Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel is one of the best pass catchers in the 2025 NFL Draft class. He pairs together excellent athleticism with good route running and technique to set up defenders to create separation.
Ranked seventh in PFSN’s Top 10 WRs, let’s analyse some of the potential landing spots for Noel heading into Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Top Potential Landing Spots For Jaylin Noel
Noel is an exciting prospect and one of the better receivers in this year’s class. The 22-year-old was a four-year contributor for the Cyclones and excelled as a pass catcher as well as a returner on special teams. He was primarily a slot receiver for Iowa State, and that’s likely where he will see the bulk of his snaps in the NFL.
Noel is a highly explosive athlete who displays excellent speed and acceleration. The wide receiver has just average size and play strength, and likely won’t be asked to play outside much in the NFL due to his lack of mass and length. Noel’s athleticism is near the top in this year’s class, and he offers big-play ability with how he is able to stretch the field.
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He is a good route runner and displays nuance to his game. Noel will often incorporate head and body fakes throughout the stem of his route, which allows him to set up the defender. The 22-year-old is able to sink and explode out of cuts and creates easy separation on slants and in breaking routes.
In four years at Iowa State, Noel racked up 2,855 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns on 245 receptions. He is coming off a career-best season in 2024, where he eclipsed 1,000 yards for the first time in his career, and this has resulted in a rise in his draft stock as well.
Which of the teams could now be looking to employ Noel heading into Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft?
Carolina Panthers
Noel is highly impressive at extending short RAC passes for big gains, and that YAC ability would be a huge boon to Bryce Young and the Panthers’ passing game.
Carolina ranked last in average YAC per reception (4.2), suppressing what could have been an even more impressive second-half resurgence from Young. A slot receiver like Noel would pair well with the bigger ball winners the Panthers already have in Xavier Legette and Ja’Tavion Sanders.
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Houston Texans
The Texans lost Stefon Diggs in free agency and will likely be without Tank Dell for most of the season as he works his way back from a significant knee injury he suffered last season. Jaylin Noel can come in and compete to start Day 1.
The 22-year-old plays with supercharged energy in short areas, and he has hyper-elite bursts and the speed to compound separation and threaten vertically. A cherry on top is his catching reliability; he had just a 3.4% drop rate in 2024. If the Texans need a reliable pass-catching weapon for C.J. Stroud, Noel can be that player.
Washington Commanders
The Commanders have an explosive passing attack, but they could still use another young wide receiver to come up through the ranks. A sure-handed slot receiver with top-notch athleticism, Noel would give Jayden Daniels another reliable target to throw to in Washington.