Leighton Jones OG Iowa |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #64 SUB-POSITION: Left Guard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 5.15 seconds (81%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.3 DOB: 07/14/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #64 | |
| SUB-POSITION: Left Guard | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 5.15 seconds (81%*) | |
| Age: 22.3 DOB: 07/14/2004 | |
| Overall Rating: |
76.0 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Pass Blocking: |
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78% |
| Run Blocking: |
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75% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#363
Position rank:
#53 (OL)
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| College Games: 19 College Snaps: 622 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
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247 RATING: 89/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jovaughn Gwyn - South Carolina |
|
95% |
| Caleb Chandler - Louisville |
|
76% |
| Kyler Schott - Iowa |
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74% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Leighton Jones was a four-year starter on both lines at Brownsburg High School in Indiana, where his teams went 43-9, and he won the state's Mr. Football award for offensive linemen. He wrestled too, finishing third in the state as a sophomore and junior before winning the state title as a senior.Iowa and Purdue offered him on the same day, three days after that state wrestling title, and he committed to the Hawkeyes the following week as a three-star recruit. He did not play in 2023, appeared in three games in 2024 and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, then appeared in 11 games in 2025 and won the team's offensive Hustle Award.
Jones has been the left guard in every game in 2026 without giving up a sack. He gave up three pressures against Ohio State and Iowa's line has been among the hardest in the conference to sack.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- No sacks allowed across eight starts at left guard
- State wrestling champion whose hand fighting and leverage show up on tape
- Rare athlete for a guard, comfortable pulling and climbing to linebackers
- Moves defenders on combination blocks in Iowa's zone run game
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Weighs in light for a guard, and heavy nose tackles can drive him back
- Ohio State's front got three pressures on him in 59 snaps
- Michigan pressured him twice and drew a flag
- First season as a starter after limited snaps in 2024 and 2025
- Class status is unclear, so he may have eligibility left
Scouting Report: Summary
Jones is a quick, technically sound guard who brings a wrestler's leverage to the interior. He moves well enough to pull and climb, fits Iowa's zone scheme and has not allowed a sack this season on a line that rarely gives one up.However, his weight is well below the norm for a guard, and bigger defensive tackles can test his anchor, as Ohio State did. He is also a first-year starter, and his class status suggests he may have more time in Iowa City.
Overall, Jones is a smart, athletic guard with a clear path to growth. He projects as a priority free agent who needs to add weight to hold up inside.
How other scouting services rate Leighton Jones (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
341.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
63.0
*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.