Hawks in the NFL Draft (Pre-Combine)

This year's crop of Hawkeye's heading for future NFL paydays seems to be larger than usual. Shonn Greene and Mitch King headline the class with Greene looking to be the first underclassmen selected from Iowa since Dallas Clark. Bradley Fletcher, Seth Olsen, and Rob Bruggeman have also recieved combine invites. Brandon Myers is likely to be selected and Matt Kroul has an outside chance of hearing his name called and certainly will sign a free agent contract. Andy Brodell also has a chance to land a free agent contract.



Now for some Cliches- it only takes one team to fall in love with you, its not the size of the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog, and my personal favorite he's a football player. During the draft evaluation period you will hear the experts say those things a million times. Almost all of those cliches relate to Iowa's seniors other than Fletcher. Some teams that seem to collect Hawkeyes: San Diego, Indianapolis, and Green Bay. Teams that still have connections to Ferentz: San Diego, Baltimore, Cleveland, New England, and of course Kansas City.



Now for my terrible predictions(note these will change a little after the combine and free agency begins in earnest.)



Shonn Greene 5'11" 227 Rb
Projects as a one cut power back. Compares to Jamal Lewis.

Combine Invite: Yes

The Good: Most productive rushing season in Iowa history. Got better as season progressed. Not a lot of tread on the tire. Very humble with the media- always deflects credit.
Physical skills- underrated speed, incredible balance, underrated vision, very good power, underrated blocker in passing game(excellent in blitz pick up), great ball security.

The Bad: One year wonder(I know he isn't but most scouts don't), failure to qualify out of high school and lost season of college due to academics will cause alot of scrutiny to wonderlic and interviews at combine, rumors of weight fluctuations, not utilized as a pass catcher regularly, didn't always convert key 3rd and 4rth short situations(again I know it wasn't Shonn's fault 100%)

Teams that make sense: Arizona,Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, NY Jets, San Diego

Projected Round 2nd


Mitch King 6'1" 275 Dt/De
Projects as a 3 technique or undertackle in a 4-3 or a 5 technique De in a 3-4. Compares to Raheem Brock

Combine Invite: Yes

The Good: 4 year starter heart and soul of Hawkeye defense. Incredible intagibles(will to win, leadership qualities, motor, and coachability). Will win the interview. Very productive in College. Plenty of highlights. Very good Senior Bowl week and Game.
Physical Skills: Incredible burst off the ball, understands leverage, great hands and technique, great motor, consistently beat double teams, has played a little De in college, will make hustle plays downfield, will play special teams

The Bad: Not impressive to look at, can be physically overwhelmed, must win the snap, may be limited by scheme.( I personally don't think that Mitch makes sense in a 3-4)

Teams that make sense: Arizona, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Minnesota, Saint Louis, Tampa Bay, Tennessee

Projected: 3rd- 4th

Seth Olsen 6'5" 305 Og
Projects strictly as a guard, I don't see him as a Tackle(nor do any scouting sites). Compares to Ryan Lilja

Combine Invite: Yes

The Good: 3 year starter, very athletic for his size, excelled at East- West Shrine week and game, very mature(married)- another who will win the interview, has played multiple positions on the line
Physical Skills: Very good technician, understands leverage, can mirror in the pass game, good hips, gets to the second level and sticks to his block, can be used to pull(rare in the Iowa running game)

The Bad: Undersized for a typical NFL guard (305), really hurt by Iowa missing OSU and Michigan the last two seasons(hasn't faced elite competition on film), overwhelmed at tackle by elite speed, will be limited in scheme(not my opinion, just what I have read), always dinged up(but he usually played through the injuries in my opinion).

Teams that make sense: Atlanta, Carolina, Denver, Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, San Diego, Tennessee

Projected Round 4th-5th

Bradley Fletcher 6' 0" 203 Cb
Projects as a cover 2 corner. Compares to Charles Tillman

Combine Invite: Yes

The Good: Very good senior season, played alot more than most realize(plenty of film), another who excelled at the East- West Shrine week and game, will turn heads at the combine, has a chance to shoot up draft boards after he posts a sub 4.4 at the combine.
Physical Skills: Incredible closing burst, very aware in space, one of the best Iowa players in recent history of playing the ball, great size, very good tackler, played well on special teams.

The Bad: One year wonder(I don't think this is completely his fault, he should have started ahead of Shada), his hips are questionable because he doesn't play a ton of man, will be viewed as strictly a zone cb(again not completely his fault- see Godfrey, Charles), not an incredible leaper on game film( not really attacked with jump balls)

Teams that make sense: Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Seattle, Tampa Bay,

Projected Round: * Fletcher is the huge Iowa sleeper of this draft right now he projects as a 4th- 5th but I say he goes in the 3rd.

Rob Bruggeman 6'3" 287 C
Projects as Center or a Guard. Compares to Brad Meester

Combine Invite: Yes

The Good: Bruggy is a feel good story, former walk on earns a scholly, overcomes injury, gets a combine invite. Another Intangilbes guy, very physical and very intelligent- will win the interview.
Physical Skills: Quick for a lineman, very good at the zone double and then finding the second level in the run game, understands the game- calls the signals for the O-line, understands leverage

The Bad: Probably not as big as I have listed, tough medical history, must excell at the combine to get a sniff, one year wonder( though not his fault- lost year to injury), will be viewed as limited to scheme(Zone), must really weigh 287

Teams that make sense: Atlanta, Carolina, Denver, Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, New England, San Diego

Projected Round: 7th or Undrafted free agent

Brandon Myers 6'4" 250 Te
Projects as a Tight End or H-Back. Compares to Matt Spaeth.

Combine Invite: No

The Good: Iowa's most consistent 3rd down target the last two seasons, very intense player, All Big Ten as a senior, sure to be on area scouts radar, has Iowa's reputation in his favor, the tight end free agent class in the NFL this season is terrible
Physical Skills: Rumored to have best hands on the team,above average after the catch, very athletic( going to UNI to play both football and B-ball before the Iowa offer came), very good run blocker, consistently won match up vs. defensive ends in pass blocking(Penn State game film will be crucial), played his best in biggest games, is an excellent special teams player

The Bad: Doesn't have a wow highlight( a victim of Iowa's Qb play during his tenure), could be viewed as undersized for a blocking tight end, really must excell at Iowa's Pro day, might be viewed as a finished product.

Teams that make sense: Arizona, Carolina, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Miami, New England, Seattle

Projected Round: 6th- 7th

Matt Kroul 6'3" 281 Dt
Projects as a 3 technique or undertackle in a 4-3. Compares to Chris Hovan

Combine Invite: No

The Good: The Soul to Mitch King's Heart. Didn't always draw the press that Mitch did but drew plenty of double teams to help him make plays. Also made his fair share of plays along the way. Started every game after his red- shirt season.
Physical Skills: Very strong for his size, understands leverage, very good hands, very good about reading the play(plays with his head up and sees the ball), will chase plays down from behind, controls his gap, understands his role(very disciplined).

The Bad: Not as big as I have listed( I am almost sure of this as I have had the pleasure of meeting him in person, what a classy man), can be overpowered at the point of the attack, must win the snap, not overly explosive, not going to win beauty contests for NFL body types.

Teams that make sense: Arizona, Atlanta, Carolina, Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Minnesota, Saint Louis, Tampa Bay, Seattle

Projected Round: 7th- Undrafted free agent

Andy Brodell 6'3" 202 Wr
Projects as Wide Out and could return punts. Compares to Aaron Moorehead.

Combine Invite: No

The Good: Brodell's hands really seemed to improve this season. He also has some really nice highlight reels to send out to teams including the Alamo Bowl where he torched several current NFL Dbs for 163 yards. He also has this season's punt 83 yard punt return for a TD vs. Iowa State to add to it along with a very nice over the shoulder TD grab vs. Michigan State.
Physcal Skills: Very good size, solid understanding of the game, elite speed before injury, good run after catch skills, abilty to catch with his hands not his body, abilit to read zone coverage.

The Bad: Hasn't shown he has recovered fully from very bad injury(torn hamstring) suffered Junior year, questionable hands before senior season, never put up elite numbers during career, I don't recall him playing coverage teams during career at Iowa.

Teams that make sense: Baltimore, Cleveland, Miami, San Diego, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Washington

Projected Round: 7th- Undrafted free agent