George Barnett, the Iowa Hawkeyes offensive line coach, has things churning like the Ford factory in its heyday, pumping out car after car, but with offensive linemen going to the NFL.
Fresh off seeing three of his five starters from last year hear their names called during the 2026 NFL Draft, Barnett has another prodigy under his wing, who could have been drafted this year, returning for another go with the Hawkeyes in Iowa City.
Kade Pieper is back in the fold and is rapidly gaining traction as one of the most highly-touted offensive linemen in the 2027 class, to the point where CBS sees him going off the board in the first round of their recent NFL mock draft to the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 23 pick.
23. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers): Kade Pieper, OL, Iowa
Pieper is an athletic interior lineman who shines in pass protection and in zone schemes. As he continues to improve functional strength, he has the potential to become one of the best interior OL in the class. – Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports
Pieper is going to have all eyes on him this year from NFL scouts when Iowa plays and when the tape is turned on. He has a chance to put together a special year and increase his draft stock.
The landing spot CBS has predicted early on could not be better for Pieper. The Dallas Cowboys have been a factory of drafting offensive linemen and turning them into stars, as evidenced by Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin, and, more recently, Tyler Smith, Tyler Booker, Tyler Guyton, and Cooper Beebe.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire : Iowa football OL gains NFL first round hype, sent to Dallas Cowboys
Reporting by College Sports Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
