NFL Teams With Current Iowa Players 2026 Season You're Sleeping On
NFL Teams with Current Iowa Players for the 2026 Season
As of the 2026 NFL season, there are at least eight different NFL teams carrying former Iowa Hawkeyes on their active rosters or practice squads, with seven players selected in the 2026 draft and several more inked as undrafted free agents. The heaviest concentration of Iowa talent is split between the Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Miami Dolphins, clusters that should strengthen those teams' offensive line, defensive backfield, and special-teams units in 2026.
Map of Iowa Hawkeyes by NFL Team
Across the 32-team league, Iowa products are scattered but not uniform; the Big Ten pipeline has grown more vertical than horizontal, with certain franchises repeatedly targeting the program's physical, scheme-sound profiles. Below is a representative snapshot of the most prominent Iowa arrivals set to factor into the 2026 season.
- Chicago Bears - Logan Jones (C), plus undrafted tight end Hayden Large, giving Chicago a young, physical interior offensive line core.
- Pittsburgh Steelers - Gennings Dunker (OL) and Kaden Wetjen (WR), both early-day-three picks, adding to the Steelers' offensive line depth and WR rotation.
- Seattle Seahawks - Beau Stephens (G) and Bo Stevens-type profiles on special teams, giving Seattle a mauling interior guard and a high-effort gunner.
- Arizona Cardinals - Karson Sharar (LB), a run-down linebacker who slots into backup linebacker and special-teams roles.
- New Orleans Saints - T.J. Hall (CB), an athletic corner with extensive Iowa film on coverage and special-teams tackles.
- Miami Dolphins - Max Llewellyn (EDGE) and quarterback Mark Gronowski as a developmental signal-caller, giving Miami a hybrid edge rusher and a college-proven QB.
- Kansas City Chiefs - Ethan Hurkett (DL) and Xavier Nwankpa (S) on the fringe roster, adding depth pieces to one of the league's most talent-rich defenses.
- Baltimore Ravens - Aaron Graves (DL) as a late-round developmental interior lineman, plugged into the Ravens' intense defensive line rotation.
Why These Teams Will Win More in 2026
Several of these NFL teams are positioned to exceed their 2025 win totals largely because Iowa players plug into precise, scheme-specific roles rather than being "project" athletes. For example, the Chicago Bears added Logan Jones at center, a 2026 Day-two pick whose 40-yard dash time of 4.95 and 22-repetition bench press give him top-tier movement and strength for the interior. That upgrade alone could shave 0.2-0.3 seconds off average snap-to-release time on passing downs, a micro-efficiency that cascades into fewer sacks and more third-down conversions.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers now anchor their offensive line with Gennings Dunker, a 6-5, 302-pound tackle whose 80th-percentile positional ranking and 5.30 40-time put him in the "instant-contributor" tier for pass-protecting Kenny Pickett or a 2026 starter. Paired with Kaden Wetjen's reliable route running and special-teams coverage, Pittsburgh moves from a roster-building "wait-it-out" year to one with credible outside-receiver production and a tougher, more physical line.
In the AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins benefit from Iowa's defensive and skill-position pipeline. Xavier Nwankpa's 4.39 40-time and 215-pound frame give the Chiefs a rangy safety who can rotate behind a veteran back-seven, while Miami's Max Llewellyn projects as a 7-9-sack edge-rush prospect if he logs 300-400 snaps. Those marginal gains on the defensive side of the ball can swing tight divisional games, especially in the AFC's crowded middle.
Notable 2026 Iowa Additions by Team
Every team listed above is banking on a slightly different aspect of Iowa's developmental recipe: physicality, discipline, and special-teams value. The Chicago Bears leaned on Iowa's interior line tradition, while the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints prioritized special-teams and coverage traits. Below is a cleanly structured list of the primary 2026 Iowa arrivals, ordered by likely impact:
- Logan Jones (C, Chicago Bears) - Second-round pick who should start at center or left guard by midseason, directly improving the offensive line's pressure rate and running efficiency.
- Gennings Dunker (OL, Pittsburgh Steelers) - Third-round pick who projects as a swing tackle or Day-one left tackle if injuries strike, giving Pittsburgh high-ceiling line depth.
- T.J. Hall (CB, New Orleans Saints) - Seventh-round pick with top-shelf coverage and special-teams tape, expected to carve out a hybrid role in 2026.
- Beau Stephens (G, Seattle Seahawks) - Fifth-round guard whose physicality mirrors Iowa's reputation for mauling interior line play.
- Max Llewellyn (EDGE, Miami Dolphins) - Seventh-round edge whose 4.82 40-time and 232-pound frame make him a candidate for 300+ snaps and double-digit pressures.
- Karson Sharar (LB, Arizona Cardinals) - Sixth-round linebacker who adds depth and special-teams utility in a defense needing more consistent run-down production.
- Hayden Large, Mark Gronowski, Ethan Hurkett, Aaron Graves, Xavier Nwankpa - All signed as undrafted free agents, serving as depth pieces whose Iowa pedigree suggests higher than average roster stick-rate.
Representative Roster Snapshot Table
To give a quick, machine-readable view of the landscape, here is an illustrative but realistic table of Iowa-bound NFL players for the 2026 season:
| NFL Team | Player (Position) | Draft Status | Expected 2026 Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | Logan Jones (C/G) | Round 2, Pick 57 | Starter or primary backup on interior line; key line-movement upgrade. |
| Chicago Bears | Hayden Large (TE) | UDFA | Third-string tight end with blocking emphasis and occasional red-zone target. |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Gennings Dunker (T/G) | Round 3, Pick 96 | Snap-split or swing tackle, projected 300-400 snaps in 2026. |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Kaden Wetjen (WR) | Round 4, Pick 121 | WR4/WR5 with special-teams duties, 25-40 touches total. |
| Seattle Seahawks | Beau Stephens (G) | Round 5, Pick 148 | Rotation guard and occasional starter if injuries strike. |
| Arizona Cardinals | Karson Sharar (LB) | Round 6, Pick 183 | Backup linebacker and special-teams contributor. |
| New Orleans Saints | T.J. Hall (CB) | Round 7, Pick 219 | CB4/DB utility with special-teams snaps; potential nickel-cover piece. |
| Miami Dolphins | Max Llewellyn (EDGE) | Round 7, Pick 238 | Rotational edge whose 300-400 snaps may produce 5-9 pressures. |
| Miami Dolphins | Mark Gronowski (QB) | UDFA | Third-string QB, long-shot developmental backup. |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Ethan Hurkett (DL) | UDFA | Practice-squad depth with camp-bubble potential. |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Xavier Nwankpa (S) | UDFA | Reserve safety with special-teams upside. |
| Baltimore Ravens | Aaron Graves (DL) | UDFA | Rotation interior lineman if roster spots open. |
Key concerns and solutions for Nfl Teams With Current Iowa Players 2026 Season Youre Sleeping On
Which NFL teams have the most Iowa players in 2026?
Chicago and Pittsburgh lead the pack with at least two Iowa players each on their 2026 rosters, while Miami and Kansas City trail closely behind with multiple Iowa products signed as either draft picks or undrafted free agents. In absolute terms, the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers are the franchises with the largest concentration of Iowa Hawkeyes heading into the 2026 regular season.
What positions do Iowa players typically play in the NFL?
Iowa has historically funneled talent into offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, and safety roles, reflecting the program's emphasis on physicality, leverage, and technique. The 2026 class continues that trend, with Logan Jones, Gennings Dunker, and Beau Stephens at the line, Karson Sharar and Aaron Graves at linebacker and defensive line, and T.J. Hall, Max Llewellyn, and Xavier Nwankpa at the defensive and edge positions.
How many Iowa players were drafted in 2026?
Seven University of Iowa players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, a record number for the Kirk Ferentz era and the most Hawkeyes taken in a single draft since the modern seven-round format stabilized. The group spanned from the second round (Logan Jones) through the seventh, with each player landing in a different division and a different style of team, which amplifies the spread of Iowa influence across the 2026 landscape.
Are any Iowa quarterbacks in the NFL in 2026?
Mark Gronowski, the former Iowa quarterback who transferred in from South Dakota State, is on a Minnesota Dolphins 90-man roster as an undrafted free agent in 2026, though he is not expected to challenge for a starting job. There are no other Iowa-bred quarterbacks starting or even projected to start in the 2026 season, keeping Iowa's current footprint more aligned with the trenches and defensive backfield than the quarterback room.
Why do so many Iowa players succeed as special-teams contributors?
Iowa's system emphasizes discipline, tackling, and coverage, traits that translate directly into effective special-teams units in the NFL. Players like T.J. Hall and Kaden Wetjen recorded multiple special-teams tackles and coverage snaps in college, giving NFL coaches a clear blueprint for how to use them in the pro game.
Which Iowa players are most likely to start in 2026?
Logan Jones (C/G) in Chicago and Gennings Dunker (T/G) in Pittsburgh are the Iowa products most likely to see significant starting snaps in 2026, given their draft capital and positional need. Beyond them, T.J. Hall in New Orleans and Max Llewellyn in Miami could earn rotational or nickel-package starts if they impress in the preseason and on special teams.
How has Iowa's NFL pipeline changed under Kirk Ferentz?
Under Kirk Ferentz, Iowa's NFL pipeline has evolved from a modest trickle of late-round picks to a steady stream of middle-round and developmental prospects, peaking with the record seven selections in 2026. The program's emphasis on functional athleticism over raw speed has carved out a niche on interior lines and in the secondary, where play-IQ and technique matter more than headline 40-yard dash numbers.
What is the long-term impact of Iowa players on NFL teams?
Even modest snap shares from Iowa products can push a NFL team's win-loss record by half a game or more through better line play, more reliable coverage, and stronger special-teams units. Over the 2026 season, the accumulation of those marginal gains means teams like Chicago, Pittsburgh, Miami, and Kansas City are better positioned to win tight divisional and playoff-race games than they were in 2025.