Four Hawkeyes taken in NFL draft, others sign as free agents
Lang
4/28/19
Day three of the NFL draft saw two more Hawkeyes find new homes.
Junior defensive end Anthony Nelson was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round with the 107th overall pick. Nelson is the 12th defensive lineman under head coach Kirk Ferentz to be selected in the NFL Draft and the first since Jaleel Johnson was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 draft by Minnesota.
Junior defensive back Amani Hooker was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round with the 116th overall pick. Iowa football has had a defensive back selected in three consecutive drafts, including Desmond King (San Diego) in 2017 and Josh Jackson (Green Bay) a year ago. Hooker is the 14th defensive back selected in the Kirk Ferentz era.
Two Hawkeye tight ends went in the draft’s first round on Thursday. Detroit, choosing eighth, selected redshirt sophomore T.J. Hockenson; Denver, picking 20th, went with junior Noah Fant. It marks the first time in NFL history that two tight ends from the same team were both selected in the first round.
Other Hawkeyes went the free agent route. Wide receiver Nick Easley signed with Buffalo, guard Ross Reynolds agreed to terms with San Francisco and defensive lineman Matt Nelson agreed to a deal with Detroit as a developmental offensive lineman.
Defensive end Parker Hesse has tryouts this week with Kansas City and next week with Detroit. Defensive tackle Sam Brincks will try out with Green Bay.