Cael Winter C Iowa |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #61 SUB-POSITION: Center | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 5.17 seconds (69%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #61 | |
| SUB-POSITION: Center | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 5.17 seconds (69%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
76.9 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
|
76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
|
79% |
| Run Blocking: |
|
62% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#339
Position rank:
#49 (OL)
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| College Games: 12 College Snaps: 451 | ||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Alec Lindstrom - Boston College |
|
100% |
| Alex Forsyth - Oregon |
|
88% |
| Dylan McMahon - NC State |
|
85% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Cael Winter played on both lines at Waukee Northwest High School in Iowa, making 5.5 sacks among 10 tackles for loss in his senior season, and also wrestled and threw in track. His only offers came from Division II schools Winona State and Pittsburg State, and he chose to walk on at Iowa in 2023.Winter did not play in his first two seasons and saw action in four games in 2025, but he won the team's Leader Award as a freshman. He beat out two veterans in camp to win the starting center job for 2026.
Winter has started every game at center this season for a line that made the Joe Moore Award midseason honor roll and allowed the fewest sacks in the Big Ten. He has given up two pressures and no sacks, and he also won the hay bale toss at Solon Beef Days in July.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Has allowed two pressures and no sacks as a first-year starter at center
- Anchors a line that made the Joe Moore Award midseason honor roll
- Former wrestler who plays with leverage and strong hands
- Good athlete for the position, comfortable pulling and climbing
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Light for an interior lineman, which shows against bigger nose tackles
- Flagged four times in eight games this season
- Michigan and Ohio State both drew flags against him
- Only one season of game experience after three years as a reserve
- Eligibility beyond 2026 is unclear, and a return to Iowa is possible
Scouting Report: Summary
Winter has gone from a walk-on with Division II offers to the starting center on one of the Big Ten's best lines. He plays with a wrestler's leverage, moves well for the position and has kept the middle of Iowa's pocket clean, allowing two pressures all season.However, he is light for an interior lineman, and bigger nose tackles can test his anchor. Penalties have been an issue, including flags against Michigan and Ohio State, and he has only one season of real game experience.
Overall, Winter is a smart, athletic center whose development has been rapid. He projects as a priority free agent backup center, and he could return to Iowa for another year.
How other scouting services rate Cael Winter (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
272.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
48.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.