Noel is productive and explosive, but is he right for the Giants?
We often find that bigger prospects get the most attention. However, players have repeatedly shown once they get in the NFL that size isn’t a skill set — what matters is how they use the traits they have.
Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel is a short receiver at 5-foot 9 3⁄4 inches, 196 pounds, but he is also highly productive and can win in a variety of ways. Whether it’s his twitchy athleticism or savvy route running, he can be a real headache for defenses.
The New York Giants might not be interested in a receiver with Noel’s stature, but they need all the help they can get on offense. Could they still pick him if the value is right?
Prospect: Jaylin Noel (13)
Games Watched: vs. Iowa (2024), vs. West Virginia (2024), vs. Texas (2024)
Measurables
Height: 5-foot 9 3⁄4 inches
Weight: 196 pounds
Arm length: 30 1/8 inches
Hand size: 8 1⁄2 inches
Strengths
Best traits
- Quickness and agility
- Route running
- Separation
- Run after catch
- Competitive toughness
Noel is a smart, compact, versatile, and athletic receiver prospect.
Noel is a springy athlete with great quickness and agility, as well as solid explosiveness and long speed. He resembles nothing so much as a Jack Russell terrier on the field, and runs every route with high energy, even if he’s schemed traffic or a misdirection. And while Noel might not be a true speedster, he has enough long speed to be a deep threat.
Noel primarily played out of the slot for Iowa State, though he also played out wide relatively frequently and even as an H-back on occasion. He’s a smart, savvy route runner who understands how to use every aspect of his route as a weapon against the defense.
He has a varied and efficient release package and is able to get into his route easily regardless of the coverage. He’s careful to vary his stride length, as well as the tempo and pathing of his route stem to influence defenders and create opportunities to separate at the top of his routes. Noel makes full use of head and body fakes, and combines those with very quick cuts and breaks. He’s a natural separator who understands how to find the open field against zone coverage and break ankles when matched up in man coverage.
Finally, he’s a dangerous player with the ball in his hands. His separation ability usually means that he has space to work with, while his explosiveness and agility allow him to break off chunk yardage. He might not outrun the fastest defensive backs, but most safeties will struggle to keep up with him.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Size
- Hand span
Noel’s primary weaknesses all stem from his stature. At 5-foot 9 ¾ inches, he’s short for an NFL player, and while that does enhance his natural quickness and agility, it also imposes other limitations on his game.
Most notably, Noel has a relatively small catch radius. Even with impressive adjustments and body control to contort and maximize his catch radius, it’s still lacking compared to even average sized receivers. He doesn’t allow tight coverage often, but he’ll struggle to get a handle on the ball in traffic or contested catch situations. Likewise, he has very small hands for an NFL receiver at 8 ½ inches. He’s sure-handed with just a 3% drop rate in 2024, however drops might be an issue with a bigger ball, faster game, and tighter coverage at the NFL level.
Finally, while Noel is a competitive blocker and has the play strength to be a viable blocker on the perimeter, his length makes it difficult for him to control defenders.
Game Tape
(Noel is the Iowa State receiver wearing No. 13)
Projection
Noel projects as a starting slot receiver with scheme diversity at the NFL level.
He’s a pro-ready route runner and he should be able to find a role in any offensive scheme. He has the speed and ball skills to be a threat in a vertical offense, while his route running and separation ability will be an asset in West Coast based schemes. He understands how to operate as a part of greater route concepts, and is unselfish without the ball in his hands.
Noel is far from the most imposing receiver in the draft, however he could be one of the most dangerous. He has the potential to be an impact player if he lands in the right situation.
Does he fit the Giants?
Probably not
Final Word: A later Day 2 value
