Could Iowa's O-line pipeline deliver another gem to Jacksonville? Profiling Beau Stephens, a guard prospect who fits the Jaguars' mold.
Iowa has a long history of quality NFL offensive linemen, and the Jacksonville Jaguars could end up drafting the guy next in line.
JagsRoundtable is checking out a range of prospects in the Class of 2026 who might mesh with Jacksonville's current roster, coaching staff, and the team's X's and O's.
Offensive position players will be a focal point for the Jags, and NFL draft prospect profiles will feature offensive linemen Isaiah World out of Oregon and Penn State's Drew Shelton, as well as running back prospects Le'Veon Moss from Texas A&M, Mike Washington Jr. out of Arkansas, and Washington's Jonah Coleman. The Jaguars could also consider adding depth at tight end with either Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers or Oscar Delp out of Georgia, at receiver with Southern Cal's Ja'Kobi Lane and at running back with Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price.
Defenders profiled in the series include elite linebackers the likes of Oklahoma's Kendal Daniels, Oregon's Bryce Boettcher, and Anthony Hill Jr. out of Texas, along with cornerbacks D'Angelo Ponds out of Indianaand Arizona State's Keith Abney, along with Cincinatti nose tackle Dontay Corleone, Oklahoma defensive end R Mason Thomas, Iowa State defensive tackle Domonique Orange, Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson and Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks.
In this draft profile, we shine a spotlight on Iowa guard Beau Stephens.
Iowa offensive lineman Beau Stephens runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine on March 1, 2036, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)Next in Line?
Over the years, Iowa has churned out offensive linemen such as Robert Gallery, who went second overall in the 2004 draft, Tyler Linderbaum, who just earned a three-year, $81 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders and Tristian Wirfs, a three-time All-Pro with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Stephens was part of an OL that won last year’s Joe Moore Award, presented annually to the nation’s top unit.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Tristan Wirfs is one of many Iowa offensive-line success stories in the NFL. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)Background & Iowa Career
Stephens’ career at Iowa was relatively unremarkable until this past season. He redshirted his freshman year in 2021, then became a regular the next season, playing in 12 games and starting 10 at right guard. In 2023, Stephens only played in five games before suffering a season-ending injury. The next year, he started 22 games at left guard.
Stephens was not an all-conference performer through his first four college seasons. That all changed in 2025.
Moving to right guard, Stephens became a first-team All-American, allowing no sacks and just four pressures in 304 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus, which gave him the top pass-blocking grade in the country for guards.
PFF also gave Stephens the No. 5 rating for run-blocking guards, helping Iowa to the fourth-best rushing attack in the Big Ten.
Iowa guard Beau Stephens showcased his skills at this year's NFL combine in Indianapolis. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)On-Field Strengths
Stephens’ versatility has stood out, with him starting double-digit games at both guard positions over the past two years.
Scouts have also noticed his ability to punch rather than catch when blocking rushers, allowing him to keep his balance and maintain leverage.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote than Stephens "plays with a strong grasp for angles, tempo and timing for his block fits."
"He's able to sustain and finish at a good rate despite having average play strength."
Iowa offensive lineman Beau Stephens speaks to members of the media during the NFL combine at the Indiana Convention Center in Feb. 28, 2026. (Jacob Musselman/Imagn Images)Areas for Improvement
Zierlein also pointed out that Stephens’ “comfort level and consistency drop somewhat when working beyond inside/outside zone.“
“His lack of length will become more noticeable once he hits the pros,” Zierlein added. “Short arms, average athleticism and scheme-friendly surroundings could temper his draft slotting.”
NFL defensive ends that have good secondary rush moves could also have an advantage over Stephens. Scouts have noticed Stephens doesn’t latch in tightly to prevent secondary rushes.
Combine Performance
At this year’s NFL combine, Stephens ran the 40-yard dash in 5.35 seconds, which was slightly below the average time for offensive linemen. His vertical jump was 28 inches, which is right around average, and his broad jump was 8 feet, 6 inches, which is slightly below average.
NFL.com gave Stephens a total combine score of 72, which ranked 11th among guards at the combine.
Prospect Draft Position
The NFL Mock Draft Database has Stephens as the 134th overall prospect, projecting him to go in the fourth round.
None of the mock drafts tallied in the database have Stephens going to Jacksonville.
The Jags overhauled their offensive line in the 2025 offseason, signing Robert Hainsey, Patrick Mekari and Chuma Edoga, and didn’t lose anybody of note this offseason.
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