The Hawkeyes have a rich history in the first round of the NFL draft under Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum would represent the Hawkeyes 11th first-round NFL draft selection under Ferentz if a team selects him in tonight’s first round.
A look at some of the final 2022 NFL mock drafts suggest there’s a good chance that’s exactly what’s about to happen. A pair of analysts, FOX Sports’ Jason McIntyre and NBC Sports’ Peter King, see Linderbaum landing with the Dallas Cowboys at No. 24 overall.
Another pair of writers from CBS Sports also view Linderbaum as a first-round draft selection in their final mock drafts. CBS Sports’ Will Brinson has Linderbaum being picked at No. 18 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles, while his colleague Ryan Wilson mocked Linderbaum to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 20 overall. ESPN’s Matt Miller also forecasted the Houston Texans taking Linderbaum at No. 29 overall.
Linderbaum is highly-regarded among the final 2022 NFL draft prospect rankings by a series of experts. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay have Linderbaum ranked No. 21 and No. 29, respectively, on their big boards. Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Hanson ranked Linderbaum No. 14 overall, CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso had Linderbaum No. 20 overall and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah placed Linderbaum No. 27 overall. Pro Football Focus also regards Linderbaum as the No. 16 player in this draft class.
Linderbaum is looking to join an impressive list of former Hawkeyes that were drafted in the first round under Ferentz. That list includes offensive tackles Tristan Wirfs, Brandon Scherff, Riley Reiff, Bryan Bulaga and Robert Gallery, tight ends T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant and Dallas Clark and defensive end Adrian Clayborn. Here’s a look back at their professional and Hawkeye careers as well as draft night for those former Hawkeye first-rounders.
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