Jayden Higgins WR Iowa State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Jayden Higgins WR Iowa State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.55 seconds (33%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.55 seconds (33%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 83.0 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 107.7 | |
| Hands: |
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92% |
| Short Receiving: |
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93% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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96% |
| Deep Threat: |
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95% |
| Blocking: |
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60% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#144
Position rank:
#15
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| College Games: 36 College Snaps: 1795 | ||
247 RATING: 76/100
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Andrei Iosivas - Princeton |
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84% |
| Xavier Hutchinson - Iowa State |
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77% |
| Dai'Jean Dixon - Nicholls |
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68% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Jayden Higgins, a Miami native, attended Westminster Christian School in Palmetto Bay, Florida. As a senior, he recorded 23 receptions for 430 yards and five touchdowns in five games. Higgins was a two-star recruit by 247Sports, going unranked by the other scouting services. He initially committed to Eastern Kentucky University, where he also played basketball during his high school years.At Eastern Kentucky, Higgins played two seasons for the Colonels. In his freshman year (2021), he appeared in 10 games, recording 29 receptions for 394 yards and 3 touchdowns. His sophomore season (2022) saw increased production with 58 receptions for 757 yards and 10 touchdowns across 12 games. His performance earned him Second Team All-Atlantic Sun honors from Phil Steele.
Following the 2022 season, Higgins transferred to Iowa State University. In his first and only season with the Cyclones (2023), he started 12 of 13 games. Higgins finished the season with 53 receptions for 983 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 18.5 yards per catch. This average ranked as the seventh-best single-season mark in school history. He recorded three 100-yard receiving games and was second in the Big 12, averaging 75.6 receiving yards per game. In the 2023 Liberty Bowl against Memphis, Higgins set a school bowl record with 214 receiving yards on nine receptions. For his efforts, he earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors as both a wide receiver and Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Imposing catch radius allows him to snag passes outside his frame, making him a quarterback's best friend in tight windows and contested situations.
- Demonstrates savvy route-running ability, using his frame to create leverage and separation, particularly on inside-breaking patterns.
- Showcases impressive spatial awareness, consistently finding soft spots in zone coverage and presenting a big target for his quarterback.
- Possesses quick-twitch athleticism in short areas, allowing him to create separation off the line and at the top of his routes.
- Versatile alignment capability, equally effective from outside and slot positions, adding value to various offensive schemes and packages.
- Displays vice-grip hands, consistently plucking the ball out of the air with confidence and maintaining control through contact.
- Excels in the red zone, using his size and body control to box out defenders and win jump-ball situations.
- Shows advanced understanding of tempo and pacing in his routes, manipulating defenders' expectations to create separation.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lacks game-breaking long speed, potentially limiting his ability to consistently threaten defenses vertically at the next level.
- Run blocking technique requires significant refinement; struggles to sustain blocks and doesn't consistently play to his size in the run game.
- Release package against press coverage needs expansion; can be disrupted by physical corners at the line of scrimmage.
- Despite willingness as a blocker, lacks the necessary pop and power at the point of attack to consistently win against NFL-caliber defenders.
- Hand usage in the contact window off the line needs improvement to better counter defenders' punches and maintain clean releases.
Scouting Report: Summary
Higgins brings a nice mix of size, body control, and reliable hands to the table. His ability to win in the intermediate areas and in contested catch situations could translate to the next level, particularly as a complementary piece in a passing attack. The former two-star recruit has shown steady improvement throughout his college career, hinting at potential untapped upside.At the next level, Higgins profiles as a developmental prospect with the tools to potentially grow into a rotational receiver. His frame and catch radius could make him a situational target, particularly in red zone packages and on crucial downs. While he may not possess the deep speed to consistently threaten NFL secondaries, his route savvy and ability to use his body effectively could allow him to carve out a role in the right system.
Teams looking for depth at the wide receiver position and willing to invest in development could find value in Higgins on Day 3 of the draft. With continued refinement of his release techniques and blocking ability, he has the potential to outplay his draft position and compete for a spot in an NFL receiver rotation.
How other scouting services rate Jayden Higgins (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
105.2
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
20.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.