The 2025 NFL Draft is less than a month away, and by now, most draft pundits and experts have some consensus on who the best players at each position are.
For most of the pre-draft process, Texas wideout Matthew Golden and Arizona product Tetairoa McMillan were labeled as the draft’s top two wideouts, not including cornerback-receiver hybrid Travis Hunter.
In fact, in the latest seven-round mock draft from PFSN, Golden is projected to go 12th overall to the Dallas Cowboys, followed by McMillan at No. 19 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. No other true receiver prospect is expected to be selected in the first round.
Nevertheless, one receiver prospect is seeing his draft stock rise late in the process, with a former receiver and NFL Insider touting him as the most slept-on receiver in the class.
Jayden Higgins Receives NFL Draft Hype From Steve Smith, James Palmer
Appearing on Steve Smith’s “Film Breakdown,” NFL Insider James Palmer gushed over Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins, suggesting that the Cyclones receiver is quickly rising up draft boards around the league.
“We are in love with Jayden Higgins. There are people that I talked to in the league that said, ‘I do not want you guys telling everybody what we’re seeing because I want him to slide to us,” Palmer revealed.
Smith took over the hype train from there, suggesting that many scouts and fans are beginning to realize how good of a sleeper Higgins is in this draft class.
“I’ve been seeing [a lot of people say] this is my sleeper. This isn’t my sleeper because I’m wide awake watching his film!” Smith joked.
“[He does a] great job of separation, can get in and out of breaks, can drop his weight, has the ability to be physical at the line of scrimmage, he fights through contact. When we compare him to T-Mac (Tetairoa McMillan), this is what I would love to see T-Mac do on a consistent basis, where he can fight through getting pressed up.”
Palmer ended the segment by suggesting that one team will sneak back into the first round through a trade to snag Higgins before Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
In the same PFSN mock draft, Higgins is expected to be selected at No. 56 by the Buffalo Bills. That would make him the eighth wideout off the board or ninth if you include Hunter. If Palmer and Smith are right about him, that would make him quite the steal for a Bills team that needs reinforcements at wide receiver.
In PFSN’s scouting report on Higgins, Dalton Miller commended the receiver for his route package, length, and ability to finish through contact while fighting for extra yards. However, there are questions about Miller’s speed (4.47 40-yard dash) and ability to win consistently against the best cover corners in man coverage.
The 6’3″ wideout has starred for the Cyclones over the last few seasons, catching 140 passes for 2,166 yards and 15 touchdowns over 26 games between 2023-24.
Higgins possesses prototypical length and frame density for an “X” receiver at the NFL level. But his calling card is his fluidity and manipulative predisposition on intermediate routes, which have elevated his standing in the class. Despite being nearly 220 pounds, the Cyclones wide receiver separates well at the college level through fluidity and deception.
The other reason draftniks love him is the sheer diversity of his route tree. He’s a naturally deceptive double-move receiver, and some of his secondary releases force off defenders into the spin cycle.
Beyond those trademark skills, his blocking ability could legitimately get him on the field early in his NFL career. Higgins adequately uses his length to win leverage battles against shorter-armed defensive backs.
Ultimately, the Iowa State product could be one of the draft’s best values in what has been deemed a down year at the wide receiver position. If he lands with a team that can exploit his natural route-running proficiency and proclivity for separating at the line of scrimmage, Higgins could have a significant impact in his rookie season.