2027 NFL Mock Draft: Iowa's Kade Pieper Headed to Ravens in Latest Projections

The 2026 NFL preseason has officially wrapped up, which means the next time teams take the field, the games will count. With college football's Week Zero now in the rearview mirror, football season is officially here. That also means it's time for an updated look at how the 2027 NFL Draft could shape up.

For Iowa football fans, there's a familiar name to watch in the latest first-round projections. Former Hawkeyes center Kade Pieper is slated to land with the Baltimore Ravens at pick No. 30, a move that would reunite him with the franchise that found success with another Iowa center, Tyler Linderbaum.

Iowa's Kade Pieper Projected to Baltimore

The Ravens have a glaring need at center after Linderbaum's departure. According to the latest mock draft from Draft Wire, Baltimore could go back to the same well that produced Linderbaum: the University of Iowa.

Pieper is rated as the top prospect at his position in this class. At pick No. 30, the Ravens would be getting a proven Big Ten anchor who has drawn comparisons to his predecessor for his physical style and football IQ.

For Iowa fans, seeing another Hawkeye lineman head to the NFL is nothing new. The program has built a reputation as a pipeline for pro-ready offensive linemen, and Pieper looks poised to continue that tradition.

Arch Manning Headlines the Top of the Draft

At the top of the board, the Miami Dolphins are projected to select Texas quarterback Arch Manning with the No. 1 overall pick. The hype surrounding Manning has only grown heading into the 2026 college football season.

The Arizona Cardinals follow with Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith at No. 2, widely considered the best overall prospect in this class regardless of position.

Three Longhorns in the Top Seven

Texas is well represented in the early portion of this mock draft. Beyond Manning at No. 1, edge rusher Colin Simmons lands with the Cleveland Browns at No. 4, and offensive tackle Trevor Goosby goes to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 7.

That has draft analysts asking the question Longhorns fans have heard before: Is Texas back? This time, the draft board suggests it might actually be true.

Jets Hold Three First-Round Picks

The New York Jets are positioned to be major players in the 2027 draft with three first-round selections. At No. 3, they grab Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who has drawn praise for both his on-field development and his character off the field.

Moore has been vocal about mental health awareness and shared lessons from his trip to Japan, demonstrating the leadership qualities teams covet in a franchise quarterback.

New York also picks at No. 14 (via Indianapolis) and No. 16 (via Dallas), addressing needs in the secondary and defensive line.

Quarterback Carousel Continues

Several teams are projected to address the quarterback position in the first round. The Minnesota Vikings are linked to Ohio State's Julian Sayin at No. 13, as the team appears ready to move on from JJ McCarthy with Kyler Murray starting this season.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could target Notre Dame's CJ Carr at No. 19 if Baker Mayfield departs in free agency. And the Detroit Lions are projected to select Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker at No. 23, suggesting the Jared Goff era may be nearing its end.

The Cleveland Browns round out the first round with Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey at No. 32, a pick that reflects draft value over immediate team need.

Full First-Round Projections at a Glance

Here's how the complete first round shakes out in this latest mock:

• 1. Miami Dolphins: Arch Manning, QB, Texas
• 2. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
• 3. NY Jets: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
• 4. Cleveland Browns: Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
• 5. Tennessee Titans: Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina
• 6. Las Vegas Raiders: Omarion Miller, WR, Arizona State
• 7. Atlanta Falcons: Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
• 8. New Orleans Saints: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
• 9. Carolina Panthers: Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
• 10. Pittsburgh Steelers: David Stone, DT, Oklahoma
• 11. NY Giants: Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia
• 12. Washington Commanders: Cam Coleman, WR, Texas
• 13. Minnesota Vikings: Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State
• 14. NY Jets (via Colts): Tae Johnson, S, Notre Dame
• 15. Jacksonville Jaguars: KJ Bolden, S, Georgia
• 16. NY Jets (via Cowboys): Justin Scott, DL, Miami
• 17. Cincinnati Bengals: Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama
• 18. Chicago Bears: Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss
• 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
• 20. Houston Texans: Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson
• 21. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers): Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana
• 22. Denver Broncos: A'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
• 23. Detroit Lions: Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
• 24. New England Patriots: Kenyatta Jackson, EDGE, Ohio State
• 25. Philadelphia Eagles: K.J. Duff, WR, Rutgers
• 26. LA Chargers: Will Echoles, DT, Ole Miss
• 27. San Francisco 49ers: Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR, Alabama
• 28. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiah Johnson, TE, Oregon
• 29. Seattle Seahawks: Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
• 30. Baltimore Ravens: Kade Pieper, C, Iowa
• 31. Buffalo Bills: Austin Siereveld, OG, Ohio State
• 32. Cleveland Browns (via Rams): Drake Lindsey, QB, Minnesota

What This Means for Iowa Football

For Hawkeye fans, Pieper's projected first-round selection is another validation of Iowa's offensive line development program. The program has consistently produced NFL-ready linemen, and Pieper appears to be the next in that line.

If the Ravens do select him, he would follow directly in Linderbaum's footsteps, giving Baltimore a proven pipeline from Iowa City to the NFL.

The 2027 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 2027 in a location yet to be announced.

This article originally appeared on Draft Wire and has been adapted for Just The News Iowa.