The Kansas City Chiefs found a nice role for Xavier Worthy late in the season. The team needs to build around their former first round pick with receivers capable of running larger varieties of routes and threatening different levels of the field. The 2025 NFL draft offers several mid-round options with impressive upside.
According to Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy, Iowa State Cyclones pass-catcher Jaylin Noel is verified at 5’9 3/4″, 196 lbs. He’s a densely built receiver with experience in the slot and out wide. Noel’s loose lower body and speed make him a natural separator on complex intermediate routes and deep fades. Press corners who fail to land their punches on Noel find themselves in trail position and struggling to catch up.
Noel accelerates late on vertical routes to pull away from defenders downfield. His quick and nimble feet help him decelerate and make sharp turns. Noel uses his shiftiness and agility to manipulate leverage and shake defenders at the top of the stem. He gets corners to bite on stutter-goes and out-and-ups, creating space for downfield throws.
Kansas vs. Iowa State featured several future 2025 NFL Draft selections at wide receiver. Jaylin Noel had the most productive day of the group. #NFLDraft #NFLDraft2025 #2025NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/CphG5sUeFl
— Sam Teets (@Sam_Teets33) November 11, 2024
Noel relies on body catches sometimes, but he makes a surprising amount of contested catches. He tracks the ball well and contorts his body to make difficult snags. Noel works the sideline and corner of the end zone with precise footwork.
Noel’s speed is impressive but not elite. Some cornerbacks outmuscle him at the top of the stem and disrupt his route. Noel’s athleticism lets him access all routes, but his route running precision needs work. He needs to develop a better feel for finding and sitting in holes against zones.
Noel uses his speed to create after the catch on short receptions. He relies more on straight line speed than twitch and doesn’t have the power to break tackles.
Noel’s traits and production make him worth a fourth round selection, but the draft’s large number of slot options might push him into the fifth round.
