Patriots 2025 draft profile: Jayden Higgins has the makings of a starting X-receiver
Patriots 2025 draft profile: Jayden Higgins has the makings of a starting
The New England Patriots did spend some of their vast free agency resources at wide receiver, bringing in veterans Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins to bolster a group that largely underperformed in 2024. They may not be done adding players to the mix, though
With the draft coming up, the Patriots very much appear to be in the market for more receiver help. If that is indeed the case, there are several suitable players available including one of the most athletically-intriguing wideouts available: projected Day 2 pick Jayden Higgins out of Iowa State.
Name: Jayden Higgins
Position: Wide receiver
School: Iowa State
Opening day age: 22 (12/15/2002)
Measurements: 6’4 1/8”, 214 lbs, 80” wingspan, 33 1/8” arm length, 9 1/8” hand size, 4.47s 40-yard dash, 7.05s 3-cone drill, 4.28s short shuttle, 39” vertical jump, 10’8” broad jump, 16 bench press reps, 9.63 Relative Athletic Score
Colleges: Eastern Kentucky (2021-22), Iowa State (2023-24)
Accolades: Third-team All-American (2024), Second-team All-Big 12 (2024), Honorable mention All-Big 12 (2023), First-team All-ASUN (2022)
Playing both football and basketball during his high school career in the Miami metro area, Higgins generated little buzz as a two-star recruit. He ended up joining Eastern Kentucky, where he spent two seasons and caught 87 passes for 1,151 yards and 13 touchdowns in 22 games with 18 starts. His success with the Colonels prompted him to enter the transfer portal in hopes of finally getting some love from FBS schools.
That did indeed happen, and he ended up choosing Iowa State over other offers including Minnesota, Northwestern or Troy. Over his two years at the school, Higgins started 23 of his 26 games and was on the receiving end of 140 passes that he took for 2,166 yards and 15 touchdowns.
