How Iowa State stars make a nice backup plan if Cowboys miss out on a Day 1 receiver

If the Cowboys don’t land a wide receiver in the first round, they might find their answer one of these two midwest pass catchers.

The Dallas Cowboys need to come out of the 2025 NFL Draft with a new wide receiver to pair alongside CeeDee Lamb. Failure to do so will mean another season of aggravation as we’ll spend way too much time complaining about the disappointment of Jalen Tolbert or how silly the front office was for giving up a draft pick to trade for Jonathan Mingo. Nobody wants that.

While all eyes are on the coveted 12th overall pick as the draft resource that lands the Cowboys a new wideout, there are no guarantees it will happen. There may be a “blinking light” talent not named Tetairoa McMillan or Matthew Golden that the team absolutely must have in the first round. If that happens, that puts a lot of pressure on round two to come away with a good receiver, as things get riskier the longer they wait.

Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are two players expected to be taken in the second round. While they are different types of receivers, there are similarities as they’re competitiveness and high-character nature make them a plus for any team. And only 11 yards separated these two last year, so both are appealing options and could be in the mix for the Cowboys if they target a receiver in round two.

Jayden Higgins

Measureables: Age = 22 years, Height = 6’4”, Weight = 214 pounds, Speed = 4.47

Higgins is one of college football’s best-kept secrets. His journey started at the FCS level, playing for Eastern Kentucky his first two years. His talent was evident, and he moved up to the FBS level, joining Iowa State for his final two years. He got better each year, finishing his final season with 87 catches for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns for the Cyclones.

With prototypical size and speed, Higgins is one of those box-checkers who isn’t exceptional at any one thing but good at so many things. As a former basketball star, he possesses nice athleticism. While his route-work is unrefined, he does display nice footwork and does a good job in and out of his release. Higgins’ pass-catching is a strength as he’s an excellent ball tracker with soft hands. If you throw it his way, he usually comes down with it. He’s not a big YAC guy, but he does have a little wiggle to him to extend plays. He’s a savvy receiver who does a good job of finding creases and quickly turns around to look for the ball. He plays with a purpose and is a guy who wants to make all the plays.

Where he fits with the Cowboys: Higgins is one of the safest receiver picks in the draft. While his ceiling might be questioned, he has all the physical tools and mental makeup to be an effective contributor to any offense. Similar to Lamb, Higgins is a versatile player who can line up anywhere, giving the Cowboys a lot of options. Dak Prescott loves guys who go where they’re supposed to go and who can haul down contested passes, and Higgins can do both of those things.

Consensus Board Rank: 49

Dane Brugler Big Board Rank: 45

Jaylin Noel

Measureables: Age = 22 years, Height = 5’10”, Weight = 194 pounds, Speed = 4.39

Noel’s journey at Iowa State started sooner than Higgins as he’s been there all four years of college. He was even there during Brock Purdy’s final season in college, although his production, some might say, was irrelevant as he only had 269 yards and never found the end zone. Higgin’s improved each of his next three seasons, culminating an impressive final year where he finished with 80 catches, 1,184 yards, and eight touchdowns.

While Higgins projects as a well-rounded jack-of-all-trades receiver, Noel is mostly viewed as a slot specialist. He’s undersized at just 5’10”, but he doesn’t play like it as his strength and body control allow him to be a legit fighter for the ball. Like Higgins, Noel is a cerebral player, will attack defenders, and uses his quickness and sharp route-running to create separation. But the big reward with Noel is his explosiveness. His 4.39 speed makes him dangerous in the open field, and he will annihilate defenders if he gets a chance.

Where he fits with the Cowboys: While Noel does offer some ability to play on the outside, his strength is in the slot, and this is where he’ll be used the most. There’s enough flexibility to do a little mix-and-match to keep defenses guessing, but he’s more likely to fill into a complementary role whose explosiveness will provide big rewards from time to time.

Consensus Board Rank: 64

Dane Brugler Big Board Rank: 42