Iowa Hawkeyes NFL Draft 2026: Who Actually Got Picked?
- 01. Iowa Hawkeyes NFL Draft 2026 Official Results: Seven Hawkeyes Selected in Historic Class
- 02. Complete Draft Results Table
- 03. Day 2 Draft Selections: Rounds 2 and 3
- 04. Day 3 Draft Selections: Rounds 4-7
- 05. Program Record and Historical Context
- 06. Undrafted Free Agent Signings
- 07. Position Breakdown by Round
- 08. Kirk Ferentz's Draft Legacy
- 09. Geographic Distribution of Draftees
Iowa Hawkeyes NFL Draft 2026 Official Results: Seven Hawkeyes Selected in Historic Class
Seven Iowa Hawkeyes were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, marking the most players ever drafted from the program in the modern seven-round era. Center Logan Jones led the class as a second-round pick (57th overall) to the Chicago Bears, followed by offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (96th overall, third round, Pittsburgh Steelers), wide receiver Kaden Wetjen (121st overall, fourth round, Pittsburgh Steelers), offensive lineman Beau Stephens (148th overall, fifth round, Seattle Seahawks), linebacker Karson Sharar (183rd overall, sixth round, Arizona Cardinals), defensive back T.J. Hall (219th overall, seventh round, New Orleans Saints), and edge rusher Max Llewellyn (238th overall, seventh round, Miami Dolphins).
Complete Draft Results Table
| Round | Pick Overall | Player | Position | Team | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 57 | Logan Jones | Center | Chicago Bears | Williamsburg, IA |
| 3 | 96 | Gennings Dunker | Offensive Lineman | Pittsburgh Steelers | Iowa City, IA |
| 4 | 121 | Kaden Wetjen | Wide Receiver | Pittsburgh Steelers | Williamsburg, IA |
| 5 | 148 | Beau Stephens | Offensive Lineman | Seattle Seahawks | Iowa Falls, IA |
| 6 | 183 | Karson Sharar | Linebacker | Arizona Cardinals | Cedar Rapids, IA |
| 7 | 219 | T.J. Hall | Defensive Back | New Orleans Saints | Davenport, IA |
| 7 | 238 | Max Llewellyn | Edge Rusher | Miami Dolphins | Urbandale, IA |
Day 2 Draft Selections: Rounds 2 and 3
The 2026 NFL Draft began its Iowa Hawkeyes journey on Thursday, April 24, 2026, when Logan Jones became the first player selected. Jones, a unanimous All-American and Rimington Trophy winner, was picked 57th overall by the Chicago Bears in the second round. His selection made him the inaugural "Mr. 57" and represented the highest draft pick for Iowa since the modern draft format began. Shortly after, offensive lineman Gennings Dunker was selected at pick 96 in the third round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, continuing Iowa's strong offensive line representation.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz reached a historic milestone with these selections, bringing his career total to 101 players drafted during his tenure at Iowa. The offensive line's dominance was evident, with both Jones and Dunker coming from the Joe Moore Award-winning unit that earned national recognition in 2025.
Day 3 Draft Selections: Rounds 4-7
Friday, April 25, 2026, and Saturday, April 26, 2026, featured the bulk of Iowa's selections with five players drafted on Day 3. Wide receiver Kaden Wetjen opened Day 3, selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 121st overall pick in the fourth round. Wetjen's selection gave the Steelers two Hawkeyes in consecutive rounds, highlighting Pittsburgh's strong interest in Iowa talent.
- Beau Stephens followed in the fifth round (148th overall) to the Seattle Seahawks, adding another offensive lineman to Iowa's draft class
- Karson Sharar was selected in the sixth round (183rd overall) by the Arizona Cardinals, representing Iowa's defensive presence
- T.J. Hall closed out the sixth-round-to-seventh-round transition, picked by the New Orleans Saints at 219th overall
- Max Llewellyn became the seventh and final Hawkeye selected, going to the Miami Dolphins with the 238th overall pick
Program Record and Historical Context
This historic draft class set an all-time record for the Iowa Hawkeyes football program, surpassing any previous draft in the modern seven-round format era. The seven selections represent a significant achievement for a program known for developing NFL-ready talent through Kirk Ferentz's rigorous development system.
The diversity of positions drafted demonstrates Iowa's well-rounded program strength: three offensive linemen, one wide receiver, one linebacker, one defensive back, and one edge rusher. This positional variety contrasts with previous years where Iowa typically sent mostly offensive linemen or defensive linemen to the draft.
"This group pushed head coach Kirk Ferentz's total to 101 players drafted during his tenure and marked one of the program's most productive draft classes in the modern era."
Undrafted Free Agent Signings
In addition to the seven drafted players, five Iowa free agents signed with NFL teams immediately following the draft. These signings further demonstrate the depth of Iowa's 2026 roster and the NFL's continued interest in Hawkeye talent:
- Mark Gronowski signed with the Miami Dolphins
- Xavier Nwankpa signed with the Kansas City Chiefs
- Ethan Hurkett signed with the Kansas City Chiefs
- Aaron Graves signed with the Baltimore Ravens
- Hayden Large signed with the Chicago Bears
Position Breakdown by Round
The offensive line dominated Iowa's draft class, with three linemen selected across rounds 2, 3, and 5. Logan Jones (center), Gennings Dunker (offensive lineman), and Beau Stephens (offensive lineman) collectively represented the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line that anchored Iowa's success in 2025. This continues Iowa's reputation as an offensive line powerhouse that consistently produces NFL-ready linemen.
Defensive representation came from linebacker Karson Sharar (sixth round), defensive back T.J. Hall (seventh round), and edge rusher Max Llewellyn (seventh round). Hall finished his career with 32 solo tackles and 10 pass breakups in his final season, while Llewellyn recorded 6.5 sacks as a senior.
Kirk Ferentz's Draft Legacy
With these seven selections, Kirk Ferentz reached 101 total players drafted during his tenure at Iowa, cementing his legacy as one of the most successful developers of NFL talent in college football history. The 2026 class represents the culmination of years of patient development and player preparation that has become the hallmark of Ferentz's coaching philosophy.
The historic nature of this draft class underscores Iowa's continued relevance in NFL talent production despite competing in a resource-rich Big Ten conference. The program's ability to develop players from small Iowa towns like Williamsburg, Urbandale, and Iowa Falls into NFL draft picks demonstrates the effectiveness of Ferentz's player development system.
Geographic Distribution of Draftees
All seven drafted players were from Iowa, reinforcing the program's identity as a home-state talent developer. The geographic spread included Williamsburg (Jones and Wetjen), Iowa City (Dunker), Iowa Falls (Stephens), Cedar Rapids (Sharar), Davenport (Hall), and Urbandale (Llewellyn). This statewide representation highlights Iowa's success in recruiting and developing local talent rather than relying on out-of-state recruits.
What are the most common questions about Iowa Hawkeyes Nfl Draft 2026 Who Actually Got Picked?
How many Iowa Hawkeyes were drafted in 2026?
Seven Iowa Hawkeyes were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is the most players ever drafted from the program in the modern seven-round format era.
What was the highest pick for Iowa in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Logan Jones was the highest pick, selected 57th overall in the second round by the Chicago Bears, making him the inaugural "Mr. 57" for Iowa.
Which teams drafted the most Iowa Hawkeyes in 2026?
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted the most Iowa players with two selections: Gennings Dunker (third round, 96th overall) and Kaden Wetjen (fourth round, 121st overall).
When did the 2026 NFL Draft take place?
The 2026 NFL Draft took place from Thursday, April 24, 2026, through Saturday, April 26, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
What record did Iowa set in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Iowa set an all-time program record for most players drafted in a single draft in the modern seven-round era, with seven Hawkeyes selected.
Who won the Rimington Trophy among Iowa's 2026 draftees?
Logan Jones won the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center before being drafted 57th overall by the Chicago Bears.
Did any Iowa players get drafted in the first round in 2026?
No Iowa players were selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft; Logan Jones was the highest pick at 57th overall in the second round.
What positions were most represented in Iowa's 2026 draft class?
Offensive line was the most represented position with three players drafted: Logan Jones (center), Gennings Dunker (offensive lineman), and Beau Stephens (offensive lineman).
Which Iowa player had the most sacks among the 2026 draftees?
Max Llewellyn recorded 6.5 sacks as a senior before being selected 238th overall by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round.