10 NFL Draft takeaways, Week 4: Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson could be a great fit in Dallas

Week 4 of college football brought significant developments as players like Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson and LSU’s Bradyn Swinson continued to bolster their draft stock with strong back-to-back performances. Conversely, Houston’s quarterback Donovan Smith, once considered a potential first-round pick, faced a setback after being benched. In this article, we spotlight these emerging talents, explore why Johnson could be the perfect fit for the Dallas Cowboys, highlight a Group of Five tight end worth watching, and much more.

Ten things we learned from Week 4

1. Solving Dallas's run game problems: One key area the Cowboys must address this offseason is the running back position, as they currently rank 26th in both rushing yards per game and yards per carry. A potential solution could be Iowa's standout running back, Kaleb Johnson, who is having a phenomenal season for the Hawkeyes. In his latest performance, Johnson rushed for a career-high 206 yards against Minnesota, despite facing a defense that consistently stacked the box to stop him. This marks the third consecutive game in which Johnson has rushed for at least 170 yards. In the other game of this season, he gained 119 yards while playing only the second half. As a pro prospect, Johnson combines physicality, great vision, and breakaway speed, making him a consistent big-play threat despite being a bigger back at 225 pounds.

2. Most dynamic player in college football: The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel boldly stated that Colorado’s Travis Hunter is the most sensational college player since Christian McCaffrey, and watching his game film backs this up. As a receiver, Hunter is electric with the ball in his hands, averaging 18.6 yards per reception against Baylor and making several difficult, highlight-worthy catches. Defensively, he excelled at cornerback, holding up well without being targeted a single time. Hunter’s rare two-way ability could make him a top-five pick in next April’s NFL Draft, with the New England Patriots as a potential fit.

3. Quarterback sleeper: One of the 2025 NFL Draft’s hidden gems might be Illinois' Luke Altmyer. Against Nebraska, he completed 78% of his passes, throwing for 215 yards and four touchdowns. Altmyer’s accuracy, mobility, and ability to perform under pressure make him a strong sleeper candidate for next year’s draft, should he declare. Next week’s test against Penn State’s defense could be pivotal for his stock.

4. Career high: Just four games into the 2024 season, LSU edge defender Bradyn Swinson has already set a career high with five sacks in a season, all recorded over the past two weeks. His speed and flexibility off the edge are causing major problems for opposing tackles, consistently allowing him to beat them around the corner. This standout performance has significantly boosted Swinson's draft stock, moving him well beyond the sixth-round projection he received from Pro Football Network heading into the season.

5. Productive vs top teams: Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr. is quietly off to a stellar start this season, despite facing two of the toughest defenses on his schedule. In his game against Penn State, Fannin recorded 11 receptions for 137 yards, and followed that up with eight catches for 145 yards and a touchdown against Texas A&M. His most standout trait is his reliable hands—Fannin hasn’t dropped a pass all season, consistently looking the ball into his hands. Additionally, he’s shown surprising elusiveness for a tight end, forcing 10 missed tackles so far, according to Pro Football Focus. A potential fit for Fannin in the NFL could be the Jacksonville Jaguars, who need more production from the tight end position, particularly in the passing game.

6. Revel done for the year: Shavon Revel Jr., one of the top cornerback prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, suffered a season-ending ACL tear in practice last week. This is a major setback for East Carolina, as Revel had been dominant on the field, allowing just 38% of passes to be completed against him and already recording two interceptions in only three games. His injury will likely affect his draft stock, shifting him from a projected mid-first round pick to a potential mid-day two selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

7. Utah’s best weapon: One of the weekend's standout victories came from Utah’s win over Oklahoma State, largely thanks to the performance of running back Micah Bernard. Bernard recorded his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game, finishing with an impressive 182 yards. His ability to maintain balance through contact was on full display, as he consistently bounced off tacklers and powered through the defense to help secure the win for the Utes.

8. Another big day for Harris: Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris, one of the most productive in college football this season, delivered another standout performance on Saturday. In the Rebels' game against Georgia Southern, Harris caught 11 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns, making several highlight-reel plays. One of his most impressive moments came in the third quarter, where the 6'3", 210-pound receiver displayed agility by adjusting to a poorly thrown ball. Harris also quieted concerns about his speed by turning a short pass into a 70-yard touchdown, gaining most of the yardage after the catch. Look for Harris to be an early day three pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, with the San Francisco 49ers being a possible fit.

9. Small School Star: One of the most impressive performances from a 2025 NFL Draft prospect came from Tarleton State running back Kayvon Britten. On Saturday, Britten set a school record with 273 rushing yards and four touchdowns against North Alabama. While he may not be a strong candidate to be drafted, his standout season includes three games with over 150 rushing yards and an impressive average of 5.2 yards per carry. As a result, Britten is a likely candidate to be signed as an undrafted free agent.

10. Smith Benched: One of the most absurd draft predictions leading into the 2024 season was that Houston quarterback Donovan Smith could be a first-round pick, a claim made by Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network. At the time, I pointed out that he was being greatly overrated. So far this season, Smith has demonstrated he is nowhere near first-round caliber, having been benched during the team’s loss to Cincinnati. On the field, he has struggled, throwing only two touchdowns against four interceptions and being sacked 11 times. This performance reinforces my preseason concerns about his lack of awareness in the pocket.