The NFL pipeline under Kirk Ferentz remains strong. In the Ferentz era, 94 players have been drafted into the NFL, including five in the 2025 draft class. Ferentz has also guided 220 players towards their NFL dreams.
After the 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone, nine Hawkeyes have made their way to NFL rosters. Before the season begins, those spots are not guaranteed unless you are a higher draft pick.
Kaleb Johnson (second round, No. 83 overall), and Yahya Black (fifth round, No. 164 overall) are close to making NFL rosters after being drafted in the first five rounds. Excluding them, here are three former Hawkeyes who have the best chance to make a 2025 NFL roster.
Connor Colby, offensive line (San Francisco 49ers)
The San Francisco 49ers are playing a dangerous game of chicken regarding keeping the team together or blowing it up. One of their core pieces over the last few seasons has been quarterback Brock Purdy.
Purdy led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in 2024, but sustained an injury. Purdy and multiple starters on the offense also struggled with injuries last season. That includes superstar running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Last season, the 49ers limped to a 6-11 overall record (4th in the NFC West), due to their inability to stay healthy. Unless they want that trend to continue, the 49ers need help protecting the key pieces of their offense.
In a strange draft for the 49ers, they focused on defense and did not draft an offensive lineman until Connor Colby was selected in the seventh round. Colby has been given the unique chance to bolster a team that made a Super Bowl appearance two seasons ago.
For the 49ers to succeed, they need to keep Purdy upright. Purdy is waiting on a new contract, but is the projected starter next season. Colby provides the Niners with a versatile piece that can play either guard spot or the tackle position.
Colby also stays healthy. During his college career, he made 50 starts for the Hawkeyes.
The 49ers use a "West Coast" scheme on offense that utilizes multiple pre-snap motions and zone blocking. Colby excels in zone blocking because Kirk Ferentz uses it at Iowa.
Colby was a late-round draft pick, but due to the Niners' lack of success on offense and Colby's versatility, he has a great chance to make the team.
Luke Lachey, tight end (Houston Texans)
Former Iowa tight end Luke Lachey was hampered by injuries during his career in Iowa City. After suffering a season-ending injury three games into the 2023 season, he was never able to fully recover.
Before the 2023 season, Lachey was added to the Mackey Award watchlist. The Mackey Award is given to the best tight end in the nation. After suffering the injury, he lost a step and plummeted down draft boards.
He was also limited due to ineffective quarterback play. Iowa was always near the bottom of the Big Ten in offensive rankings and rarely put the ball in the air. The Houston Texans took a flier on the talented tight end by selecting him in the seventh round.
The Houston Texans entered the 2024-2025 season with high hopes in their second year with C.J. Stroud under center. The Texans won the AFC South with a 10-7 record and trounced the Chargers in the AFC Wildcard in the playoffs.
They fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round.
The Texans were hampered by injuries to star wideouts Stefon Diggs (now with New England) and Tank Dell. Stroud also went through some sophomore struggles. The Texans relied heavily on Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz in the passing game, and could not sustain that long-term.
Lachey gives the Texans a one-two punch at the tight end position. Lachey is a dual-threat tight end who can block and catch passes at a high level, and can give the Texans another weapon in the passing game.
Schultz is a better pass catcher than blocker, and Lachey can slide into a block-focused tight end position. That gives the Texans more protection for Stroud and star running back Joe Mixon, and also gives them a high-volume pass catcher.
If Lachey stays healthy, the Texans got a steal in the late seventh round.