Three-Pack of Hawkeyes- 2025 NFL Draft

Three-pack of Hawkeyes- 2025 NFL Draft

The 2024 college football season is coming to an end, so you know what that means? The 2025 NFL draft is coming soon, as well. Draft Nation is here to guide you through the prospects and how they can help NFL teams.

Here is a three pack of Iowa players who are looking to get selected in the 2025 NFL draft.

Running Back Kaleb Johnson, Iowa

6-foot-0 225 lbs

2024 stats: 12 games 1,537 yards 21 touchdowns 

What to like about Kaleb Johnson

Kaleb Johnson runs with a low center of gravity, making it hard to put a solid hit on him. When hitting holes, Johnson has excellent vision and is able to set up his blocks for the best results. He has the capability and body type to become a workhorse running back in the NFL. Johnson has very strong contact balance and is rarely brought down by just one defender. He bounces off hits and keeps moving. 

Out of the backfield, Johnson has reliable hands and is able to catch a pass out in the flat and turn it up the field. 

Reason for concern

Johnson has a nice initial burst but when it comes to long speed he will be caught more times than not. He is a north-south running back who limits himself by not changing direction and cutting, preferring to create contact instead of changing the running lanes. When Johnson runs low to the ground he is a handful to tackle, however, later in games Johnson can get fatigued and run with his pads too high, taking away his leverage and power. When pass blocking he steps up and will lay a hit on a pass rusher, but he has trouble anchoring down against the bigger defenders and at times will get knocked off his feet. 

NFL Player Comparison

Rhamondre Stevenson

A good comparison for Kaleb Johnson is Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots. Stevenson was a fourth round pick who shared a lot of the same attributes as Johnson. Stevenson is a physical back who will look for contact and not try to cut away from defenders. Draft Nation feels that Johnson's ceiling will be very comparable to how Stevenson has played.

Draft Projection

Third or Fourth round pick

Safety Sebastian Castro, Iowa

5-foot-11 205 lbs

2024 stats: 12 games 57 tackles 3 TFL  1 interception

What to like about Sebastian Castro

Sebastian Castro is able to line up all over the secondary and has even played some linebacker at his time in Iowa, and should provide some plug and play capability for the right defensive coordinator. Castro plays an aggressive downhill style and is exceptional at finishing tackles, especially in the open field. He has a knack for creating turnovers and has excellent ball skills and soft hands to be able to corral passes. In zone coverage, he excels by keeping his head on a swivel and reads the quarterback's eyes while moving. He has shown the ability to play off of receivers or he can jam them when needed and does both styles productively.

Reason for concern

Castro has average athleticism but lacks that extra gear that can help keep the top on the defense. In man to man coverage he may struggle against the smaller and shiftier receivers. One of Castro's biggest weaknesses is his lack of footwork and mechanics, and as a result he tends to use his aggressiveness and instincts to bail him out, but at the next level that will not be as easy to do. Castro can play out of control at times and let his aggressiveness get the best of him. On film, Draft Nation has seen him overrun his pursuit and take questionable angles. Castro will be at least a year older than most other prospects which could affect his draft stock.

NFL Draft Comparison

Jordan Whitehead

Sebastian Castro reminds Draft Nation of Jordan Whitehead. Whitehead was a fourth round pick by Tampa Bay in 2018 out of Pittsburgh. Whitehead has had a solid seven year career who fills up the boxscore with tackles and has 11 career interceptions. He makes up for lack of length with aggressiveness, something that Castro will try to do when he enters the NFL. 

Draft Projection

Third-round pick

Guard Connor Colby, Iowa

6-foot-6   311 lbs

2024 stats: 13 starts

What to like about Connor Colby

Colby plays with a high football IQ, understanding his assignments and the blocking angles of each guard and tackle positions, left and right. He is an agile mover who can get to the second level or get out ahead of screens and sweeps. His exceptional length helps him to keep bull rushers at bay and not get into his body. His instincts help him to pick up on stunts and twists, and he is quick to engage with pass rushers from all angles. He works better in tight quarters and uses his hands and upper body strength to anchor down. His hands are strong and they do damage if and when he gets his initial punch landed.

Reason for concern

On the downside, Colby plays with a less than optimal base, which means he gets caught off balance at times. He relies too much on his length and when he misfires on his original contact, he tends to reach out to hold back rushers and loses balance and strength. He comes off the snap too high at times, losing leverage and costing him power that he should generate from his lower half. Quicker defenders can be troublesome for him as they get into Colby’s chest before he has a chance to extend and make his initial punch. Though he has tackle experience, Draft 412 believes he is not quick enough in his drop step to withstand speed coming off the edge. He is better suited at guard at the next level, playing in tight quarters.

NFL Player Comparison

Cade Mays

Cade Mays was a 6th round pick in last year's draft out of Tennessee and Connor Colby’s scouting report mirrors Mays. Mays played both tackle and guard at Tennessee, has exceptional length but also has balance issues and his base was not as solid as you’d expect. 

Draft Projection

Sixth or seventh round pick