Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Jayden Higgins, wide receiver 6-4, 212 pounds Iowa State YEARCATCHESYARDSTOUCHDOWNS2021 (Eastern Kentucky)2939432022 (Eastern Kentucky)58757102023 (Iowa State)5398362024 (Iowa State)871,1839CAREER TOTALS2273,31728Jayden Higgins career statistics Pros: Length/frame At right around 6-4, Higgins has the ideal boundary to throw into the boundary. He combines his height with long arms to create a huge catch radius. There is also plenty […]

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer

Jan 8, 2025 1:13 PM EST

Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) and Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Kyan McDonald (38) in action during the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Jayden Higgins, wide receiver

6-4, 212 pounds

Iowa State

YEAR	CATCHES	YARDS	TOUCHDOWNS
2021 (Eastern Kentucky)	29	394	3
2022 (Eastern Kentucky)	58	757	10
2023 (Iowa State)	53	983	6
2024 (Iowa State)	87	1,183	9
CAREER TOTALS	227	3,317	28

Jayden Higgins career statistics

Pros:

Length/frame
At right around 6-4, Higgins has the ideal boundary to throw into the boundary. He combines his height with long arms to create a huge catch radius. There is also plenty of room to add good weight to his frame.

Route running precision
While Higgins isn’t super twitchy getting in and out of breaks, Higgins is very efficient. He’s a clean route runner who doesn’t have many tells. With those clean route breaks, Higgins is able to create some instant separation when clean out of his route breaks.
Catch radius/ball skills
Higgins able to win a majority of plays in the air due to his catch radius and ball skills. He consistently makes plays at the highest point, and extends for the football. That makes him a very inviting target for a quarterback.

No better back shoulder WR in the 2025 NFL Draft class than Iowa State star Jayden Higgins (#9). Huge frame (6036v, 212v) with impressive body control, and very strong hands.

Higgins is also incredibly detailed as a route runner, and creates more separation than you’d think. pic.twitter.com/Db611DZDLL
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) January 6, 2025

Cons:

Explosiveness
Higgins is a fluid athlete, but he isn’t overly explosive. It takes him several steps to get up to top speed. There isn’t much ability for him to threaten defenders early on in reps.

Transitions
Due to being high-legged, Higgins tends to ease and out of breaks instead of exploding. His transition can be a little elongated due to his body type. While precise, you shouldn’t expect for Higgins to consistently win as a route runner working against off coverage.

Route tree
In the Iowa State offense, Higgins is used mostly as a vertically oriented player due to his play style. When he’s used as an inside receiver, it’s typically just to run routes such as hitches and slants. There isn’t a ton of variety to him as a route runner overall right now.

Player Evaluation:

The wide receiver class in the 2025 NFL Draft is one of the more underwhelming groups we have seen in recent years. Despite that, there is still quality depth to find in this class. Higgins is one of the few bigger pass catchers who possesses the size and body control to make plays in the air.

There is a limitation for just how good Higgins can be due to his overall athletic profile. Higgins can function as a secondary pass catcher who does the little things, such as block, move the chains on third downs, etc. He won’t be flashy but Higgins can be a very strong member of a quality wide receiver room.

Player Comparison:

Jalen Coker (Carolina Panthers)

Higgins is the prototype big-bodied boundary receiver who wins above the rim with size, body control, and his catch radius. There are speed limitations but Higgins wins well enough in other areas to make up for those deficiencies, although it projects as a solid secondary pass catcher on the next level.