PFF ranks Iowa football star atop position group in 2027 NFL draft class

Iowa saw three of its starting offensive linemen from the 2025 season hear their names called at last month's NFL draft. And it seems like it won't be much longer until another member of that line joins them.

Kade Pieper was the starting right guard on the Hawkeyes' Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line in 2025. Playing between a couple of stalwarts and future NFL draft picks in Logan Jones and Gennings Dunker led to Pieper not getting his fair share of love from the general public. That's now beginning to change.

Pro Football Focus released a list of their top interior offensive line prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft, and Pieper's name was at the top of that list.

Pieper is the 34th-best overall prospect on PFF's 2027 big board, and the best interior offensive lineman by a mile. Six of the top eight interior offensive linemen on their board reside in the Big Ten Conference, another indication of just how strong the conference is.

While he's ranked as PFF's 34th-best prospect, one PFF mock draft has Pieper going much earlier than that. Pieper is projected as the No. 16 overall selection to the Chicago Bears.

The only question for Pieper entering the 2026 season is what position he'll play. There have been some rumors that he may shift over to center to replace Jones, continuing Iowa's elite pipeline at that position. Others believe he'll remain at right guard, where he was a dominant force in 2025.

Regardless of where Pieper lines up next season, the talent is undeniable. He's a big reason why Iowa's offensive line figures to be a strong unit again, even with three starters from last year off to the NFL. And if things go as many people think they will, he'll be the next Hawkeye offensive lineman to hear his name called at the NFL draft.