Fantasy Football Today: 2025 NFL Draft Wide Receiver Prospects Part 2
Release Date: April 18, 2025
Hosts:
- Heath Cummings (Host)
- Derek Brown (Fantasy Pros Analyst)
- Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, Heath Cummings, and the CBS Sports Fantasy Football Crew
Introduction and Overview
In the second part of their rookie wide receiver preview for the 2025 NFL Draft, Heath Cummings and Derek Brown delve into the analysis of wide receiver prospects ranked 7 through 12 in the consensus rankings. The discussion centers around evaluating the skills, potential, and draft prospects of key players such as Jaden Higgins, Tory Horton, Jaylen Noel, Elic Ayomanor, Jack Besh, and Xavier Restrepo. Additionally, they touch upon the status of Travis Hunter and its implications on the rankings.
Draft Preparation Insights
Heath Cummings opens the discussion by inviting Derek Brown to talk about his draft preparation.
Derek Brown emphasizes the importance of combining analytics with film study:
"My biggest thing is just trying to marry the two. [...] using data and the film to do so." [03:19]
He highlights the resources available on fantasypros.com, including mock drafts, positional primers, and his Top 100 Skill Players list, which will be live before the draft.
Wide Receiver Analysis
1. Jaden Higgins (Iowa State) – Consensus Rank: 7
Derek Brown places Jaden Higgins higher in his personal rankings compared to the consensus, positioning him at wide receiver five.
"Jaden Higgins, he's wide receiver seven in the consensus. He's my wide receiver five." [09:25]
Key Points:
- Versatility: Excels both in the underneath game and as a field stretcher.
- Efficiency: Ranked top 15 in various efficiency metrics.
- Health Concerns: Significant back injury in 2023, pending medical clearance.
- Draft Projection: Potential late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick.
2. Tory Horton – Consensus Rank: 8
Derek Brown praises Tory Horton for his physicality and route-running skills despite a limited final collegiate season due to a knee injury.
"Tori Horton just jumps off the page. [...] we're going to get 1200 receiving yards, 10 plus touchdowns." [06:26]
Key Points:
- Physicality: Strong at the catch point and through contact.
- Efficiency: 3.4 yards per route run and high ranks in missed tackles forced.
- Draft Projection: Likely a third-round pick with high upside.
3. Jaylen Noel (Iowa State) – Consensus Rank: 8
Jaylen Noel is lauded for his performance at the Senior Bowl and combine, showcasing his ability to win contested catches and excel in various receiving roles.
"He just kept getting open at will." [18:00]
Key Points:
- Athleticism: Runs a 4.39s 40-yard dash, impressive vertical leap.
- Versatility: Proven ability to play both perimeter and slot roles.
- Draft Projection: Top of the second round, with potential if he joins a suitable NFL team.
4. Elic Ayomanor (Stanford) – Consensus Rank: 9
Elic Ayomanor is recognized for his physical play and ability to stretch the field, though concerns about his consistency and drop rate remain.
"A guy that I like him, I don't love him as maybe some other people in the space." [23:12]
Key Points:
- Strengths: Detailed route running, powerful reception skills.
- Weaknesses: Footwork issues, telegraphs routes, high drop rate.
- Draft Projection: Positioned around wide receiver eight in Derek's rankings.
5. Jack Besh (TCU) – Consensus Rank: 10
Jack Besh stands out for his technical skills and versatility, capable of lining up in multiple receiver positions without possessing elite speed.
"He wins with the finer points of wide receiver play with his ability with releases, his route running." [34:33]
Key Points:
- Skill Set: Excellent route runner, strong in contested catches.
- Versatility: Can play both inside and outside receiver roles.
- Draft Projection: Likely a third-round pick, with some teams potentially selecting him in the late second round.
6. Xavier Restrepo (Miami) – Consensus Rank: 12
Xavier Restrepo is scrutinized for his disappointing 40-yard dash time and limited athleticism, overshadowing his analytical strengths.
"It's a very confined role. The draft capital is not going to be there." [41:20]
Key Points:
- Athleticism: Poor 40-yard dash time (4.8s), limiting his stretch potential.
- Role Limitation: Primarily a slot receiver with minimal depth as an outside threat.
- Draft Projection: Likely a late-round pick or possibly going undrafted.
Travis Hunter: A Controversial Topic
Heath Cummings raises questions about Travis Hunter, a widely discussed prospect expected to transition primarily to a wide receiver role. Derek Brown provides a critical perspective, contrasting Hunter’s performance with other top receivers.
"When you stack up his numbers versus Tedro and McMillan, they're not comparable." [45:31]
Key Points:
- Performance Metrics: Hunter ranks lower in yards per route run and efficiency against man coverage compared to peers.
- Skill Development: Needs improvement in route efficiency and avoiding telegraphed movements.
- Ranking Discrepancy: Despite hype, Hunter is not deemed the top receiver prospect based on current analytics and film.
Conclusion and Upcoming Content
Derek Brown wraps up by directing listeners to fantasypros.com for comprehensive draft preparation resources, including positional primers and his NFL Draft show on YouTube. Heath Cummings thanks Derek Brown and encourages listeners to tune in next week for further insights, including tight end evaluations and additional draft analysis.
Notable Quotes:
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Derek Brown on Jaden Higgins’ Potential:
"If you put him into a power slot role, you put him into a 50-50 outside and inside type of role." [09:25]
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Derek Brown on Tory Horton’s Efficiency:
"I think if you put him on the perimeter, ask him to win, ask him to stretch the field sometimes." [06:26]
-
Derek Brown on Xavier Restrepo’s Limited Role:
"It's a very confined role. The draft capital is not going to be there." [41:20]
For more insights and detailed player analyses, be sure to visit fantasypros.com and follow the Fantasy Football Today podcast on your preferred streaming platform.