Iowa State DL Tyler Onyedim projected as first-round pick in 2025 NFL Draft 

Tony Adame

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Iowa State DL Tyler Onyedim projected as first-round pick in 2025 NFL Draft  image

Iowa State went 50 years without a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, from when running back George Amundson was selected No. 14 overall in 1973 by the Houston Oilers until defensive end Will McDonald IV was selected by the New York Jets at No. 15 overall in 2023. 

Thanks to defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim, the wait might not be as long this time around. 

NFL Spin Zone’s Lou Scataglia has Onyedim projected as the No. 23 overall pick to the Jets in the 2025 NFL Draft in his latest mock draft after the 6-foot-4, 295-pound Richmond, Texas, native earned All-Big 12 honors in 2023. 

Onyedim is listed as a defensive end on Iowa State’s roster but projects as an interior defensive lineman in the NFL. In 2023, he started all 13 games for the Cyclones and finished with 42 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks with 9 quarterback hurries. 

Iowa State opens the season on Aug. 31 at home against North Dakota.

Tony Adame

Tony Adame Photo

Tony Adame covers the Big 12 Conference for The Sporting News. He is a graduate of Southern Oregon University and has been a sports journalist for 20 years. He has won APSE Awards for breaking news, games stories and feature writing. He is also the writer and host of the Florida Society of News Editors Award-winning podcast The Sheriff: Murder, Lies & Revenge in Okaloosa County for USA Today/Gannett.