Since Kirk Ferentz took over as the Iowa head football coach in 1999, 94 Hawkeyes have been drafted into the NFL. Many more have signed to NFL rosters following the draft.
Former Hawkeyes have had major success in the NFL like Marshal Yanda, Brandon Scherff and George Kittle to name a few.
However, according to Pro Football Focus, some former Hawks are facing make-or-break 2025 NFL seasons.
On Tuesday, PFF released its list of one player on each NFL team facing a make-or-break 2025 season. These are players at crossroads in their careers, whose team is relying on them to bounce back or step up this season.
The list includes former No. 1 overall picks, Pro Bowlers and three Hawkeyes who need to perform in 2025.
Geno Stone, S, Cincinnati Bengals
The first former Hawkeye on the list is Bengals safety Geno Stone. Stone signed with the Bengals during the 2024 offseason after a breakout campaign with the Baltimore Ravens.
Stone had seven interceptions and nine passes defensed in 2023 with the Ravens before signing a two-year, $14 million deal with the Bengals. He posted a career-worst PFF coverage grade last season and needs to bounce back in the final year of his contract.
If anyone on the Bengals’ defense can benefit from Al Golden’s arrival in Cincinnati, it’s Geno Stone. Stone has always been more comfortable as a single-high free safety, owning an 83.3 PFF coverage grade in his career when deployed in a single-high defense. Meanwhile, no FBS team ran more single-high defenses last season than national runner-up Notre Dame with Golden as its defensive coordinator.
Stone’s career is at a crossroads after he earned a career-low 53.7 PFF coverage grade last season, but Golden’s presence could present a bounce-back opportunity. – Dalton Wasserman
Stone was a three-year starter at Iowa from 2017-2019. He played in 38 total games, amassing 127 tackles, six interceptions, four tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and a touchdown. He was named to the honorable mention All-Big Ten team in 2018 and was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2019.
Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Green Bay Packers
Van Ness is entering just his third year in Green Bay, but is already facing huge pressure to perform.
Taken 13th overall by the Packers in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, Van Ness has struggled to find consistency in Green Bay.
Van Ness has played in every game of his NFL career so far, but has amassed just seven sacks, 14 tackles for loss and one forced fumble across 34 regular season games. The Packers expected more from their recent first-round pick and need Van Ness to perform this season or they could look in another direction along the defensive line.
Former 13th-overall pick Lukas Van Ness has yet to prove he is a capable NFL starter. Through his first two seasons, he has posted a 58.4 PFF overall grade and compiled just 42 total pressures. Green Bay ranked just 28th in the NFL in PFF pass-rush grade without blitzing last season.
If Van Ness and the rest of the defensive line can’t win their matchups up front, then the Packers could be looking for new options for that unit next offseason.- Dalton Wasserman
Van Ness had a stellar career in Iowa City, despite only playing at Iowa for two seasons. He appeared in 27 total games from 2021-2022 and racked up 13.5 total sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
Van Ness was named a freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America in 2021 and was named a second-team All-Big Ten player in 2022.
Alaric Jackson, T, Los Angeles Rams
The third and final Hawkeye on PFF’s list is Alaric Jackson, an offensive tackle with the Rams. Jackson is entering his fifth season with the Rams and his appearance on this list is less about his play and more about his health.
Jackson is dealing with blood clot issues, which could threaten his ability to play in 2025. And with an older and less mobile Matthew Stafford at quarterback, the Rams need all the protection they can get along the offensive line.
No current starting quarterback needs proficient pass protection as much as Matthew Stafford. That’s a huge reason why the Rams re-signed left tackle Alaric Jackson to a three-year contract worth roughly $19 million per year. Unfortunately, Jackson is now dealing with a blood clot issue that puts his status in doubt, at least for the beginning of the 2025 season. The Rams ranked 30th in the NFL in PFF pass-blocking grade last season, and Jackson is arguably the most important part of a turnaround in the department.- Dalton Wasserman
Jackson spent five seasons at Iowa. He redshirted his freshman year in 2016 before exploding onto the scene in 2017. He was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team in 2017 after starting all 12 games.
Jackson was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2018, third-team All-Big Ten in 2019 and first-team All-Big Ten in the shortened 2020 season. After going undrafted in the 2021 NFL draft, Jackson was signed by the Rams as a UDFA, where’s he been ever since.
Jackson signed a three-year, $56.3 million extension with the Rams in February.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: PFF tabs trio of Iowa football NFL stars that need to perform in 2025
Reporting by Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
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