The San Francisco 49ers selected Iowa guard Connor Colby with the 33rd pick (No. 249 overall) in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft.


NFL Scouting Combine:
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Colby posted a 40-yard dash time of 5.11 seconds, a vertical jump of 28.5 inches, a broad jump of 9 feet, 2 inches, a 7.78-second three-cone drill time, and a 20-yard shuttle time of 4.63 seconds.


Measurements:
Colby is 6-foot-6 and 309 pounds. Additionally, he boasts an arm length of 32 inches and hands measuring 10 inches.

Hometown:
Cedar Rapids, IA

Lance Zierlein's NFL.com scouting report:
Four-year starter who can play guard in a primarily move-oriented rushing attack. Colby started 50 games at Iowa and is well-versed in the inside-outside zone attack. He reads defensive movements and adjusts his blocks accordingly. He connects with strong hands and looks to finish lateral engagements but doesn't have the pad level or play strength to deal with power across from him. His pass protection is troubling, with areas of concern that might not be correctable.

NFL.com Draft Bio:



Pre-Draft Grade:
Colby earned a pre-draft grade of 5.65 from NFL.com, which equates to a "candidate for the bottom of a roster or practice squad player," per the site's 8-point grading scale.

Projection:
NFL.com projected Colby to be a priority free agent.

Pro Football Focus Draft Profile:
Colby is a rugged zone-blocking guard who twice earned All-Big Ten team selections, including a First-Team selection in 2024. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, Colby has an ideal build and a mean streak that presents itself well in the run game. He turned in his best season in 2024 as a run blocker under Tim Lester, who shifted the Hawkeyes' offense to more of an outside zone-based scheme. Colby's flaws lie in his consistent struggles in pass protection, regardless of position. He likely is a depth piece in an outside zone offense because his pass-blocking needs major development before he can be considered a starting-caliber player.

Pro Football Focus Big Board:
Colby ranks 198th on Pro Football Focus' big board.

Pro Football Focus Grading:
Colby earned an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 77.1 in 2024.


NFL Draft Buzz Summary:
Colby projects as a mid-to-late round developmental guard whose run-blocking prowess will get him drafted, but pass protection limitations will determine his ceiling. His extensive experience against Big Ten competition provides polish that many prospects lack, though athletic limitations show up against elite competition. His technical foundation allows him to maximize what he has – making him a viable backup with potential for more in the right system.

Zone-blocking teams will value his angles, leverage, and combo block expertise far more than gap/power schemes where he lacks the necessary displacement strength. What jumps off the film is the stark contrast between his confident, aggressive approach to run blocking versus his mechanical, sometimes hesitant pass sets. Against NFL-caliber interior rushers, his pad level inconsistency and recovery limitations will be exploited unless corrected through deliberate coaching.

After breaking down his entire Iowa career, I see a reliable backup with eventual spot-starter upside if deployed in a run-heavy offense that minimizes his pass protection exposure. His positional flexibility (guard/tackle experience) increases his roster value significantly. The tape shows a player who knows his assignments, plays with good technique, and finishes with attitude in the run game – but must develop the same confidence and consistency in pass protection to stick as anything more than a swing backup in this league.

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