Draft Analysis: Jaylin Noel

April 19, 2025 /
  • Height: 5’10”
  • Weight: 194 lbs.
  • College: Iowa State University
  • Tape watched: UCF, Arizona State, Kansas
  • NFL Comparison: Santana Moss

Pros

  • Athleticism

Jaylin Noel ranks 96 out of 3,815 evaluated receivers since 1987 with a 9.75 RAS score. If he was two inches taller and 6 pounds heavier, we would be talking about a historic, one-of-one athlete. Noel is pure muscle and electricity. He has noticeable juice in his takeoff and speed that is both instant and sustained.

This 10-yard cushion is Thanos-snapped in seconds.
  • Route Running

Noel’s route tree isn’t exactly diverse, but he succeeds at every level. Iowa State was determined to throw the ball to Noel underneath and overtop of coverages. Noel ran most of his routes as slants, drags, streaks, and posts. He still has favorable success on intermediate routes directly attacking coverages. Noel’s advanced route metrics are among the top in this draft class with his 2.62 Y/RR and 99.9 PFF receiving grade on 20+ yard routes.

Noel has efficient and sudden route breaks. His ability to never lose his speed is impressive. Noel’s downsides can show up in man coverage where he can struggle to separate from handsy cornerbacks. He also has instances of drifting up field into coverage on crossing routes.

An instance of the limitations Noel has on the perimeter.
  • Hands

Improvements in his drop percentage over the last three years show the commitment from Noel to become a reliable target. With only four drops in 2024, two in the same Arizona State game, Noel can officially be labeled as trustworthy. His career 51% contested catch rate is excellent for his size and arm length. Noel is also a leaper for his size and will contest balls in the air as much as he will with passes on target.

Midline

  • Release

Noel’s burst and lateral agility always give him an effective release option. When he matches up against a corner that can effectively eliminate that option for Noel, things can become messy. Noel’s short arms and size will be limiting on the perimeter in the NFL. He can get jammed and held up long enough to miss the quarterback’s read.

Cons

  • YAC

Despite his excellent metrics and a sturdy frame, YAC was not part of Noel’s college game. He does not force missed tackles and will not break many, either. The tools are all there for Noel to make an unexpected leap in that facet of his game, however.

  • Size

Despite a quarter of his college snaps lined up at the perimeter receiver position, expect Noel to fully transition to a permanent slot role in the NFL. His size and tools are well suited to have clean releases and matchups against nickel corners, linebackers, and safeties. His play strength through his releases and routes needs improvement.

Overview

Jaylin Noel is hard to ignore on the football field. His speed and acceleration draw attention to the screen every single play. The forbidden comparison of Tyreek Hill is at least worth mentioning as a watered-down, college-level whisper. The body types and suddenness are hard to ignore.

Noel’s sturdier-than-most frame at his size and weight unfortunately does not show on film. He can be manipulated by aggressive defenders, specifically at the line of scrimmage, on the sideline, and in man coverage. Comparisons of Tyler Lockett, Brandin Cooks, and Santana Moss are more likely a standard for Noel to strive for. I wouldn’t be surprised if Noel sneaks his way into the first round next Thursday.