Iowa guard Connor Colby is a four-year college starter who was voted First Team All-Big Ten during his senior season with the Hawkeyes. The offensive lineman’s scouting report reveals a few flaws that’ll likely keep him on the board until the latter stages of the 2025 NFL draft, though.
Colby must vastly improve his footwork to become a full-time NFL starter. That said, he’s experienced against high-level collegiate competition and has plenty of versatility. He’s played both guard and tackle, and confirmed at the Scouting Combine he’s worked on adding center to his repertoire:
Iowa and CR Kennedy offensive lineman Connor Colby talks about the role offensive line coach George Barnett played in his development.
Side note: Colby is also working at snapping the ball to become more versatile. pic.twitter.com/XkCXK4E7zn
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) March 1, 2025
Being able to play multiple positions makes him an ideal reserve lineman. It also helps he’d be ready to make an immediate impact if injuries arise amid his rookie campaign. So, even if he’s not a ready-made Pro Bowler, he’ll carry plenty of value as a likely Day 3 draft selection.
Connor Colby 2025 NFL Draft Profile (Scouting Report)
Key Prospect Information
Position: Guard
Height: 6′ 6”
Weight: 309 pounds
School: University of Iowa
Strengths
- Powerful initial punch, especially on run plays
- Experience aided development in reading defenses, blitzes
- Impressive durability with 52 appearances in four college seasons
- Rarely allowed immediate inside pressure
- Versatile skill set could allow him to play all O-line positions
Weaknesses
- Sluggish footwork gets him in trouble against quick defensive tackles
- Often a tick slow at the snap, which hinders misdirection plays
- Lacks the foot speed to help pick up exotic blitzes
- Questions about whether he can add quickness without losing power
- Limited upside until footwork problems are resolved
Bottom Line on Connor Colby
Colby is a hardworking, high football IQ offensive lineman who’d be a welcome member of any NFL locker room. His well-rounded track record provides him with a higher floor than most middle-round draft picks. His upper-end athleticism also gives him an opportunity to overcome his weaknesses.
Connor Colby is a OG prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.50 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 87 out of 1730 OG from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/2nKOBTYo0p pic.twitter.com/Kx19hRNxvs
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 11, 2025
Front offices often view the final few rounds of the draft through two different lenses. Some general managers prefer boom-or-bust prospects with lower hit rates, while others prefer players like Colby, who are stronger bets to make an impact, even if they’re never an All-Pro selection.
The 22-year-old Iowa native also has a strong pedigree. He was a 4-star prospect who rated inside the top 20 interior offensive linemen in the 2021 recruiting class, according to 247Sports‘ composite rankings. He mostly lived up to that high billing with the Hawkeyes.
Connor Colby Mirror Drill #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/sAXHKE1HFV
— WalkTheMock (@WalkTheMock) March 2, 2025
It’s no surprise he’s been trying to develop his skill as a center. It’s far more likely he’d be asked to move inside at the next level than shifting out to tackle, where his limited foot speed would be exposed by the league’s top edge-rushers. Regardless, showing he’s able to play all five spots helps his stock.
Colby probably won’t come off the board inside the first four rounds. He’ll enter the conversation in the fifth, and it’s possible he lasts until the sixth or seventh. The concerns about his footwork are legitimate, though a strong showing at the combine helped his cause.
If the Bears want a late round OL who fits an outside zone scheme, Iowa's Connor Colby is a guy to watch. A 4 year starter w/ a 9.68 RAS & 81.3 zone run grade
Pass blocking isnt great. But you know he can do one thing well and hopefully you can develop other areas of his game pic.twitter.com/SJbHq4dsmu
— Chicago Football Connection (@CFCBears) March 19, 2025
The guard makes a lot of sense for a team that needs offensive line depth more than an immediate starter. The Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, and Philadelphia Eagles all make sense. No team is really ruled out when it comes to the final rounds, though.
2025 NFL Draft Projection: 5th Round pick
Main Photo: [Kirby Lee] – USA Today Sports
