The 2025 NFL Draft runs from April 24-26, and several Iowa State football prospects are hoping to hear their name called and achieve their dream of going pro.
Cyclones star wide receiver Jayden Higgins highlights the team’s class of five players who were invited to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. They all have varying projections on if and when they’ll be selected, but sometimes players slide down draft board unexpectedly.
Here’s a look at the worst-case scenario for each Iowa State prospect:
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Jayden Higgins draft projection: Worst-case scenario
According to NFL.com, Higgins is the most highly touted Cyclone in the 2025 class and is projected to be a “plus starter” at some point in his pro career.
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His eighth-best athleticism score of all wideouts at the combine and a knack for consistently finding the end zone are what NFL scouts like to see, but when receivers get picked in drafts can sometimes be unpredictable.
Sometimes, a top player can slide because his skillset may not be what a particular team is looking for. If Higgins were to drop into the third round, it would be a surprising dissapointment.
Going to a team with a bad quarterback, too, could make for a frustrating rookie campaign.
Jaylin Noel draft projection: Worst-case scenario
With the third-best combine performance, according to NFL.com, and a 2024 season that saw him rank ninth in the nation in receiving yards (1,194) despite playing alongside another star receiver, Noel’s draft stock has surely risen in recent months.
But if Noel were to slide into the third round, it would be a disappointment. Teams may want someone with a bit more positional diversity, or think he may struggle with the physicality of the next level.
And, like any receiver, getting drafted to a team with a bad quarterback is never fun.
Darien Porter draft projection: Worst-case scenario
A 4.3 40-yard dash while being 6-foot-3 and having second-best athleticism score of all cornerbacks in this draft, according to NFL.com, will make almost every NFL team excited about Porter.
On top of that, Porter was remarkably healthy throughout his college career, setting an Iowa State record with 64 games played over six seasons, even if he started just one full year (2024).
But if Porter were to fall to the third round, it could be because of his lack of experience. That would be a bad outcome considering his immense physical tools.
Jalen Travis draft projection: Worst-case scenario
At 6-foot-8, Travis certainly has the size to stick at the NFL level, and he also tallied three years of starting experience at left tackle also.
But he has only one year of experience at a Power Four program, and teams could see that as a concern and potentially lead to Travis falling below the fifth round.
Malik Verdon draft projection: Worst-case scenario
Verdon has good size (6-foot-4) and is coming off a Second Team All-Big 12 campaign. But teams would be drafting him based more on potential than a consistent resume of production.
Going undrafted would be a worst case scenario for Verdon.
