Xavier Nwankpa is a physical defender who had a very productive season at Iowa in 2025, and his scouting report looks at his top strengths, weaknesses, and how well his skill set might translate to the next level.
Xavier Nwankpa 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Measurables:
Height- 6’2″
Weight- 208 lbs
Background:
Nwankpa attended Southeast Polk High School in Iowa. Nwankpa was a five-star recruit and the No. 1-ranked safety and No. 25 overall recruit in the class of 2022, according to 247Sports. He committed to Iowa and recorded 12 total tackles in his first season and had a pick-six in the Music City Bowl before becoming a full-time starter in the 2023 season. He started 12 games in 2023 and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. Nwankpa started 10 games in 2024 and again earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. During the 2025 season, Nwankpa led the team in solo tackles and forced fumbles and earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors.
Strengths:
Nwankpa is a high-energy player with great competitive toughness. He has good size, ranking in the 92nd percentile for height at the position at over 6-foot-2, according to Mockdraftable, along with a strong frame. Nwankpa is great against the run. He has good play strength and ability to take on blockers, he quickly gets downhill, and he is also a willing tackler who has good hit power. Nwankpa is also a smart and instinctive player who is disciplined in zone coverage and does a good job reading the quarterback’s eyes. He also has the ability to match up with tight ends in coverage. Nwankpa has great special teams experience as well.
Weaknesses:
Nwankpa has average overall movement skills and hip fluidity, and he can struggle in man coverage against quicker and more athletic receivers. Nwankpa can be overaggressive at times and has an inconsistent tackling technique. He doesn’t consistently wrap up and misses on too many tackles. Nwankpa also has a below-average arm length ranking in the 20th percentile for the position. Nwankpa does not have great ball skills, and needs to do a better job at tracking the football downfield. He had limited ball production throughout his entire college career. In the 2025 season, Nwankpa recorded one interception and zero pass deflections, and he recorded zero interceptions and just one pass deflection during the 2024 season.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Nwankpa is a physical safety with a great motor. He is a former five-star recruit who has good size for the position, solid play strength, and is a very willing run defender. Nwankpa has good instincts, and in pass coverage, he plays with good awareness and discipline. However, Nwankpa doesn’t have great overall movement skills, and he can struggle in coverage against quicker and more athletic receivers. He also lacks the ideal arm length for the position, needs to limit missed tackles at the next level, and does not possess great ball skills. With his skill set and special teams experience, Nwankpa has the ability to be a tremendous special teams player in the NFL, but he also has the skill set to potentially develop into a quality safety at the next level.
Prospect Grade:
Fourth Round
Main Photo: Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
