DRAFT TRACKER 2021

Three-technique who thrives with his ability to penetrate and disrupt the offensive proceedings. He’s good at getting skinny and darting into gaps in order to attack the run or cause blocking schemes to come off track. He appears to have much more functional strength in his lower body than upper body and has trouble controlling blockers at the point of attack with hand work and shed quickness. His agility and pursuit quickness will help him make plays that other interior defenders can’t get to, but offenses will likely have success running right at him. He has Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) talent and could become an eventual starter.

Long, rangy linebacker with excellent speed and quickness but might need to pack on more muscle for the NFL game. Niemann plays stronger than he looks and with good core power. He understands how to use his hands and angle to improve his chances against climbing offensive linemen. He has the range and agility to flow from sideline to sideline but needs more reps to fine-tune his feel for blocking schemes and misdirection. He was a little disappointing in coverage and might not have much passing down value. Niemann has the talent to play in the league and should be a core special teams performer.

Athletic left tackle with potential roster value as swing tackle and/or zone scheme guard. Jackson made dietary changes and reshaped his body with less bad weight but there are still concerns with consistency of play strength when attempting to protect his edges. Poor footwork caused awkward exchanges and consistent issues with contact balance throughout his tape at Iowa, but he appeared to have made some adjustments and improvements by the time practices rolled around at the Senior Bowl. If he can clean up technique and footwork on a full-time basis, he has a chance to become an eventual starter at guard or tackle.

Thin-framed receiver whose value rests in his speed, gadget-package potential and kick-return talent. He's an average route-runner and can be undone by physical coverage, which is likely to continue on the next level. His ball skills are below average on deep throws, but his ability to push the defense downfield should open up things for easy catches underneath. He's a likely later-round candidate with potential to land a WR5 gig, thanks -- in part -- to his return value.

Base end prospect for a 4-3 defense with potential to reduce inside for sub-packages. Golston has added good weight on his frame since coming to Iowa, but holding the point of attack and setting a strong edge will be a challenge for him due to his lack of play strength. While his rush off the edge is ordinary, he flashes as a disruptive interior rusher able to slip into gaps and make some noise. There are some physical traits to work with, so he could find work if he can add more strength and keep improving his rush.

Broadly built guard prospect with slightly top-heavy frame whose body type and playing style are classic Iowa football. He's compact and brings some pop into his initial contact. His play strength is average and he might need help in dealing with bigger NFL defenders. Despite his length, he allows too many blocks to get away from him during the sustain and finish phases, as he tends to leave his feet behind too frequently. He'll get beat from time to time by athletic rushers but is adequate in pass protection. He doesn't stand out in any one area but has potential as a backup interior lineman with center/guard flexibility.

"Body beautiful" wide receiver prospect who could struggle under the weight of physical coverage that is tougher and faster than he is. Smith doesn't have the burst, speed or route acumen to consistently create passing windows for his quarterback, but when the ball goes up near the end zone, he plays with good body control and ball skills to haul in the jump balls. Smith lacks the ability to consistently threaten on any of the three levels of the field and is likely to face an uphill battle to make a roster.

Self-made interior lineman who began his career as a walk-on and finished as a four-year starter with his final chapter at a Power Five program. Heflin is low-cut and country strong with a wide frame carrying short arms. He's capable of handling himself in one-on-one scraps with his quick hands and strength at the point of attack, but doesn't have the technique to deal with double-teams just yet. He can bend and move, but struggles to make plays through block engagements. He is going to play hard as a rusher, but lacks NFL traits to make much of a difference in that category. His size and strength give him a puncher's chance, but it's tough finding a clean positional fit for him.

Beyer was touted as a breakout candidate by Iowa staff members on multiple occasions, but he failed to truly take off. Through no fault of his own, Beyer had to wait behind the likes of George Kittle, Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson and lost much of 2018 due to injury. He's a former wideout with good athleticism and soft hands, but still needs to prove himself as a pass catcher, since there isn't much career production. He's a willing blocker, but fails to play with the hand grip and technique to stay connected to blocks for as long as he will need to. The 24-year-old doesn't fit neatly into a tight end type, which could create a challenge for his NFL prospects.