NFL Draft week is here, and the 2024 edition of the draft is again expected to feature plenty of talent from the Hawkeye State.
While the total number of players selected from an Iowa school may be a bit lower compared to previous years, I believe there will still be a solid number of players who hear their names called over the three-day event.
As I discussed on my Tuesday show, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid’s seven-round mock draft has six players from an Iowa school that will be picked in the 2024 Draft. Using Reid’s picks as a baseline, here are my thoughts on who’s most likely to be selected in this year’s draft.
Locks:
Cooper DeJean – DB – Iowa
Tory Taylor – Punter – Iowa
T.J. Tampa – DB – Iowa State
Khristian Boyd – DT – UNI
These four players have been listed in pretty much every mock draft we have seen over the last few months, taking into account the offseason all-star games (Senior Bowl, Shrine Bowl, etc.), plus workouts at the NFL Combine and Pro Days.
DeJean has been consistently talked about and thought of as a first round pick and really could go anywhere from 15 to 30 in the first round in the minds of many experts. For the record, I’d be stunned if Cooper fell beyond the mid-20s, but Reid’s mock draft had him dropping to 29 and Detroit. (Side note: As a Packers fan, I’m BEGGING Brian Gutekunst and staff to do what they need to to get Cooper in Green & Gold. Please!)
Tory Taylor is more of a wild card, considering punters don’t usually go until the later rounds of the draft. But from what he’s shown over his time at Iowa (Punting is Winning, you know), I would be really surprised if someone didn’t bring him in to take over punting duties. Reid has Taylor going 199 overall to the Saints in the sixth round. Do you know who else was picked 199 overall? Tom Brady. Coincidence? I think not.
As for T.J. Tampa and Khristian Boyd, both players have been consistently thought of as second- and third-day picks, respectively. Tampa’s been a fast riser up the draft boards, with Reid having him selected by the Giants with the 47th overall pick.
Boyd has also seen things turn in his favor in the first few months of the year, with Sports Illustrated saying “Boyd’s blend of power, agility, and relentless pursuit makes him an attractive asset for NFL teams. His skill set suggests he can immediately contribute to an NFL defensive rotation, with the potential to grow into a foundational piece of an interior defensive line.”
Wild Cards
The only two players from Reid’s seven-round mock draft that fall into the “wild card” category for me are Iowa’s Erick All Jr. and Logan Lee. Reid has both being selected in the sixth round and, while both are certainly draftable, the later rounds are so unpredictable that it’s hard to pinpoint where players might go.
All getting hurt midway through last season certainly didn’t help his cause, but I think a team may take a flier based on what we saw from him in his brief time with Iowa (and at Michigan). As for Lee, I think he will definitely get a shot at having D-line depth and depth at any position is not a bad thing in the NFL.
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Of course, there is always a potential for a few surprises over the course of the draft, and anyone who doesn’t get a chance will more than likely wind up as an undrafted free agent once the draft itself is complete.
Reminder: We will have live coverage of the NFL Draft this week on 1600 ESPN. Listen to ESPN Radio’s coverage starting at 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and at 11 a.m. Saturday!
Spencer Wagen is the host of “Spencer on Sports,” weekdays from 4-6 p.m. on 1600 ESPN. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @SWOnTheRadio.
