2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jaylin Noel

Last Updated: 4/8/2025

Career Stats

Summary

Since arriving at Iowa State, Jaylin Noel has steadily risen from a three-star recruit to a 1,000-yard receiver. He and Jayden Higgins became the only pair of Big 12 teammates to top 1,000 receiving yards since 2018 (CeeDee Lamb and Marquise Brown). He finished his career with at least one reception in each of his final 46 games, the second-longest streak in school history. His 245 receptions are second, while his 2,855 receiving yards are fourth in school history.

Jaylin Noel is shorter in stature but has a bulky frame. This frame also allows him to lean into the physical side of the game a touch more than others at his height. At the release point, he is not the most proficient yet against press but has good twitch to create quick separation. His best work is in off coverage, when he can explode upfield while driving defenders off balance before attacking their poor positioning. Enhancing this are his crisp technical routes and acceleration, which force many defenders to grasp for air. Against zone coverages, we do see him overrun soft spots, which he’ll have to improve at the next level. In the scramble drill he does well to find free space, but not as consistently as you would expect.

Once the ball is in the air, Noel excels, his ball tracking and go-get-it speed pop off the screen. Pairing this with his leverage attacks and crisp routes he stresses a defense deep. In the short to intermediate areas of the field, he has adequate hands and shows some concentration issues. We also see him allow the ball into his body too often as opposed to attacking it, but this could stem from his lack of length in his frame. This is his biggest issue in contested situations as well. On the positive side, his body control expands his catch radius on low and high throws. It also gives him the ability to tightrope the sidelines on outbreaking routes.

After the catch, Noel is less than stellar despite having an extensive returner history. He lacks the elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field. On the flip side, the marriage of his speed and acceleration allows him to run away from defenders when given space to open up. This is why he excels on crossers and deep in breaking routes, often turning these plays into massive gains.

Noel offers position versatility due to his ability in the return game, amassing over 1,200 return yards in his career. This is one spot that will help him get on the field especially with the recent rule changes in kickoffs, which promote returns more often. In addition, he is a quality blocker, which is not always the case for receivers at this point in their career — another plus to get him on the field more often early in his career.

Strengths

• Speed
• Route technician
• Acceleration

Weaknesses

• Average hands
• Elusiveness
• Size

Honors and Awards

• Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year – Coaches (2024)
• First Team All-Big 12 KR/PR – Coaches (2024)
• Honorable Mention All-Big 12 WR – Coaches (2024)
• Second Team All-Big 12 WR – Coaches (2023)

Athletic Testing

• 40-yard dash: 4.39
• Vertical: 41.5”
• Broad Jump: 134”
• Three-cone: 6.82s
• Shuttle: 4.17s
• Bench: 23

NFL Role Prediction

• Z wide receiver

Fantasy Outlook

Jaylin Noel has shown positional versatility at the college level, but it’s less likely he will play consistent snaps on the perimeter at the next level. He will fit best as a Z receiver who can feast on off coverage and schemed touches in space. His ability to exploit the deep middle of the field will also allow him to be more than a slot-specific player. In a creative system with a quality quarterback, Noel could thrive, resulting in low-end WR2 numbers at his ceiling.

Player Comparisons

• Christian Kirk
• Josh Downs
• Sterling Shepard