Jayden Higgins isn't just another tall receiver who can catch jump balls in the end zone. If you’ve been following the Iowa State standout’s transition to the pros, you know the Jayden Higgins draft profile is one of the more polarizing conversations in football circles today. He’s 6-foot-4, weighs 215 pounds, and has a wingspan that makes him look like a human vacuum for off-target throws. But being big in the NFL isn't a guarantee of success.
Scouts have been obsessing over his 4.47-second 40-yard dash time. Honestly, it was faster than most people expected based on his tape at Ames. People saw a possession receiver, but then he showed up to the 2025 Combine and put up a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.87. That’s elite. Basically, he’s in the top 1% of athletes to ever play the position from a testing perspective.
The Physicality and the Velcro Hands
You can't teach size. Higgins uses every bit of his 6-foot-4 frame to box out defenders like he’s still playing basketball for Westminster Christian. One of the wildest stats from his college career is his drop rate. He had just three drops on over 210 career targets. That is a 1.4% drop rate. In a world where even elite receivers sometimes struggle with concentration, Higgins has what scouts call "Velcro hands."
He’s not just a statue out there. While many big-bodied receivers struggle to change direction, Higgins has shown a surprising ability to sink his hips. This allows him to run crisp hitch and out routes. He buys space early. He’s the guy a quarterback looks for on 3rd-and-7 when the game is on the line.
The Houston Texans clearly saw that value, snagging him with the 34th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They didn't want him for his "breakaway" speed—they wanted him because he doesn't lose. If the ball is in his vicinity, it’s his.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Speed
There is a big difference between track speed and "football speed." While his 4.47 was impressive, his tape often shows him getting caught from behind by Big 12 cornerbacks. He isn't going to blow past a Pro Bowl corner on a vertical fly route every Sunday.
His game is built on leverage.
He understands how to manipulate a defender’s body positioning.
He uses his 80-inch reach to create a window where only he can reach the ball.
Scouts often compare him to Nico Collins or Courtland Sutton. These aren't guys who win by five yards of separation; they win by being bigger and stronger at the catch point. Higgins thrives in the "power slot" or as a classic X-receiver who can handle physical press coverage, though he is still refining his release packages against the truly elite NFL "lockdown" corners.
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Breaking Down the College Production
Higgins didn't start at the top. He began his journey at Eastern Kentucky, where he put up 757 yards and 10 touchdowns in a single season before jumping to the Big 12.
- 2023 at Iowa State: 53 catches, 983 yards, 6 TDs.
- 2024 at Iowa State: 87 catches, 1,183 yards, 9 TDs.
- Key Accolade: AP Third-Team All-American.
That 2024 season was historic for the Cyclones. He and Jaylin Noel became one of the most dangerous duos in the country. Higgins actually broke a school record by catching a touchdown in seven straight games. That kind of consistency is why he didn't fall past the early second round.
Can He Be a True WR1?
The debate around the Jayden Higgins draft profile usually settles on his ceiling. Is he a Robin or a Batman? Most analysts view him as a high-end WR2—a "winning starter" who makes life easier for everyone else. He doesn't need to be the fastest guy on the field if he can convert every red-zone target into six points.
His lack of "YAC" (yards after catch) is the biggest red flag for those who want him to be a superstar. He averaged fewer than 5 yards after the catch per reception. He’s a "catch and fall" or "catch and get tackled" kind of player. You aren't going to see many 70-yard catch-and-run highlights from him. You will, however, see him dragging a defender for an extra two yards to move the chains.
Moving Forward with Jayden Higgins
If you’re looking at Higgins for your dynasty fantasy team or just following his NFL career, keep an eye on his snap counts in the slot. While he looks like an outside receiver, his ability to find soft spots in zone coverage makes him a nightmare in the middle of the field.
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Actionable Insights for Following His Pro Career:
- Watch his release against press-man coverage; if he can beat the initial jam, he’s unstoppable.
- Track his red-zone targets, as his size makes him a natural successor to the "jump ball" specialists of the last decade.
- Monitor his chemistry with his quarterback on "scramble drills"—he’s exceptionally good at staying visible when the play breaks down.
He’s a high-floor player who provides immediate reliability. Whether he develops the elite separation skills to become a perennial Pro Bowler remains to be seen, but the foundation of size and hands is as solid as it gets in the 2025 class.