Beau Stephens

NFL Draft Profile: Beau Stephens

Position: Offensive Guard (LG/RG) | School: Iowa | Class: Redshirt Senior

Height: 6'5" | Weight: 315 lbs | Archetype: Pass Blocker (Elite Anchor)

College Career Summary

Beau Stephens is the "silent assassin" of the Iowa Hawkeyes' offensive line. A Missouri native who chose Iowa over several regional powers, Stephens’ career has been a journey of physical transformation and grit. After redshirting in 2021, he broke out as a starter in 2022, only to have his 2023 season cut short by a severe leg injury against Northwestern.

The 2025 season was Stephens’ masterclass. Having dropped weight to improve his lateral quickness, he became the highest-rated guard in the Power Four according to PFF. He was the only guard in the nation to log over 300 pass-blocking snaps while surrendering zero sacks and only one pressure through the first ten weeks. As a centerpiece of the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line, Stephens earned Consensus First-Team All-American honors and proved that his technique and anchor are NFL-ready.

Career Stats & Highlights

• Career Starts: 33 (12 in 2025, 12 in 2024, 9 in 2022)

• 2025 Sacks Allowed: 0

• 2025 Pressures Allowed: 2 (Season total)

• Pancakes: ~58 (2025 Season)

• Holding Penalties: 1 (2025)

• 2025 Honors: AP First-Team All-American; PFF First-Team All-American; First-Team All-Big Ten (Coaches).

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	vs UAlbany	A	Dominated FCS interior; paved the way for 310 rushing yards.
2	vs Iowa State	A-	Flawless in pass pro; handled several exotic blitzes.
4	@ Minnesota	B	Played limited snaps (15) due to "tissue injury"; still highly efficient.
5	@ Ohio State	B+	High-level battle with OSU's interior; zero sacks allowed in loud environment.
6	vs Washington	A	Total displacement in the run game; earned a 91.5 PFF grade.
8	@ Michigan St	B-	Worst Game. Nagging ankle injury slowed lateral recovery; 1 pressure allowed.
9	vs Northwestern	A	Redemption game; dominant on pull blocks and screens.
10	vs Wisconsin	A-	Physical "trench war"; neutralized the Badgers' nose tackle.
11	@ UCLA	B+	Exceptional pass blocking (92.3 grade); gave QB Mark Gronowski ample time.
12	@ Maryland	A	Perfectly executed 12 straight pass sets; zero contact allowed on QB.
13	vs Nebraska	A-	High-effort "finisher"; 6 pancakes in a rivalry environment.
14	B1G Champ Game	B+	Consistent anchor; held firm against elite interior pass rushers.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 97/100

• Leadership: Elite. Three-year captain since high school; the "glue" of the Iowa locker room.

• Mental Toughness: High; successfully returned from a season-ending 2023 injury to become an All-American.

• Competitor: Plus; known for a "nasty" finishing style in the run game.

• Team Player: Credits center Logan Jones and Coach Ferentz for every individual award.

• Star: High; his PFF grades were consistently the highest on a Joe Moore Award-winning unit.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 85/100

• Height/Weight: 6'5", 315 lbs. (Meets height; Meets weight). Ideal NFL guard frame.

• Stamina: Good; improved significantly after dropping weight; plays effectively in tempo.

• Durability: Plus; started 12 consecutive games in 2024 and all 12 in 2025.

• Injury History: Minor concern; 2023 season-ender (Northwestern) and 2024 ankle issue.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 96/100

• Run Block: Plus; uses massive core strength to displace 330lb defenders.

• Pass Block: Elite. Historically low pressure-allowed rate (0 sacks in 2025).

• Strength: Plus; correlates Iowa's "power lifting" culture directly to his punch.

• Technique: Elite. Textbook hand placement and wide-base anchoring.

• High Motor: Constant; high effort on every play.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 80/100

• Speed: Moderate; effective climber to the second level, but not a vertical burner.

• Agility: Plus; short-area lateral recovery is much improved since 2023.

• Flexibility: Good; natural "knee-bender" with loose enough hips to pull.

• Acceleration: Good; heavy first step that generates immediate displacement.

• Footwork: Clean; efficient, choppy steps that prevent him from getting "turned."

IQ (.20) — Grade: 98/100

• Awareness: Outlier. Diagnostic skills for stunts and twists are already at an NFL level.

Scouting Report

• Strengths: Pro-ready frame and length; statistically the most dominant pass-blocking guard in the 2025 college season; elite football IQ for identifying blitz rotations; powerful initial punch that stuns interior rushers.

• Weaknesses: Medical History. Has dealt with leg/ankle issues that occasionally sap his lateral burst; Lateral Range. While improved, elite-twitch 3-techs can still occasionally cross his face if his footwork isn't perfect; not a "speed" puller.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal for a Power/Gap or Pro-Style system (e.g., Steelers, Ravens, Giants).

• NFL Comparison: Joe Thuney / Kevin Zeitler.

Scout's Final Word

"Beau Stephens is the 'Floor' prospect of this draft. You aren't drafting him for 4.8 speed; you're drafting him because he simply does not let the quarterback get hit. His 2025 tape is as clean as any guard prospect in the last five years. He’s a day-one starter at Right or Left Guard who will be a pillar of a professional offensive line for a decade. Draft Projection: 3rd Round."