Derek Weisskopf LB Iowa |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #22 PLAY STYLE: COVERAGE LB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.59 seconds (81%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #22 | |
| PLAY STYLE: COVERAGE LB | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.59 seconds (81%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
66.0 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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72% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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75% |
| Pass Rush: |
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61% |
| Run Defense: |
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61% |
| Coverage: |
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51% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#941
Position rank:
#62 (LB)
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| College Games: 9 College Snaps: 33 | ||
ESPN RATING: 78/100
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247 RATING: 92/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ben Bywater - BYU |
|
86% |
| Shaka Heyward - Duke |
|
85% |
| Shawn Murphy - South Carolina |
|
82% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Derek Weisskopf lined up at receiver, quarterback, safety, linebacker and punter at Williamsburg High School in Iowa and helped win a 2023 Class 3A state championship. In his final season he threw 20 touchdown passes and shared the Cedar Rapids Gazette player of the year award. He made the all-state first team in basketball and won two state high jump titles.Weisskopf redshirted in 2024 without seeing the field. In 2025 he appeared in 12 games, almost all of them in the kicking game, and earned a spot on the Academic All-Big Ten team.
Weisskopf was one of three players in the fall camp battle for Iowa's third linebacker spot. He has six tackles across seven games this season, two of them when Iowa won 41-24 at Washington, and he is still waiting for his first career start. He has eligibility remaining well beyond this season.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional speed for a linebacker, with a top-tier forty time
- Two-time state high jump champion with excellent body control
- Played quarterback and safety, so he diagnoses plays quickly
- Dependable special teams contributor over the last two seasons
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Six tackles in seven games so far during the 2026 season
- Still waiting for his first start after three years in college
- Slender frame for a player who must take on blockers
- Did not win the open linebacker job in fall camp
- Very little defensive tape for scouts to evaluate
Scouting Report: Summary
Weisskopf is a gifted all-around athlete who played five positions in high school. He has rare speed for a linebacker and has been a steady special teams player for Iowa.However, he has six tackles this season and has yet to start a game, and his frame is slender for the position. There is little defensive tape to study.
Overall, Weisskopf is an athletic developmental linebacker. He projects as a priority free agent only on paper, with more time at Iowa the likely path.
How other scouting services rate Derek Weisskopf (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
470.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
54.0
*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.