Stephens is a phone-booth mauler in the run game who will latch onto your 3-technique and steer him out of the gap like he owes money. Iowa's zone-heavy scheme was tailor-made for his skill set, and the elite PFF pass-blocking numbers (zero sacks allowed) speak to his technique and competitive toughness even if the athletic profile screams 'limited ceiling.' The short arms (31 1/8") and stiffness in his lower half create real concern about mirroring NFL-caliber interior rushers who win with counter moves and lateral quickness — when a 328-pound nose tackle bowled him over at the Senior Bowl, it validated the power concerns. But the floor here is a plug-and-play Day 1 contributor in a zone-heavy scheme who knows his assignments, plays with controlled aggression, and hasn't taken a penalty in two years. If you need a guard who will never lose you a game, Stephens is your guy — just don't ask him to win you one by himself.
- Dominant run blocker with the core and upper body strength to latch, torque, and steer defenders out of gaps — his timing and angles on combo blocks are among the best in the class
- Elite pass-blocking efficiency backed by data: zero sacks allowed across 292+ pass-blocking snaps with a 91.6 PFF pass-blocking grade (1st among all guards nationally)
- Outstanding competitive toughness, motor, and assignment discipline — penalized only once in two full seasons of starting action
- Effective snatch-trap technique that compensates for short arms and gives him a genuine counter against power rushers working down his frame
- Extensive experience at both guard spots (24 starts at LG, 10 at RG) with leadership credentials as a multi-year team captain on a Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line
- Below-standard arm length (31 1/8") limits his ability to establish leverage at first contact and creates vulnerability against long-armed interior pass rushers
- Stiffness in the lower half restricts his ability to mirror explosive pass rushers laterally — bends at the waist rather than the knees, leaving him susceptible to swim moves and quick gap exchanges
- Average-to-below-average athletic profile confirmed by combine testing (5.35 40-yard dash, 28" vertical, 7.39 RAS) caps his NFL ceiling as a starter
- Durability is a legitimate concern: missed nine games in 2023, exited multiple games early across 2022, 2024, and 2025 seasons with various injuries
Similar physical profile and play style — a powerful zone-scheme guard who wins with technique, toughness, and run-game dominance rather than elite athleticism. Both have short arms for the position and rely on anchor strength and timing rather than physical gifts to survive in pass protection. Cappa carved out a decade-long starting career by fitting scheme-specific needs, which is Stephens' most realistic NFL path.