Chicago Bears NFL Draft Target: Jaylin Noel

Stephanie Amador Blondet - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 5 hours ago

The week has finally arrived as the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay is upon us. Sure, things don't officially get underway until Thursday evening, but with all of the festivities starting this week, things are about to get real in a hurry. When it comes to the Chicago Bears, they are prepping for what could be a very special night, as the results of this draft could alter the course of this franchise.

New head coach Ben Johnson has a vision for this team, and throughout the offseason, he has instilled that vision within the organization. Now, Johnson has a chance to build on that vision by having the No. 10 pick in the first round and four picks in the top 75. That alone makes them one of the more exciting teams in the entire draft, as the Bears are in the perfect position to not only land a franchise-caliber player in round one, but also pick up some outstanding talent in round two.

One of the players who could provide some offensive talent to the Bears in round two is Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel, who is emerging as a round two talent. With Keenan Allen no longer on this roster, the Bears have done a great job adding some wide receiver depth to their roster, but a player like Noel would give the Bears another young option capable of being a special player in this league.

A bit undersized at 5-11 and 200 pounds, Noel fits better as a slot receiver, but also plays bigger than his size would indicate. Take last season, for example, when he had 1194 yards and eight touchdowns on 80 receptions for the Cyclones. That gave him more than 2600 yards across his four-year career, as Noel emerged as the Cyclones' go-to wide receiver option the past two seasons.

Looking beyond the stats is where the truth lies about what type of prospect Noel is and what could make him one of the more underrated players in this year's draft. Listed as the No. 8 overall receiver, most scouts are instantly intrigued by his 4.39 40 speed and what that could mean at the next level.

You saw a lot of what he could in college. That speed made him a threat in both the receiving and return game, as Iowa State tried to maximize his speed on the field. Given the new kickoff rules that have been implemented, whoever drafts Noel will consider him in the return game, as he has the potential to take it to the house every time.

Given his lack of sheer size, Noel fits best as a wide receiver at the next level, but he could be used sparingly on the outside based on the formation. At this point, he is not a true route runner, but that can be fixed with proper coaching, and Noel will have the coaching in Chicago to make those corrections.

What can’t be coached is his consistent play speed. He can accelerate and separate from turns and stems, and tends to uncover on cross-country routes. The negative surrounding that aspect is his inability to catch the ball consistently, as he has had issues with drops in the past. However, once the ball is in his hands, he is the definition of a playmaker and one a lot of teams are going to look to on day two of the draft.

Even with the current Bears wide receiver room and the weapons they have already assembled, Johnson is just getting started. He knows a thing or two about a loaded offense. Just look at his time with the Lions, when Detroit not only had a loaded offense but one filled with depth.

That is the next stage of the Bears' offseason, as they will use the draft to continue building up their depth while wave two of free agency will round out their roster. Noel's name will add depth to the wide receiver room, but his overall play-making ability will give him the opportunity to be a significant contributor on day one.