With several Iowa State players attending this year’s NFL Combine, the only questions remaining are who will draft them and when, if at all.
Where will the next wave of Cyclones start their NFL journey?
Jayden Higgins
Sports Editor Brett Twelmeyer: Round 2, Pick 38 to the New England Patriots
As much as it pains me to put Higgins on the Patriots, I think this pairing fits well.
Higgins is a tall, physical receiver who can get vertical and make some tough catches. I believe that is a trait New England wants.
The Patriots are a team that finds diamonds in the rough with receivers, but in this instance, Higgins is already a diamond, and I can see him being a huge help to a not-so-great New England offense.
If the Patriots are smart, they will build around Drake Maye.
Assistant Sports Editor Pavle Markovic: Round 2, Pick 42 to the New York Jets
I know Brett will love my pick, being the biggest Jets fan I know.
But this pick makes sense for New York because when looking at its receiver room, after losing Davante Adams, it is pretty bare bones aside from Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard.
While I don’t see Wilson slowing down anytime soon, Lazard is getting up there in age, but not to say he still won’t perform at 29.
That, along with the fact that after this next season, Lazard will be a free agent at the age of 30, so I think it would be beneficial for New York to have a successor to Lazard, and why not have it be another Cyclone?
Higgins would come in and provide an instant impact with his size and ability to play in the slot, while also being mentored by Lazard to carry on the name of the “New York Cyclones.”
Sports Reporter Cayden Storm: Round 2, Pick 40 to the New Orleans Saints
Unfortunately, I don’t believe any Cyclones will go on night one, but I don’t think it will take very long for them to start going off the board on day two, starting with Higgins.
The Saints are a team that has found themselves in the middle of the pack seemingly every year since quarterback Drew Brees retired in 2020. They are a team in desperate need of something exciting and I think Higgins could provide that excitement.
The Saints’ star wide receiver Chris Olave and starting quarterback Derek Carr struggled to stay healthy last season, but if they are able to stay healthy, Higgins could be the piece that gets New Orleans out of its constant state of mediocrity.
Jaylin Noel
Twelmeyer: Round 1, Pick 31 to the Kansas City Chiefs
Noel is a Kansas City native and was especially vocal and appreciative to play at Arrowhead Stadium against Kansas in November.
The Chiefs are proven champions, and they also seem to like speedy receivers particularly well. Guys like Tyreek Hill, Xavier Worthy and Mecole Hardman are just some of the fast pass catchers that have worn the Kansas City uniforms as of recently.
Like those guys, Noel is fast, and with a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes tossing him the rock, there’s no telling what type of success Noel could have as a Chief.
And yes, Round 1.
Markovic: Round 2, Pick 53 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I’ve seen some recent mock drafts that Noel could be picked the highest among the Cyclones eligible in this year’s draft and I could definitely see it.
Noel has shown to be excellent in multiple facets of the game, whether it be his speed and strength to be a great receiver, or to replicate that speed and swiftness in the return game.
However, I do have Noel being the second Iowa State player taken off the board and I like the fit here with Tampa Bay.
Looking into the Buccaneers’ receiver room, they were able to retain Chris Godwin with a three-year deal, while also having Mike Evans be the dominant force in the room.
However, my question here is whether they can both stay healthy. Godwin has had a rough stretch of injuries as of late, while Evans is also getting older and will be more susceptible to injuries as well.
Plugging Noel into this room, while at this pick, should provide a boost for Tampa Bay not only in the short term, but in the long term as well.
Storm: Round 2, Pick 61 to the Washington Commanders
I want to start this off by saying that I think Noel should, and probably will go higher than pick 61, but I love the idea of him joining the Commanders.
Last season, the Commanders had one of the best offenses in the NFL, led by rookie of the year quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels and the Commanders put up that impressive offensive campaign with really only one elite offensive weapon in wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
Noel’s talent in the slot would fit in perfectly with McLaurin’s ability to win on the outside, which I think could take Washington’s offense to an even higher level in Daniels’ second season.
Darien Porter
Twelmeyer: Round 2, Pick 36 to the Jacksonville Jaguars
Continuing with my somewhat optimistic expectations, I have Porter going early in the second round to a Jaguars squad that ranked near the bottom in pass defense a season ago.
Porter was praised for his athleticism at the NFL Combine and has caught the eyes of many scouts. If he doesn’t start as a cornerback right away, he could easily move into a special teams role, something he has proven to be good at.
I know it may be a stretch, but I could see Porter being taken in the first round. There’s also a possibility he drops to the third, but I doubt that happens.
Markovic: Round 2, Pick 61 to the Washington Commanders
Unlike Cayden, who thinks Noel will go to Washington at this spot, I believe that this is where Porter will end up landing.
While the Commanders traded for Marshon Lattimore this past season, their defensive back room still leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion.
I think adding a guy like Porter can boost Washington’s defense and potential special teams, if they choose to use him there, because of his athletic abilities.
While Porter might be knocked for his limited playing time at the defensive back position, his athleticism alone, along with having a great senior season, will help propel him into the second round.
We saw what the Commanders were able to do last year with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, so if they add another piece to their defense in Porter, the sky’s the limit for this team.
Storm: Round 3, Pick 68 to the Las Vegas Raiders
Porter is the toughest Cyclone for me to predict.
On one hand, I think there is an argument to be made that Porter is a top five athlete in the entire draft based on his large frame and blazing speed.
On the other hand, he only has one full year as a starter on defense after years of playing mostly on special teams.
Personally, I would take Porter much higher than what I predicted, but I think the Las Vegas Raiders are a team that could definitely pick him up if he is still on the board. New Raiders head coach Pete Carroll has drafted a cornerback of Porter’s archetype before, that player being Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen.
Carroll took Woolen in the fifth round and turned him into a pro bowler in his rookie season, so I could see him trying to run back that strategy this season with Porter.
Jalen Travis
Twelmeyer: Round 5, Pick 155 to the Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa needs protection probably more than any starting NFL quarterback. So, who better than Travis to help out with that?
Offensive linemen have been big gets in recent drafts, and the 2025 class boasts a deep room. Like his fellow Cyclones, Travis improved his stock immensely at the combine and the Senior Bowl.
Now, while I have him going somewhat early in round five, I could see him going anywhere from round five through round seven, but I expect him to be drafted. He won’t be a free agent.
Markovic: Round 5, Pick 168 to the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia and offensive linemen always seem like a match made in heaven. We saw how that line contributed to its Super Bowl run, spearheaded by superstar running back Saquon Barkley.
Now, after losing Mekhi Becton, the Eagles will be looking for some offensive line depth, but probably won’t do so until the mid-to-late rounds.
Adding a guy like Travis here can prove to be very beneficial in Philly’s quest to become back-to-back Super Bowl champions, with his versatility along the offensive line and athleticism.
Storm: Round 6, Pick 207 to the New York Jets
When you get into the later rounds, it gets harder and harder to predict what teams will do, because you never know who they will have already drafted.
However, one thing I do know is that the Jets love players from Iowa State, as shown by having players like Breece Hall, Will McDonald IV and Allen Lazard on the roster.
The Jets are definitely going to be in need of offensive linemen going into the draft and will likely draft one earlier than pick 207, but Travis can definitely serve as a quality depth piece with plenty of room to improve.
Malik Verdon
Twelmeyer: Round 7, Pick 229 to the Pittsburgh Steelers
I’ll be the odd man out here. Verdon will get drafted.
I’m not too confident in this pick, and much like Pavle and Cayden will say, there is a chance Verdon does not hear his name called.
Pittsburgh is a team that can help Verdon develop. There’s a good chance that he won’t be a starter, but he could make a push to be a second-string player and get an opportunity to see the field sometimes.
Though he was limited at the Combine, I still think that the fact that he showed up and competed in two drills says a lot about him, given the fact that he was limited last season due to injury.
Markovic: UDFA
I hope I’m wrong about this, but I think that with everything looking the way it is, on top of Verdon not fully competing at the combine, I don’t think we will be hearing his name called during the three-day slate.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Verdon can be a valuable piece to an NFL team, I just think with how everything has gone, the opportunity to be on an NFL roster will be a little tougher for the former Cyclone.
Some teams I could see Verdon being on are the Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans.
Storm: UDFA
I don’t know if it’s just my bias, but I really think that Verdon should be drafted. Unfortunately, I just did not see his name on many seven-round mock drafts when doing research on where I thought he could go.
Verdon’s size and versatility is something that NFL teams will value highly, so even if I end up being correct and he doesn’t get drafted, he should be scooped up by a team in no time.
Selfishly, if Verdon does hit free agency after the draft, I hope that the Minnesota Vikings are the team that is able to pick him up. I think that his skill set is something that would fit perfectly into Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ system.
He would also have a chance to learn under long-time star safety Harrison Smith in what is likely his final season.
Editor’s note: The predictions do not account for the possibility of traded picks.
