What does Iowa’s performance in the draft say about their last two seasons?
The only other time Iowa had this many draftees in back-to-back seasons was 2009-11 but the team results haven’t matched
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 15: Kirk Ferentz, Head Coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes walks off the field after a game between Iowa Hawkeyes and University of Southern California Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 15, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Melinda Meijer/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images The Iowa Hawkeyes had 7 players drafted this past weekend, a record for the program . The two year stack for the program is 12, most recently matched by the 2010, 2011, and 2012 draft classes when six Hawks were taken each year.
Unlike that stretch of seasons, Iowa was unable to capitalize on the same level of team success as they had by hoisting the lone NY6 bowl trophy of Kirk Ferentz’s tenure. So what does it say that Iowa is able to churn out NFL-caliber athletes at a consistently high rate yet is unable to convert it into high-level team success? Have they underachieved?
The draftees have not been at the most important positions The players making the most in the NFL right now are quarterbacks, rush ends, wide receivers, tackles, and cornerbacks. Among those positions, only Mason Richman (7th round, 2025), Gennings Dunker (3rd round, 2026), Kaden Wetjen (4th round, 2026), TJ Hall (7th round, 2026), and Max Llewellyn (7th round, 2026) have fallen into those categories. And, let’s be real, Wetjen was drafted primarily for his returning prowess more than his abilities as a receiver (though he flashed in the lead up to the Senior Bowl).
Big Ten teams who made the playoffs in either of the last two years have had the high impact positions taken in the last two drafts: Indiana: 10 overall, 2 first rounders (QB, WR), another QB, another WR, & a CB Ohio State: 25 overall, 8 first rounders (2 WRs, OT, LB), another 3 ends, 3 CBs, another tackle, QB Oregon: 17 overall, 4 first rounders (OT), DE, QB, 2 more OTs, 2 WRs, 1 CB Penn State: 13 overall, 3 first rounders (DE), QB, OT, another DE Now clearly, OSU is the outlier. 25 draft picks is hilarious. But Iowa is for the most part generating the amount of top end talent they need to challenge for a playoff berth.
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