Teams looking to add a highly productive receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft should look no further than the Iowa State Cyclones’ Jaylin Noel. The standout pass catcher has the skillset and tools to become a top slot receiver.
Our Jaylin Noel scouting report explores everything you need to know about one of the cleanest receiver prospects in this entire class.
Jaylin Noel Scouting Report
Size: 5’9″, 196 pounds (Senior Bowl Verified)
Key Stat: 13 contested catches in 2024 on 25 opportunities
Projected Role: Starting Slot receiver
Strengths
- Nuanced, savvy route runner
- Precise and controlled movements. Always balanced and stays compact
- Suddenness and twitch while running routes
- Understands how to attack leverage and sell fakes to create separation
- Extremely fluid and has the flexibility in all parts of his lower body to create bend and cut on a dime
- Elite body control both at the catch point and when breaking off routes
- Deep bag of release techniques
- Great ball tracker down the field
- Hands catcher, displays late hands technique and does well high pointing
- Quick but also showcased long speed down the field
- Densely built, strength coming from his core and hands
- Experience returning kicks
Causes for Concern
- Despite great ball skills, he’s not very long which limits his catch radius
- Toughness after the catch
- Concentration drops
- Lacks size and mass as a run blocker
Ceiling: 100+ catch guy, one of the top slot receivers in the league
Floor: Rotational receiver
Jaylin Noel NFL Draft Outlook
Jaylin Noel has the makings of a star at the next level. He can separate in a phone booth and has the body control that teams dream of. Noel is extremely polished and displays a level of athleticism and strength you wouldn’t expect from a smaller receiver.
Noel was a big-time threat down the field for Iowa State. He routinely showed the ability to separate down the field and showcased his elite body control by adjusting to throws ahead and behind him. Noel is a quick and savvy route runner but can also take the top off a defense. His burst is top tier and if you don’t get your hands on him, he will make you pay.
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On tape, you can see Noel put a lot of stress on DBs by manipulating their leverage. He attacks squarely and has the suddenness to break off a route at any moment.
He has precise footwork and the flexibility he has in his lower body allows him to bend and break off routes on a dime. Noel also has enough strength to fight through press and break free into open space.
Off the line, Noel wins with an array of releases. His quick feet and balance keep any press defender on edge and his twitch allows him to avoid contact and explode off the line.
Noel will work mostly in the slot at the next level. He has the acceleration to drive into open space. He does well always looking to work upfield after the catch, but this led to some concentration drops.
The one real downside in Noel’s game is his limitations after the catch. Noel was often taken down upon initial contact. He has the burst and twitch to create yards after catch but at the next level he needs to become tougher with the ball in his hands. He’s going to be a guy that gets targeted a lot, so working through contact is going to be important in his game.
Noel makes himself an easy target. His timing is great and he seems to have no wasted steps in his movement. He also does well at the catch point and uses late hands technique. Even when covered, he can create enough separation to give himself the advantage. His body control really shined on the boundary. He routinely made catches while contorting his body towards the sideline.
His in-breaking routes are very polished and his out-breaking routes show off his elite footwork. He will be a nightmare to cover one-on-one but even against zone coverage, he will thrive due to his timing and intelligence.
Noel’s suddenness is among some of the best I’ve ever seen and will translate well to the next level. His skillset matches what works in the NFL and I expect him to be a contributor right away.
Bottom Line: Noel is the type of receiver that we’ve seen in recent years have a clean transition to the NFL. He can win at any part of the field and possess strong traits that will allow him to be impactful right away.
Noel would fit in well in any NFL offense. Teams will be enamored with his advanced separation ability and instincts as a receiver. He might be strictly a slot guy in the NFL but he should have no issue producing and becoming a highly impactful player.
Draft Projection: Early-to-Mid Second Round
