- Harold Fannin Jr.’s record-breaking season: The Bowling Green standout produced a historic 2024 marketing campaign and topped the charts in quite a few PFF metrics, together with in-line PFF receiving grade, grade on intermediate targets and grade in opposition to zone coverages.
- Jayden Higgins could possibly be a gem on Day 2: He is certainly one of two Iowa State receivers to make this record. Higgins left his mark as a dominant exterior receiver, incomes the best PFF receiving grade within the 2025 draft class when matched in opposition to single protection.
Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
The 2025 NFL Draft season is effectively underway with the NFL Scouting Combine within the rearview. Every participant brings a novel ability set to the desk, within the hope of getting their title referred to as on the large stage. We’re breaking down the draft class’ finest gamers in every side, for each place, to get a extra knowledgeable view of the NFL hopefuls.
These are PFF’s highest-graded broad receiver and tight finish 2025 NFL Draft prospects in every key grading side.
Outside PFF Receiving Grade: WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State (89.6)
Standing at 6-foot-4 with an enormous wingspan (79 3/8 inches), Higgins is an imposing menace on the surface. His use of that measurement permits him to win contested balls downfield on the catch level regularly, which helped him rack up 26 explosive catches (15 or extra yards downfield) in 2023 — tied for essentially the most on this 12 months’s class when lined up exterior.
Slot PFF Receiving Grade: WR Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington (90.1)
While many is probably not accustomed to Chism’s sport, the two-time FCS All-American has an unbelievable resume of manufacturing, notably when working out of the slot. When lined up inside final season, Chism racked up essentially the most yards after catch (519) amongst draft-eligible gamers, contributing to his unbelievable 3.19 yards per route run.
In-Line PFF Receiving Grade (TE): Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green (94.9)
Fannin’s 2024 marketing campaign has gone down as one of the crucial productive seasons ever seen within the faculty ranks. The Bowling Green standout is a real receiving menace from an in-line spot, the place he notched 9.2 yards after catch per reception on his method to a class-leading 4.64 yards per route run and 21 explosive catches.
PFF Receiving Grade on Short Targets: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State (92.9)
As a top-eight prospect on PFF’s large board, Warren unsurprisingly options on this record. The do-it-all tight finish is a power on passes focused 9 or fewer yards downfield, the place his power and big body play to his benefit. He racked up 18 compelled missed tackles on his method to producing 244 yards after contact on these performs in 2024.
PFF Receiving Grade on Intermediate Targets: TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green (97.9)
Fannin’s record-setting 2024 season accounts for quite a few slots on this record. As a good finish, with the ability to work the intermediate a part of the sector is a useful asset that may open up an offense. On passes focused between 10-19 yards downfield, Fannin managed to constantly win on the catch level, notching an 85.7% contested catch fee — the best by any draft-eligible participant with 5 or extra targets throughout the vary.
PFF Receiving Grade on Deep Targets: WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State (96.0)
Armed with a blazing quick 4.39-second 40-yard sprint time, Noel profiles as a bona fide deep menace who can take the highest off defenses with ease. The Iowa State standout hauled in 56% of his targets 20 or extra yards downfield in 2024, producing 43.5 yards per reception — essentially the most by any participant within the class with not less than 10 deep receptions.
Late-Down PFF Receiving Grade: WR Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington (91.9)
The FCS standout once more options on this record attributable to his clutch nature on essential downs. When Eastern Washington needed to convert, they seemed to Chism to make it occur, evidenced by his large 36.1% menace share on third and fourth downs, the best clip by any participant with not less than 50 late-down snaps within the 2025 draft class.
PFF Receiving Grade on Contested Targets: WR Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville (92.6)
Although Brooks could fall into the undrafted vary, he has strong size and ball expertise to win downfield, evidenced by his class-leading PFF grade on contested targets. His 69.6% contested catch fee was the very best mark by any receiver with 12 or extra qualifying targets on this 12 months’s class. Brooks additionally notched 5 touchdowns and a 133.6 passer score when focused on contested appears.
PFF Receiving Grade vs. Single Coverage: WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State (95.1)
It’s uncommon to see such easy acceleration and savvy route-running capability from a big-bodied receiver, however that’s precisely the ability set that Higgins showcases routinely, making him a nightmare when matched with single protection. In solo protection appears this previous season, Higgins amassed 5.02 yards per route run and an unbelievable 20 explosive receptions — the highest marks amongst all draft-eligible gamers.
PFF Receiving Grade vs. Zone Coverage: TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green (98.3)
For his third entry on this record, the Bowling Green standout is being highlighted for his prowess in beating zone protection. When confronted with zone, prime or beneath protection appears, Fannin posted an enormous 43.8% menace fee. The junior tight finish led the nation in almost each zone quantity stat tracked at PFF, together with a powerful 1,159 receiving yards — almost 400 greater than the next-highest participant.
Red-Zone PFF Receiving Grade: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan (92.6)
Although he was seldom used as a receiving weapon in red-zone conditions, Loveland put up simple effectivity when the sector was shortened. He noticed simply seven targets contained in the 20-yard line in 2024 however secured 5, recording 4 scores within the course of.
Play-Action PFF Receiving Grade (TE): Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green (95.7)
Fannin caps this record following his record-breaking 2024 marketing campaign. Being capable of win off play-action appears is a staple of efficient tight finish play within the receiving sport, the place big-bodied targets can benefit from late reads and leverage to assault defenses. On passes tagged with run motion, Fannin collected 39 first downs and 25 explosive receptions — each of which had been class-leading marks.