It is much better to have an idea of where you stand on an incoming
talent before he is drafted, if only the public tends to cater to
popular opinion and "fit" after he is selected. Evaluating
the incoming rookie class before the draft gives us a more stable
ground on which to base our opinions and helps us avoid some of
those "popular" pitfalls.
The goal with this piece (and the other three position-by-position
summaries) is to provide a slightly quicker but still very thorough
overview of some of the top prospects that were not covered in
my draft profiles. The hope is that this exercise will give readers
all the information that could ask for as they begin preparing
for upcoming rookie drafts.
Jack Bech Draft Profile
Vitals
College: TCU
Height/Weight: 6' 1"/214
Hands: 9"
Age: 23 (at the time of the 2025 season opener)
Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): Late-career Hines
Ward
Best Team Fit(s): Chargers, Texans, Jets, Rams,
Cowboys
Bottom Line
As one might expect for a 6-1 and 214-pound receiver, Bech is
put together very well physically. This makes him hard to knock
off his route and a beast after the catch despite what his run-after-catch
metrics from this year might say. He is a rare tone-setter at
receiver, as he loves to take the fight to the defense after the
catch and as a blocker. While he is unlikely to be much of a downfield
threat in the pros, he is very good at tracking the ball and using
his body in contested-catch situations. He recorded a 1.6 percent
drop rate in 2024 and a 2.9 percent drop rate for his career,
so he will almost certainly catch any pass he should be catching.
For as much as it sounds like he is a bit of a brute, he is surprisingly
smooth and twitchy for a bigger receiver. Between his good footwork
and willingness to be physical, he should be able to win consistently
as a short and intermediate receiver in the NFL. Regarding Bech's
ability to stretch the field, it isn't so much that he can't do
it as it is that NFL teams will almost certainly have two or three
players on the roster who should be doing it instead.
While he was generally able to evade press coverage when he faced
it in college, he will probably need to vary up his releases more
often to power through it in the pros because his relative lack
of speed will almost certainly invite it despite how physical
he is. His play style also lends itself to getting hurt, which
happened in each of his final three years of college. One other
concern with him is how few games he actually took over, although
one could easily use the argument that 2024 was his sophomore
season given how much time he lost with injuries in 2022 and 2023.
The expectation should be for him to be a Day 1 starting slot
for an offense that wants to lean into how aggressive and physical
he is. He should eventually become a very capable Z receiver,
ideally for a running team that will value his ability to pick
up yards after the catch and block.
Jaylin Noel Draft Profile
Vitals
College: Iowa State
Height/Weight: 5' 10"/194
Hands: 8 3/4"
Age: 23 (at the time of the 2025 season opener)
High-end NFL Player Comp(s): A more explosive Christian Kirk
Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): Braxton Berrios
Best Team Fit(s): Bears, Titans, Cardinals, Raiders, Jets
Bottom Line
Seemingly everything Noel does happens instantly, as his outstanding
Combine metrics would suggest. Noel mixes up his releases well
and is very quick, which makes him hard to press. He is also the
rare player who seems not to lose any speed coming out of his
breaks. He is built well despite sporting a smaller frame and
is plenty tough, which likely contributes to his willingness to
return kicks and punts as well as work over the middle. While
he is not quite a finished product as a route-runner, it is scary
to think what he might become if and when he gets there. Noel
was especially good on deep targets (20-plus yards) in 2024. His
catch rate (56 percent) and yardage (609 yards) were both top-five
in FBS among receivers with at least 20 deep targets. Additionally,
he ranked third in FBS with eight catches of 50 or more yards
over the last two seasons.
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Noel's profile is the
run-after-catch ability. Why? He was a particularly good punt
returner in 2024 and held that job throughout his college career.
That alone should translate to a player who makes things happen
in space. He is also built well enough to break a tackle or two,
but even those dried up as his career progressed (three forced
missed tackles last year). When he does significant damage after
the catch, it is usually downfield and not on shorter routes.
Regardless of a receiver's (vertical) explosiveness, it is extremely
rare for a smaller receiver to win on contested catches consistently
and that is the case with Noel as well.
Even though the NFL seems to be normalizing smaller and quicker
receivers again, Noel will probably be limited to being a "Z"
receiver who specializes in beating man coverage and moves inside
in 11 personnel (three-wide) sets - much like Christian Kirk.
It would not surprise me if Noel's career does not mirror Kirk's
in some regard.
Kyle Williams Draft Profile
Vitals
College: Washington State
Height/Weight: 5' 11"/190
Hands: 8 3/4"
Age: 22 (at the time of the 2025 season opener)
Best Team Fit(s): Titans, Bears, Cardinals, Raiders
Bottom Line
In a few words, Williams is dynamic with the ball in his hands.
He averaged 8.1 yards after the catch on short passes (0-9 yards)
in 2024, which was a top-five mark in the country. Among pass-catchers
with at least 11 targets behind the line of scrimmage, he averaged
an ungodly FBS-best 16.2 yards after the catch. He was credited
with 21 missed tackles forced as well. I fear those numbers may
push his next team to consider him as no more than a schemed-touch
receiver, but it would ignore what he can do as a vertical threat.
Among receivers with at least 15 deep targets (20-plus yards),
he was eighth in FBS in catch rate (58.3 percent) and tied for
fifth with six touchdowns on his 14 such catches. While his 4.40
timed speed may sound about average for a smallish receiver, defenders
rarely ever close the gap on him once he has run by them. He also
proved he could produce consistently as a perimeter receiver.
Not only did he line up outside 74 percent of the time in 2024,
but he also went 10-for-16 on contested catch opportunities. That
is not how he will most likely win at the next level, but it is
at least nice to know he has that in his bag.
On the negative side, he is not quite as sudden as one might
expect from a player with his frame. This is the primary reason
he falls behind Jaylin Noel. Williams' footwork needs to improve,
so his routes need polish. Much like Noel, Williams' size might
limit his ability to play on every down. He was not challenged
physically during his route very often, but his lack of play strength
did show up occasionally at the catch point. His hand size (8
3/4 inches) is not ideal, although it should be noted drops were
never much of an issue at Washington State.
In my eyes, Williams profiles as a receiver that could (and probably
should) be used in the way Marvin Mims was at the end of last
season for the Broncos but with a bit more time in the slot. Williams'
run-after-catch skills are too good not to get him involved on
schemed touches and he is too dynamic down the field to underutilize
as a field-stretcher.
Elic Ayomanor Draft Profile
Vitals
College: Stanford
Height/Weight: 6' 2"/206
Hands: 10"
Age: 22 (at the time of the 2025 season opener)
Best Team Fit(s): Chargers, Patriots, Cowboys, Texans, Jaguars,
Raiders, Jets, Seahawks
Bottom Line
There is a phrase many scouts live by: grade the flashes. Despite
being saddled with average-at-best quarterback play in his two
seasons at Stanford, Ayomanor flashed plenty. The most memorable
was the 13-294-3 line he hung on Colorado as a redshirt freshman.
(Yes, some of it came against Travis Hunter, but not nearly all
of it.)
In a world where many receivers are divas who do not like to
get their hands dirty, Ayomanor is the opposite. It is not hard
to imagine him serving as a team captain and emotional leader
early in his NFL career because it means that much to him. He
may be the most physical receiver in this draft class, which shows
up in a big way as a blocker. His highlight reel is full of some
of the college football's most jaw-dropping catches. Most encouragingly,
it does not feel like he has come remotely close to reaching his
ceiling yet. Why do I say that? Because he played two years of
college football (sat out as a freshman in 2022 due to injury
and redshirted) and did not have the luxury of playing with a
high-level quarterback at Stanford.
Ayomanor enters the draft with the same issue that dogged Brian
Thomas Jr. at this time last year. He looks great, but how much
can his next team buy into a player whose route tree was so limited?
Much like Thomas (career 5.3 yards after the catch at LSU), Ayomanor's
YAC likely suffered because the route he was targeted on the most
by far (hitch, 35 times in 2024) is not a YAC-friendly route.
I think run after catch will quickly become a strength for him,
but the Cardinal did him no favors with the routes they asked
him to run or their lack of slot usage - so it is a projection.
The biggest wart on Ayomanor's profile was his 8.7 percent drop
rate in each of his two college seasons. Given some of the circus
catches he made, the most likely reason for his drops was lack
of concentration. Considering the aforementioned issues, it may
be too much to ask of him to become a rock-solid starter as a
rookie. With that said, it is obvious he is made of the right
stuff and willing to work. It should not come as a shock to anyone
if he is a Year 2 breakout and carves out a long career as a solid
complementary receiver.
Jalen Royals Draft Profile
Vitals
College: Utah State
Height/Weight: 6' 0"/205
Hands: 9 1/2"
Age: 22 (at the time of the 2025 season opener)
Important NFL Combine Numbers
40-Yard Dash: 4.42
Vertical Jump: 36"
High-end NFL Player Comp(s): Jauan Jennings
Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): Jermaine Kearse
Best Team Fit(s): Chargers, Raiders, Jaguars, Seahawks, Texans,
Cowboys
Bottom Line
Perhaps the best trait Royals brings to his new team is his run-after-catch
ability. Despite missing nearly half the season, his 17 missed
tackles forced was tied for 25th in FBS. His 1.49 10-yard split
is exceptional and was the best in the draft class. Not only is
he explosive, but he is also built as well as any receiver we
will discuss. The combination of power and explosiveness makes
it easy to understand why he is lethal when a defense tries to
press him or once he gets the ball in open space. To that end,
Royals' 7.9 yards after the catch per reception ranked fifth in
the country among receivers with at least 80 targets last year.
He was money in contested-catch situations in 2023 (17-of-23),
but opponents appeared to wise up to him in 2024 in that regard.
As a likely eventual No. 2 receiver in a pro offense (meaning
less defensive attention) and with a better quarterback, I would
be willing to bet he will end up being good in contested-catch
situations again in the NFL.
Royals is yet another receiver in this draft class whose pro
readiness was hindered by his play-calling staff and the limitations
of his quarterback. Why do I say that? Royals was targeted 81
times in the seven games he played. Screens accounted for 23.4
percent of his targets, while hitches accounted for 22.2 percent
and in routes accounted for 12.3 percent. In short, the three
aforementioned routes made up about 58 percent of his route-running
portfolio in 2024.
As one might imagine from a receiver who ran so many routes that
do not require a ton of nuance, Royals' route-running is average
at best. Much like Tre Harris at Ole Miss (more on him in a minute),
Royals typically lined up a couple of yards away from the sideline
and was given a huge area to run himself open. It is incredibly
difficult to evaluate receivers who line up in a way they won't
in the pros and are not allowed to run many different routes,
which is the primary reason Royals finds himself this low in my
rankings. Royals also does not threaten too many defenders vertically,
so he could be limited to mostly short and intermediate usage
in the NFL.
It would not be shocking if he needs a couple of years to develop
into a well-rounded receiver, but the power and run-after-catch
ability should be enough to get teams excited about him as an
eventual high-end complementary receiver.
Tre Harris Draft Profile
Vitals
College: Ole Miss
Height/Weight: 6' 2"/205
Hands: 9 5/8"
Age: 23 (at the time of the 2025 season opener)
High-end NFL Player Comp(s): A less physical Jauan Jennings
Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): Gabe Davis
Best Team Fit(s): Raiders, Cowboys, Titans, Giants
Bottom Line
As I alluded to a bit ago with Jalen Royals, teams are already
in the projection business when it comes to drafting players.
Figuring out what Harris can be at the next level takes that to
an extreme. PFF charted Harris with 28 targets on hitch routes
and 11 on screens, accounting for just over half of his targets
for the 2024 season. The only other route he was targeted on more
than five times was the post.
Quite honestly, the bulk of evaluators' opinions on him will
likely be based on those eight post targets because hitches -
especially against off coverage - and screens tell us very little
about a receiver. Harris turned those eight post targets into
five catches for 227 yards and three touchdowns. He gets the "deceptively
fast" tag because he was so successful at getting behind
corners - even during SEC play - which speaks to how well he sells
his routes and the fact he is a long-strider. As one might expect
from a receiver that goes 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds and was used
so often on screens, he can do some work after the catch.
It is likely obvious at this point that Harris' shortcomings
may be as much what he wasn't asked to do as much as what his
actual weaknesses are. PFF credited him for going 8-for-13 on
contested catches in 2024, but how much can that be chalked up
to small sample size? His catches in those situations were good
but not exactly great. He is not an explosive athlete, nor does
he create much separation. As noted earlier, it is hard to say
if he is a capable route-runner because three routes accounted
for roughly 60 percent of his targets and one of those three routes
was a screen. He has one primary release move against press coverage,
which is another thing that will have to change in the NFL. He
is inconsistent at best as a blocker. He also missed six games
over his last two seasons due to injury.
Unsurprisingly, it would be shocking if he is an impact player
as a rookie because there is so much he would have to be competent
at that he hasn't been asked to do. Despite his success in 2024,
Harris strikes me as more of a possession receiver who might eventually
emerge as his team's top red zone option.
Isaiah Bond Draft Profile
Vitals
College: Texas
Height/Weight: 5' 11"/180
Hands: 8 1/2"
Age: 21 (at the time of the 2025 season opener)
Important NFL Combine Numbers
40-Yard Dash: 4.39
High-end NFL Player Comp(s): Jaylen Waddle
Low-end NFL Player Comp(s): John Metchie
Best Team Fit(s): Dolphins, Raiders, Panthers, Seahawks, Bears
Bottom Line
Much like Jaylen Waddle and Jameson Williams before him at Alabama,
Bond can change the way a defense plays by himself with his raw
speed. Also like Waddle and Williams, he also has the flexibility
and loose hips to break off his route more quickly than any cornerback
could hope to counter. He does not break off his routes quite
as often or violently as Jerry Jeudy, but he probably could if
he wanted or needed to. Unlike Williams, Bond surprisingly does
not mind getting a bit physical after the catch or running routes
over the middle. His acceleration is as good as anyone in the
draft class and may scare some NFL teams from pressing him because
he probably will not get caught from behind if he beats the initial
jam.
Unfortunately, Bond appears to be one of those production vs.
traits prospects that comes out in every draft. He topped 100
yards in a game only once in his career and never posted more
than 668 receiving yards in a season despite predominately playing
with two likely Day 2 quarterbacks in the draft this year (Jalen
Milroe and Quinn Ewers). He tracks the ball well but is not a
player who was overly effective in contested-catch situations
(6-for-19 over his career).
He was horrible on deep targets (20-plus yards) in two of his
three years in college, although it is possible his quarterbacks
were more to blame for that than he was. Nevertheless, he seems
uncertain at best catching the ball with his hands consistently
despite evidence to the contrary (his game-winning catch in the
Iron Bowl in 2023, for example). As one might expect for someone
his size, he will not break many tackles and can be taken out
of the play by a good press corner, which he will see a lot more
often in the NFL. It is that last part that could make him more
of a package player early on unless his new team has a clear X
receiver, which will free Bond to play off the line of scrimmage.
Bond has a chance to be a dangerous NFL receiver if his play-caller
is smart enough to keep him on the move so he does not have to
face physical coverage nearly as often, but the list of the teams
that have one of those coordinators who will also overlook Bond's
lack of contributions as a blocker is a short one.
Doug Orth has written for FFToday since 2006 and joined the
Fantasy Points website before the start of the 2024 season. He is
also a highly successful high-stakes player who often appears as
a guest analyst on Sirius XM. Doug is also a member of the Fantasy
Sports Writers Association. Please check out his new podcast with
JJ Wenner called "The All-Out Blitz."
