Where Iowa, Iowa State players were taken in 2023 NFL Draft

IOWA CITY — With all 259 picks of the 2023 NFL Draft done, here is where Iowa and Iowa State players landed:

Lukas Van Ness

Team: Green Bay Packers

Round: 1

Overall pick: 13

Position rank: Second defensive end drafted

Van Ness became the highest-drafted Iowa defensive lineman since 1958 (when Alex Karras was the 10th overall pick). He will most likely play outside linebacker in Green Bay, where he could follow a similar path as Rashan Gary.

What they’re saying: “Van Ness needs development before he can be a consistent Pro Bowl-level starter, but guys with his athleticism almost never fail,” Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald wrote.

Will McDonald IV

Team: New York Jets

Round: 1

Overall pick: 15

Position rank: Third defensive end drafted

McDonald ended Iowa State’s 50-year first-round drought when he was the 15th overall pick. McDonald will add to what already was a strong Jets defensive line. He’s on a team with big postseason ambitions after acquiring former MVP Aaron Rodgers.

What they’re saying: “Will McDonald IV is going to wreak havoc off the edge for the Jets,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper wrote. “He's another one of my favorite prospects in this draft.”

Jack Campbell

Team: Detroit Lions

Round: 1

Overall pick: 18

Position rank: First inside linebacker drafted

Campbell’s phone rang well before many mock drafts projected the Butkus Award winner to be taken. The Cedar Falls native’s film speaks for itself, though, and he undoubtedly helped his case last month at the NFL Combine.

What they’re saying: “First time looking at Jack, I kind of thought, ‘OK, I’ve seen these kind of linebackers before,’” Lions general manager Holmes said. “He’s big, and he’s a plugger. But actually, no, he’s not. The more you look at him, the more athletic his traits came out.”

Sam LaPorta

Team: Detroit Lions

Round: 2

Overall pick: 34

Position rank: Second tight end drafted

Being the second tight end selected would be an impressive feat in any draft. It’s especially impressive considering the depth of this year’s tight end class. LaPorta will likely be an immediate contributor in Detroit’s offense.

What they’re saying: “YAC monster, big-time athlete, strong hands,” CBS Sports draft writer Chris Trapasso wrote. “Gave me George Kittle vibes. Easy fit into the vacancy created by T.J. Hockenson trade.”

Riley Moss

Team: Denver Broncos

Round: 3

Overall pick: 83

Position rank: 11th cornerback drafted

Just how much did the Denver Broncos value Moss? Well, they gave up an early fourth-rounder and future third-rounder — a hefty price — to trade up and grab Moss. He will likely be at least in the conversation for Denver’s starting cornerback spot opposite of Pat Surtain II.

What they’re saying: “Adore this player,” Trapasso wrote. “Hyper-twitchy. Instinctive. Ball skills are awesome. Fast too. Super experienced. Overachiever. Some misses on film. Older prospect.”

Xavier Hutchinson

Team: Houston Texans

Round: 6

Overall pick: 205

Positional rank: 26th wide receiver drafted

Hutchinson fell farther than many experts expected and could turn out to be a high-value pick for the Texans. Houston has a problem with wide receiver depth, which should lead to plenty of opportunities for Hutchinson.

What they’re saying: “Following a solid showing at the Reese's Senior Bowl, Hutchinson appeared to be more of a fourth-round prospect,” NFL.com’s Eric Edholm wrote.

Anthony Johnson Jr.

Team: Green Bay Packers

Round: 7

Overall pick: 242

Positional rank: 18th safety drafted

Iowa State’s Johnson — not to be confused with Virginia defensive back Anthony Johnson — will be heading to a Green Bay team that has a need at safety.

What they’re saying: “In a shallower pool of safety prospects, Johnson was a player we had pegged to go two or three rounds earlier,” Edholm wrote. “We wouldn't be shocked if Johnson ends up as a L'Jarius Sneed-like performer for the Packers.”

Notable undrafted players

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com