Kade Pieper is a senior interior offensive lineman for Iowa. He has experience at both guard spots and center but has primarily lined up at right guard for the Hawkeyes.
Pieper was a 3-star recruit out of Norfolk Catholic High School in Norfolk, Nebraska, and is listed at 6’3, 298 pounds.
Like most Iowa offensive linemen, Pieper is undersized but very athletic. He is quick out of his stance and effective in zone blocking schemes. But along with his quickness, he brings a physicality and aggressiveness that stand out among his peers.
But with questions about positional value, his undersized stature, and some glaring issues in his tape, the question is: Can Pieper be the first guard taken in the 2027 NFL Draft? Or even a potential first-round pick?
Kade Pieper's NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Right Guard
- School: Iowa
- Height: 6'3
- Weight: 298 LBS
- Class: Senior
- Hometown: Norfolk, Nebraska
Kade Pieper's Career Stats
- Games Played: 28*
- Positions Played: Right Guard, Left Guard, Center
- Awards: 2025 3rd team All Big 10 (media) and Honorable Mention (coaches)
- Accomplishments: 2026 Preseason All-American and 1st Team Big 10
*statistics do not include 2026 stats and will be updated
What are Kade Pieper's biggest strengths?
- Despite being undersized, Pieper is extremely stout in pass protection. He doesn't give up much ground, which provides the quarterback with a clean pocket.
- Up out of his stance quickly and keeps his feet moving to maintain his anchor.
- Ball of energy in the run game. Can pull, get out in space at the second and third levels, and work through the trash on combo blocks.
- Can effectively make blocks in the run game while on the move or out in space.
- Has positional flexibility, and seems perfectly capable of playing the three interior positions at the next level.
Where can Kade Pieper improve?
- Balance is going to be Pieper's biggest issue in the NFL. He is on the ground a lot.
- This mostly happens in the run game, and it's not a coordination issue while he's moving. It's when he engages in blocks in the run game that he ends up taking himself, along with the defender, to the ground.
- I'm not sure if this is a play strength issue, rather than a mentality/technique factor. Pieper is so aggressive in the run game that he might not take the time to secure a base when making a block. It could also be that he knows that, at his smaller size, he needs to really gear up to throw a block, so he's overcompensating.
- And in pass protection, while he holds up well, he can be overwhelmed by the sheer size of big nose tackles who try to go straight through him.
NFL Draft Projection
Kade Pieper should be an early pick on Day 2 of the 2027 NFL Draft. There will be a select few teams come next April for whom Pieper is such a good fit for, however, they may not risk waiting for him in the second round and take him at the end of the first.
NFL Pro Comparison
My comp for Pieper is Atlanta Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom. Lindstrom is the highest possible outcome for this player archetype, so this isn't a talent comp, but stylistically, Pieper is the same player.
Lindstrom is undersized but athletic. He was just under 6'4 and weighed 308 pounds when he came out of Boston College, but tested in the 96th percentile in the 40-yard dash and the 98th-percentile in the broad jump at the combine.
Lindstrom is also stout in the pass game, though not perfect, and can get out and block in space in the Falcons' zone-heavy scheme. But despite his All-Pro accolades and high-level of talent, Lindstrom, too, ends up on the ground a lot. Though it's gotten better in the last couple of seasons.
Final Evaluation
Overall Grade: 75/100
Draft Projection: Top 100 pick
Kade Pieper will be at least a Day 2 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, probably in the first 70 selections. In the right scheme, he can be a starting guard or maybe even center as a rookie.
But teams will either need to coach him out of balance issues, or realize that's something they'll have to deal with until he naturally gets older and stronger with age. But even taking that into account, Pieper can be a solid interior lineman from day one.
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