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, so here’s a look at the best-case scenario for each Iowa State prospect:

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Jayden Higgins draft projection: Best-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.

His eighth-best athleticism score of all wideouts at the combine and a knack for consistently finding the end zone could shoot him up scouts’ draft boards. If so, Higgins’ best-case scenario could be vaulting into the first round.

The reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (No. 32) could be a good fit, where Higgins could immediately fill the No. 3 receiver role, adding a needed dimension to the offense while not being tasked with significant responsibility right away.

The Ravens (No. 27), similarly, could use a big-bodied No. 3 receiver.

Jaylin Noel draft projection: Best-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.

Noel’s skillset – small, shifty, quick – fits perfectly in the modern NFL, where slot receivers are a key part of most offenses. His return ability on special teams adds another layer of production, one that teams are likely to put a premium on with the league’s evolving kickoff rules.

His best-case scenario would likely be a high second-round selection by a team that would use him on both offense and special teams right away. The Titans (No. 35) certainly need a spark in their offense, as do the Patriots (No. 38), and maybe Noel is the answer.

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Darien Porter draft projection: Best-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).

Despite his lack of starting experience, such traits are hard to come by, and a team picking Porter in the second round would be a big development for the DB.

The Jaguars (No. 36) or Buccaneers (No. 53), two of the worst passing defenses in 2024, could see Porter as a much-needed defensive piece for the future.

Jalen Travis draft projection: Best-case scenario

At 6-foot-8, Travis certainly has the size to stick at the NFL level, and his three years of starting experience at left tackle also give him an edge to be a contributor right away.

He notched the fourth-highest athleticism score of all offensive tackles at the combine, and if teams values his combination of size, experience and measurables, Travis could vault past his fifth-round projection.

If Travis could land in the fourth round to a team that is looking for him to develop as a backup left tackle, that is likely the ideal outcome.

Malik Verdon draft projection: Best-case scenario

Verdon has good size (6-foot-4) and is coming off a Second Team All-Big 12 campaign. Teams love drafting based on potential, and Verdon has the physical tools and toughness to entice teams who need safety depth.

If Verdon gets selected in the fifth round or in the sixth to a team with veteran leadership to help him develop, that is likely his best outcome.