The NFL Draft ended on Saturday and Sunday is a day where undrafted players begin signing free agent deals with NFL clubs. As of this writing, 5 former Hawkeyes, 6 former Cyclones and 6 former Huskers have inked deals with NFL teams.
Iowa
Ethan Hurkett, Defensive Lineman, Kansas City Chiefs — Hurkett is a 6’3″ 259 pounder who played six seasons with the Hawkeyes. In 2025, he had 36 total tackles, 10.5 TFL, 8 sacks in 13 games played. He was also a team captain and is from Cedar Rapids (Xavier).
Hayden Large, Tight End, Chicago Bears — Large is 6’4″ 250 pounds from Hudsonville, Michigan who originally was with Dordt College in the NAIA and transferred to Iowa. Last season, Large had 8 receptions for 52 yards and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection last season.
Aaron Graves, Defensive End, Baltimore Ravens — Graves is a 6’5″ 295 pound D End from Dayton, Iowa, going to Southeast Valley High. He was 2nd Team All Big Ten with 37 tackles in 2025, 17 solo, 6.5 TFL, and 5 sacks.
Xavier Nwankpa, Safety, Kansas City Chiefs — Nwankpa is 6’2″, 213 pounds from Pleasant Hill, Iowa and went to SE Polk. The media voted him Third Team All Big Ten and had 76 tackles in 2025 with one interception.
Mark Gronowski, Quarterback, Miami Dolphins — Gronowski is 6’2″ 235 and transferred to Iowa for his senior season after a successful run with South Dakota St. He is the winningest QB in NCAA history with 58. Miami signed Malik Willis from Green Bay to be the starter; former Texas Longhorn Quinn Ewers is the back up; and Cam Miller from Solon, IA and former North Dakota St. QB is also on the roster.
Iowa St.
Dylan Barrett, Offensive Lineman, Green Bay Packers — Barrett, a St. Charles, Illinois native, started his career at Wisconsin before spending the last two seasons with the Cyclones … he played in 20 games as a Cyclone and made 16 starts, 14 of which came at left guard … he helped kickstart a Cyclone offense that saw its top two rushers average better than 5.0 yards per carry in 2025.
Jim Bonifas, Offensive Lineman, Miami Dolphins — Bonifas, a Dubuque, Iowa native, is a great story of sticking it out … he started all 13 games at center for the Cyclones in 2023 before serving as a reserve in 2024 … in 2025 he earned the starting spot again at center, starting all 12 games and earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades … the Cyclones averaged 174.7 yards on the ground in 2025, its best team average since 2020 … Bonifas finished his career playing in 37 games while making 25 starts.
Tamatoa McDonough, Defensive Lineman, Denver Broncos — McDonough, an Asheville, North Carolina native, transferred to Iowa State as a graduate transfer and made an instant impact in 2025 and agreed to a minicamp invite with the Broncos … he sealed the Cyclones’ win against Iowa with a pair of sacks on the final drive and earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts … he also had three tackles and forced a fumble against BYU … McDonough finished the season with 26 tackles, four for a loss, and two sacks … he played in all 12 games and made 10 starts.
Tyler Miller, Offensive Lineman, Denver Broncos — Miller, an All-Big 12 Third Team selection as a senior, played in 55 games and made 50 starts in his six seasons as a Cyclone … the Scranton, Iowa native started the final 39 games, ending his career with the longest active streak among Big 12 offensive linemen … team won 46 games during his career, reaching five bowl games and two Big 12 Championship games.
Tyler Moore, Tight End, Carolina Panthers — Moore, a Des Moines native who graduated from Johnston, spent five seasons at Iowa State and following the draft agreed to a camp invite with the Panthers … for the Cyclones, Moore played in 44 games and made 12 starts … he finished his career with 21 receptions for 245 yards and two touchdowns while being a part of four bowl teams and two Big 12 Championship games.
James Neal, Offensive Lineman, Houston Texans — Neal, a Grayson, Georgia native who started playing football late in his high school, made 32 career starts for the Cyclones at left tackle … he helped the Cyclones rush for 150 yards in the season’s final seven games, the longest streak for the program since the 2008-09 season.
Nebraska
Ceyair Wright, Cornerback, Cincinnati Bengals — Wright is a 6’0″ 190 pound DB from Los Angeles. Wright played in all 13 games with nine starts in 2025. He recorded 29 tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and a team-high five pass breakups as a key member of a Husker secondary that ranked third nationally in pass defense.
Dasan McCullough, Linebacker, Denver Broncos — McCullough is a 6’5″ 235 pound LB from Kansas City. McCullough played in 11 games with seven starts in 2025. He recorded 21 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and one pass breakup. McCullough was recognized as an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection by the media.
Dane Key, Wide Receiver, Denver Broncos — Key is a 6’3″ 210 pound wideout from Lexington, KY. Key played in all 13 games with 12 starts in 2025. He caught 39 passes for 452 yards and five touchdowns, tying for the team lead in touchdown receptions and ranking third in receiving yards.
Javin Wright, Linebacker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Wright is a 6’5″ 230 pound LB from Chandler, AZ. Wright played in 12 games with 11 starts for Nebraska in 2025, missing one game due to injury. He set career highs with 86 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and four pass breakups. Wright led Nebraska in tackles, TFLs and sacks and ranked second in interceptions and third in pass breakups.
Henry Lutovsky, Offensive Lineman, Tampa Buccaneers — Lutovsky is a 6’6″ 320 pound guard from Crawfordsville, IA and went to Mount Pleasant High School. Lutovsky started all 13 games at left guard in 2025. His run blocking helped Emmett Johnson be named a first-team All-American and the Big Ten Running Back of the Year.
DeShon Singleton, Defensive Back, Kansas City Chiefs — Singleton is a 6’3″ 210 pound Safety from Greensburg, LA. Singleton started all 12 regular-season games and was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection. He led Nebraska with two interceptions and ranked second on the team with 70 tackles and third with four pass breakups while adding 4.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack and one fumble recovery.
