Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jayden Higgins NFL Draft Projection – Where Will the Iowa State Wide Receiver Land?

Cyclones WR Jayden Higgins: NFL Draft Projection and Possible Destinations

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jayden Higgins is a towering 6-foot-4, 214-pound wide receiver for the Iowa State Cyclones with a basketball and track background from Westminster Christian School. A former two-star recruit, he began his college career at Eastern Kentucky, where he exploded in 2022 with 58 receptions for 747 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Finally catching the eyes of FBS schools, Higgins transferred to Iowa State in 2023. That season, he recorded 53 receptions for 983 yards and 6 touchdowns. Continuing to excel in the next year, he earned second-team All-Big 12 honors for 87 receptions in 1,183 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Jayden Higgins is an incredibly smooth route runner at 6’4 215lbs with excellent hands, physicality, and contested catch ability.

Has a little Nico Collins to his game 👀 pic.twitter.com/jliz8K5H1r
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 11, 2025

At the NFL combine, Higgins received a prospect grade of 6.33 and a total score of 82, ranking sixth among wide receivers. He has drawn comparisons with former pro Marcus Robinson due to his physicality and reliable hands.

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Jayden Higgins Draft Profile

Higgins certainly turns heads with his imposing frame and solid production. He uses his size effectively to shield defenders, consistently securing catches, while his route running also remains impressively smooth for a player of his stature.

However, two of the most critical traits for a wide receiver, top-end speed and refined route running, are not his strongest assets. While his 1.53-second 10-yard split shows impressive short-area burst, his 4.47-second 40-yard dash suggests he struggles to sustain that speed over longer distances. On top of that, limited hip flexibility hinders his ability to sink and transition smoothly through his routes.

Higgins is indeed a reliable hands-catcher with clutch conversion ability, above-average physicality, and respectable separation skills. All of the traits imply that he is a potential top-tier wideout with certain improvements in the right offensive scheme.

Jayden Higgins Draft Projection

Higgins is widely projected as a late second- or early third-round pick. According to Kyle Stackpole of CBS Sports, he could be drafted by the New York Jets, while Dawgs By Nature projects him to be drafted by the Cleveland Browns as the 67th overall pick.