In last week’s Saturday Scouting, I looked at one of the more high-profile guards who may be available in the 2027 NFL Draft. Sticking with that position group, I wanted to look at the top-rated guard headed into the 2026 collegiate season. I found the hype around Iowa offensive guard Kade Pieper to be real and warranted.

And that should be of interest to the Bucs as their two current starting guards are under contract for a combined one year past 2026 with no guaranteed money left. Tampa Bay could be in the market for a new starting guard next year and may dedicate a high draft pick to filling that void.

Kade Pieper

From Iowa’s team profile of Pieper:

Height – 6-foot-3
Weight – 298 pounds
Awards – 2025 PFF first-team All-American, third team All-Big Ten (media) and honorable mention All-Big Ten (coaches)

Per 247 Sports, Pieper played defensive line in high school, where he developed into a three-star prospect. He was the 12th-ranked prospect in Nebraska and 161st overall in the 2023 recruiting class.

Kade Pieper’s Stats

There aren’t any traditional statistical measurements for offensive linemen, so I will default to Pro Football Focus, which at least has some objective production.

2023

Games – 1 (left guard)
Starts – 0
Snaps – 7
Pressure Rate Allowed – 0.00%
PFF Run Block Grade – 56.1
PFF Pass Block Grade – N/A

2024

Games – 10 (3 at C, 1 at RG, 3 at LT, 3 at RG)
Starts – 0
Snaps – 107
Pressure Rate Allowed – 0.00%
PFF Run Block Grade – 94.9
PFF Pass Block Grade – 86.0

2025

Games – 12 (all at right guard)
Starts – 12
Snaps – 695
Pressure Rate Allowed – 2.61%
PFF Run Block Grade – 83.9
PFF Pass Block Grade – 78.2

Here is his production spider chart showing his percentile ranks:

Overview

I watched three of Kade Pieper’s 2025 games: Week 4 at Rutgers, Week 7 at Wisconsin and Week 11 vs. Oregon.

The overarching theme with Pieper is that he has special movement skills that enable him to get to, sustain and finish reach blocks that many other interior offensive linemen could only dream of. His fluidity and balance on the move, paired with active and accurate eyes, create a platform for a talented player who could be a plug-and-play day-one starter.

As a pass protector, he is technically sound with consistent and accurate hands that help him execute his job well. He’s not perfect and his lack of length will lead to some losses. But his footwork, balance, eye discipline and processing put him in a great spot to win most reps.

Iowa G Kade Pieper – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Joseph Cress

Strengths

Processing and Eye Discipline – He tracks blitz threats while engaged, diagnoses and passes off stunts and twists, picks up loopers, and constantly hunts for extra work when his man drops off. His ability to read out defensive pictures both pre- and post-snap put him in the right position on a consistent basis.

Movement, Balance and Displacement – Pieper’s best reps show him driving opponents well out of their gap. On wide zone or stretch runs, he is constantly washing defensive tackles down the line to create enviable cutback lanes or getting to reach blocks where he cuts in front of the nose tackle and slows the backside pursuit of the defensive line springing the front side lane his back is looking for. When asked to run inside zone or duo, he pairs up on doubles to drive defenders back several yards. His demeanor and mentality are on display with each run play as his goal is take his opponent on a ride.

Was going to highlight the impressive C/RG double, but if I did I knew everyone would be like, “but the LG/LT double was better!”

Suffice to say “Doubles everywhere!” pic.twitter.com/mNYNCyQYpv

— Josh Queipo (@JoshQueipo_NFL) July 24, 2026

His balance on the move is legitimately impressive. He has an accurate targeting system, displays loose hips that swivel well as he adjusts to a moving picture on wraps and can hang with linebackers and safeties when trying to cover them up in space on screens and climbs.

Drive Power at the Point of Attack – Despite being listed at sub-300 pounds, Pieper doesn’t lack for lower half power. He has a track and field background as shot putter. And that defines both his core and lower half strength as well as his smooth hips. His anchor is plus-plus for his size and plays against any opponent. He holds the point of attack, and when he wins the first step, he will often drive defenders back in one-on-one situations.

Hand Placement Consistency – his hand strikes almost always find their way to opponent’s chests, tight and inside. It gives him primary control of the battle and puts him in position to stay mirrored and balanced, reset and re-anchor throughout the rep.

Weaknesses

Length – His arms played short on several reps across the three games. There were times where an opponent was able to get a long arm into Pieper’s chest, lock out their elbow and left him grasping to re-establish control. Those were how most of his pass protection losses happened, driving him back into the lap of his quarterback.

Inconsistent Get-off – This is far more exciting because it is coachable. There are plenty of reps where his first step is excellent and the driving force behind many of his wins. But there are enough plays where he is a beat slow off the snap that led to him playing catch-up. I flagged it enough to note it as an area of opportunity that should be a part of what he is working on entering his second year as a starter at Iowa. It’s not an issue of athleticism so it’s fully coachable in my opinion.

Additional Notes

• His pad level is generally a plus, but against Wisconsin it started to get upright, leaving his chest more open to those long-arm stabs.
• He struggled late in reps to anticipate lateral movements from defenders he was locked onto. These quick, violent movements to the side often left him grasping and bending to stay attached.

Kade Pieper’s Scheme Fit

As a run blocker, Pieper could conceivably fit in any system. As a part of a gap-based system he should excel on doubles, as a pin-man and as a puller.

pic.twitter.com/kwpLmM9Po1

— Josh Queipo (@JoshQueipo_NFL) July 25, 2026

But I think he could be special in a zone-based scheme that asks him to move laterally, adjust on the fly and climb with speed. The only system that I think he would struggle in is a shotgun-based spread offense that asked him to solo pass protect at a high rate.

Kade Pieper’s Projection

Pieper is a day-one starter who should stay in that role for the entirety of his rookie contract. That makes him a tier-three player by my grading system. There is upside for him to move into a tier-two (Future Pro Bowler) or even tier-one (future All-Pro). The highlight reel run blocks give him that ceiling.

But for me to put him in either of those tiers, I would want to see him with a higher rate of solo pass set wins. But seeing as most offensive coordinators build their systems from the ground game up, Pieper is an enticing prospect who can execute any run concept.