The Iowa Hawkeyes are sending four players to the NFL in 2024, which is a fairly average crowd for the program.
Iowa will soon host its annual Pro Day to give NFL GMs, coaches and scouts an extra look at the class from the Black & Gold. The Pro Day will be held March 18th. Last year, all 32 NFL teams were in attendance, though the class was bigger with more top end talent.
So what can fans expect to see from the Hawkeyes in this year's class at their pro day?
Cooper DeJean will take it easy
Cooper DeJean was unable to participate in on-field drills at the NFL Combine. The same will be the case at Iowa's Pro Day. DeJean suffered a broken fibula at the end of his final season for the Hawkeyes and was cleared around the time the NFL Combine took place.
DeJean said at the combine that he will be able to work out for teams privately before the NFL Draft. In the meantime, he'll continue to meet with teams and sell his personality and football IQ and hope his tape speaks for itself.
The defensive back is the only Hawkeye with the potential to be selected in the first round. Should he be drafted as a cornerback, he'll be the first white cornerback selected in the first round since 1969. No white cornerback has started an NFL game since 2003. Other teams could see DeJean as a safety, which would undo that bit of trivia surrounding him.
Erick All likely quiet on the field
Under normal circumstances, senior tight end Erick All would be the next Hawkeye off the board after DeJean. Unfortunately, his wait will be a bit longer than he'd like.
All tore his ACL in October, so he also had to sit out of the NFL Combine. One of All's biggest strengths is his speed, so not having the opportunity to display that to NFL teams has hurt his stock.
Like DeJean, All will have to talk up NFL personnel at the pro day and lean on his experience and film to sell himself. All had 75 receptions for 864 yards and five touchdowns in his five-year career, one of which was spent in Iowa City. He was well on his way to a career year statistically before his injury.
While he has plenty of upside, he will likely be a late Day 3 pick. Still, he could very well be the next diamond in the rough tight end from Iowa that causes problems for NFL defenses on a weekly basis.
Logan Lee has another chance to shine
Defensive lineman Logan Lee wowed scouts at the NFL Combine. The lone Hawkeye skill player to take part in any drills, he put on a performance that made a positive impact on his draft stock.
Lee ran a 5.05 40-yard dash, put up 25 reps on the bench and clocked in at 4.37 seconds on the 20-yard shuttle. His athleticism graded out as the fifth-best among defensive tackles at the combine. His production in college didn't quite match the skills he displayed, but he grabbed attention nonetheless.
Lee had 18.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks in his three years as a contributing player on the Hawkeyes' defensive front. His film has held him back a bit for most scouts, indicating he'll likely be a Day 3 pick.
However, if Lee can replicate or outdo his combine performance and take advantage of the extra attention he's certain to get after his strong showing in Indianapolis, he could continue to climb the boards. A fifth-round selection may be his ceiling, but that's still a jump from his initial projections.
Tory Taylor in a comfortable position on the path to the draft
Tory Taylor is hands down the best punter in the 2024 draft class. Of course, that doesn't exactly mean he'll be a Day 2 pick or that he'll even be the first punter drafted. NFL teams are wildly unpredictable when it comes to special teams players in the NFL Draft.
For what it's worth, Taylor didn't participate in any drills at the NFL Combine. There's no indication that he'll do so at the Iowa Pro Day either.
Taylor may kick a few balls or show off some other skills like kickoffs if teams ask him to, but in all likelihood, he'll also have a quiet day at the event. Most teams know what they get in Taylor and it's what most teams covet: a consistent, booming right leg that flips the field position.
Iowa fans can watch DeJean, Lee, All and Taylor find their NFL homes at the NFL Draft from April 25 through April 27 on the NFL Network or ESPN.
The first round will air Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m. CST.
Day 2 with the second and third rounds will air Friday, April 26 at 6 p.m. CST.
Day 3 will have rounds 4-7 and will air Saturday, April 27 starting at 11 a.m. CST.
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