftees.

Iowa State, meanwhile, had four players drafted. The Cyclones have gotten three or more players drafted in three of the last four years.

Here is a rundown of the Hawkeyes and Cyclones who were drafted along with Solon native (and North Dakota State quarterback) Cam Miller:

Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins

Team: Houston Texans

Round: 2

Overall pick: 34

Jayden Higgins was the first draft prospect from the state to be selected after an outstanding senior season in Ames. He had 87 yards for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns en route to being named an AP third-team All-American.

What they’re saying: “Size, smoothness, athleticism reminiscent of Courtland Sutton,” CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso wrote. “Big-time combine workout. Not as dominant at the catch point. Solid, not tremendous post-catch. But runs crisp routes in a large frame for C.J. Stroud.”

Iowa State CB Darien Porter

Team: Las Vegas Raiders

Round: 3

Overall pick: 68

Darien Porter had an impressive ascent over the last year as he went from being a backup in his junior season to now being a second-day selection after his senior season. His 4.3-second 40-yard dash at the combine certainly helped his draft stock.

What they’re saying: “This is a really good risk to take,” Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald wrote. “There is so much upside with his length, man coverage ability and strength. He hasn't played the position long, but putting him on a Pete Carroll outfit is reason to believe Porter will be a good find.”

Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel

Team: Houston Texans

Round: 3

Overall pick: 79

Noel, after a longer wait than many mock drafts predicted, will reunite with fellow former Iowa State wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson in Houston.

What they’re saying: Noel “is speedy slot man with reliable hands, and he's going to make things happen after the catch for Stroud,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. wrote.

Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Round: 3

Overall pick: 83

Kaleb Johnson was the sixth running back selected in this year’s draft, falling farther back than many mock drafts projected for the consensus All-American from Iowa. He joins a Pittsburgh team that hopes he can add an “explosive element to the offense.”

What they’re saying: “Johnson was overvalued early in the draft process, but he presented too strong a value as a downhill back for the Steelers to pass up on Day 2,” NFL.com’s Chad Reuter wrote. “He'll pair with Jaylen Warren to give whomever turns out to be Pittsburgh's quarterback a productive, powerful running back duo.”

Iowa State OL Jalen Travis

Team: Indianapolis Colts

Round: 4

Overall pick: 127

Jalen Travis has outstanding size for an offensive tackle at 6-foot-8 and 339 pounds. The Princeton transfer surrendered only one sack in 443 opportunities in his lone season with Iowa State, per Pro Football Focus.

What they’re saying: “Tall, three-year starting tackle with proportional mass and length,” NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein wrote before the draft. “Like most taller tackles, Travis has some athletic limitations in tight quarters and anchor concerns if he doesn’t drop his pad level. Average foot quickness is covered up a bit by an effective use of length.”

Iowa DL Yahya Black

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Round: 5

Overall pick: 164

Yahya Black, the second Hawkeye selected, brings a unique combination of size and skill at 6-foot-6 and 336 pounds. He did not put up monstrous numbers at Iowa, but with his fifth-round selection, Pittsburgh clearly saw the impact he had in less-quantifiable ways on Iowa’s defense.

What they’re saying: “The Steelers appear to be forecasting Black's home as a 3-4 end, where his length could cause disruption,” NFL.com’s Eric Edholm wrote. “However, he's more of a blue-collar contributor and must prove he can win vs. quicker offensive linemen.”

North Dakota State QB (and Solon native) Cam Miller

Team: Las Vegas Raiders

Round: 6

Overall pick: 215

Solon’s Cam Miller will have an NFL opportunity after an illustrious college career with North Dakota State, where he led the Bison to two FCS national titles and 45 total wins as a starter. Miller joins a Raiders quarterback room that already has Geno Smith and Aidan O’Connell.

What they’re saying: “Miller is an intelligent game manager who takes what the defense gives him and relies on timing and placement over pure arm power,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote ahead of the draft.

Iowa OL Mason Richman

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Round: 7

Overall pick: 234

Mason Richman became the first Hawkeye offensive lineman drafted since Tyler Linderbaum’s first-round selection in 2022. Richman’s draft selection was despite getting snubbed from this year’s NFL Combine.

What they’re saying: “Iowa's starting left tackle the past several years isn't a tremendous athlete and can get too far out in front of his skis, but he's worked himself into a draftable prospect,” NFL.com’s Eric Edholm wrote.

Iowa OL Connor Colby

Team: San Francisco 49ers

Round: 7

Overall pick: 249

Connor Colby, a first-team all-Big Ten honoree in 2024, started 50 games on Iowa’s offensive line. He is the first Hawkeye drafted by the 49ers since tight end George Kittle and quarterback C.J. Beathard went there in 2017.

What they’re saying: “Needed some Iowa in the locker room!!!” Kittle said in a tweet after the pick.

Iowa TE Luke Lachey

Team: Houston Texans

Round: 7

Overall pick: 255

With Luke Lachey’s late selection, Iowa tight ends have been picked in three consecutive drafts. (Erick All was drafted in 2024, and Sam LaPorta was drafted in 2023.) The last time that happened was in 2003-05 with Dallas Clark, Erik Jensen and Tony Jackson.

What they’re saying: “If he can stay healthy, then there is a chance that he develops into a contributor for the Texans down the road,” CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards wrote. “Iowa has a strong pedigree of professional tight end production.”

Notable undrafted players

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com