Seven Iowa football players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft this weekend. 101 players have now been drafted to the NFL under head coach Kirk Ferentz. The seven selections were the most under Ferentz in a single draft, and set a new modern era record for Iowa.
The Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, and Miami Dolphins were the teams to select an Iowa player in the draft.
Logan Jones, Center, Chicago Bears
With the 57th overall pick, the Chicago Bears selected center Logan Jones. Jones was the 2025 Rimington Trophy winner, awarded to the best center in college football, and helped command the Hawkeyes’ Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line last season.
Jones was the one of two first-team All-Americans for Iowa in 2025, and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection. Jones was initially recruited as a defensive tackle before making the switch to the offensive side and starting 50 games in his career.
Gennings Dunker, Offensive Tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers
The NFL Draft host Pittsburgh Steelers traded up to pick 96 to select Gennings Dunker. Dunker will be reunited and block for former Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson in the Steel City.
Dunker was the seventh-ranked tackle in the draft according to ESPN, and will likely move inside to guard in the NFL. Dunker was a third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2025.
Kaden Wetjen, Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
Two-time Jet Award-winner Kaden Wetjen will also remain in the black and gold, joining Dunker with the Steelers at pick 121 in the fourth round. Wetjen was a first-team All-American returner in 2025, logging 1,039 kick and punt return yards and four return touchdowns.
Wetjen collected 20 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown last season, and rushed for two touchdowns and 79 yards on 15 attempts. Wetjen will likely slide directly into the Steelers’ punt and kick returner role in 2026.
Beau Stephens, Offensive Guard, Seattle Seahawks
Beau Stephens remains a Hawk. The first-team All-Big Ten guard will join the 2026 Super Bowl Champions in the pacific northwest as the Seahawks selected him with the 148th pick. Stephens started 34 games and played in 42 during his five-year career at Iowa.
The 6-foot-5, 315-pound lineman was ranked No. 11 among guards according to ESPN. Stephens joins his former offensive line teammate Mason Richman in Seattle, and will likely battle for the starting right guard position.
Karson Sharar, Linebacker, Arizona Cardinals
At pick 183, the Arizona Cardinals selected linebacker Karson Sharar. While Sharar only started for one season with the Hawkeyes, his athleticism and physical testing at the NFL Combine stuck out the the Cardinals’ front office.
Sharar has plenty of special teams experience at Iowa, and could find himself in a similar role with Arizona. The fifth-year racked up a team-high 83 tackles in 2025 with 12 tackles for loss and four sacks.
TJ Hall, Cornerback, New Orleans Saints
With the 216th pick, the New Orleans Saints selected cornerback TJ Hall. Hall was a third-team All-Big Ten defensive back in 2025, and was second in the conference with 10 pass breakups.
Hall played in 42 games in his Hawkeye career, starting in 18. Hall racked up 75 career tackles with 12 pass breakups and two interceptions.
Max Llewellyn, EDGE, Miami Dolphins
At pick 238, Max Llewellyn rounded out the Iowa selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, being selected by the Miami Dolphins. Llewellyn was an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2025, where he collected 6 1/2 sacks and 9 1/2 tackles for loss.
Llewellyn’s long frame and quick spin move will allow him to play against both the pass and the run in the NFL, but will likely have to battle for a spot in training camp being a late-round pick.