2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jaylin Noel (WR – Iowa State)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jaylin Noel

Jaylin Noel (WR – Iowa State)

5-foot-10 | 200 Pounds

Background

Jaylin Noel was a three-star recruit who was a regular contributor as a freshman, posting 39-269-0 (6.9) before taking over more of a regular starting role the following year. Went 60-572-3 (9.5) in 2022, then 66-820-7 (12.4) in 2023. Made this past season his best yet, with an 80-1,194-8 (14.9) line.

Positives

A four-star contributor who made major strides each year. Primarily a slot receiver, but has been getting a bit more work on the outside over the past two seasons. Accelerates quickly off the line of scrimmage to eat cushions against off-coverage; seems to get up to speed almost instantly. Noel has a few different releases he can use to beat press coverage at the line. Puts window dressing on the stems of shorter routes to freeze defenders.

Gets his head around quickly to create opportunities for easy completions underneath. Shows nice crisp breaks at the stem and doesn’t need to gear down very much. Stems are relatively flat to keep defenders out. With his compact build, does a relatively good job of working through contact on his routes for someone his size. Uses his suddenness and hands well to slip past defenders for the occasional big hit down the seams.

Noel leans into the defender before breaking back. Cut down on his drops in recent years (especially this past season). Offers a pretty reliable pair of hands for a relatively small receiver. Has caught more than half of his career contested catches, showing good focus and toughness. Shows good competitiveness as a blocker. Has some experience returning punts and kicks.

Negatives

On the small side. While he’s played roughly a quarter of his snaps as an outside receiver, Noel will probably be viewed as a slot-only receiver by many teams. Comes from an offense that had a relatively simple route tree, with a lot of stops/hooks, hitches, short slants, outs/flats and other straightforward ones of that nature. Some production was manufactured under natural rubs/clearing routes from bunches, etc.

Noel is quicker than he is fast and might have trouble beating defenses over the top. Not the loosest or most flexible receiver. Occasionally settles into coverage against zone, although receivers in this system may not be able to sight-adjust. Doesn’t present the biggest target and had some minor issues with drops in previous years (15 against 165 catches going into this season.)

Can be overwhelmed on contact by bigger defenders when stalking. Hand placement occasionally gets too far outside. Not the most dynamic receiver after the catch; doesn’t make many defenders miss.

Summary

Noel may not be the most impressive physical or athletic specimen, but he has developed into a very productive receiver throughout his collegiate career, with an impressive combination of burst, quickness, toughness and route-running chops.

While he may not be the most dynamic slot receiver in the class, his ability to create quick separation for timing-based throws underneath should come in handy at the next level. Looks like a pretty pro-ready mid-round option who could outperform some of the sexier prospects in the class.

Projection: Round 4

Check out all of our 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports

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Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)

A very big, smooth, savvy receiver with an incredible catch radius and a graceful game, McMillan established himself as one of the best wide receivers in college football over the past two seasons. May never be the fastest or most explosive wide receiver, but has a great understanding of how to use tempo, nuance and technique to create separation.

Is capable of coming down with contested catches even in tight coverage, with rare size that makes him a mismatch for most cornerbacks. May not have quite the same strength and physicality as Mike Evans did coming out, but is a similar prospect and should go similarly high in the first round, likely within the first five or 10 picks.

Projection: Round 1

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Tetairoa McMillan

Luther Burden III (Missouri)

A dynamic player with the ball in his hands, Burden’s combination of speed, quickness, vision, balance and physicality led the Tigers to scheme up ways to get him the ball, whether on underneath throws, sweeps, screens or otherwise. He also offers some impressive traits as a receiver, with good stop-start quickness to create separation, impressive tracking and body control and a strong pair of hands.

As it currently stands, he doesn’t have a ton of recent experience playing outside and will need to continue diversifying his route tree and polishing his route-running technique, but that doesn’t look like it will stop him from being a first-round pick.

Projection: Round 1

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Luther Burden III

Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)

Another highly-polished Buckeyes receiver prospect, Egbuka’s excellent combination of acceleration, quickness, route-running savvy, hands and toughness should make him a highly reliable pro receiver.

Likely would have been a first-round pick last year had he stayed healthy. Coming back to put together the season he did gives him a very good chance of going there this year if everything checks out medically during the pre-draft process. A nice reliable, pro-ready big slot option.

Projection: Round 1

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Emeka Egbuka

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