Five Wideouts Patriots Could Target On Day 2 Of NFL Draft

After striking out on Chris Godwin and opting not to pursue DK Metcalf, the Patriots inch closer to the 2025 NFL Draft with a never-ending need at wide receiver.

New England executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf told reporters at the NFL scouting combine he felt the draft was “a little meatier in the middle,” specifically referencing the receiver position. Those comments indicate New England could opt to address a different need before wide receiver, thus opening the door for a Day 2 wideout.

Trevor Sikkema, lead NFL draft analyst for Pro Football Focus and co-host of the “NFL Stock Exchange,” name-dropped five players who could make sense for the Patriots when he joined NESN’s “Foxboro Rush” podcast.

Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler: No. 48 prospect; ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: WR8
Higgins was among the big winners of the NFL scouting combine. The 6-foot-4, 214-pound receiver showed his athleticism with his 4.47 40-yard dash, 39-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-8 broad jump. Higgins’ impressive ball skills helped him catch 87 passes for 1,183 yards and a team-high nine receiving touchdowns in 2024.

Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Brugler: No. 72 prospect; Kiper: WR9
Noel was another standout at the NFL scouting combine as he displayed his straight-line speed (4.39 40-yard dash) and burst (6.82 three-cone drill). The Iowa State product projects primarily as a slot receiver but has respectable size (5-foot-10, 194 pounds) if kicked outside. He finished with 80 catches for 1,194 yards in 2024.

“Jayden Higgins and Jaylin (Noel), both from Iowa State, are two I think they would love,” Sikkema said.

Jack Bech, TCU
Brugler: No. 74 prospect; Kiper: WR7
Bech is a strong inside-outside target with impressive ball skills and focus at the catch point. After starting his collegiate career at LSU, Bech transferred to TCU and ultimately led the team with 62 receptions for 1,034 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns in 2024 (12 games).

Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
Brugler: No. 90 prospect
Sikkema referenced Ayomanor’s track background, which was evidenced by his 40-yard dash (4.44).

“He’s got the size to him,” Sikkema said of the 6-foot-2, 206-pound wideout.

Following his tenure at Deerfield Academy (Deerfield, Mass.), Ayomanor surpassed 1,000 yards in 2023 and led Stanford with a career-best 63 receptions for 831 receiving yards and caught six touchdowns in 2024. The Second Team All-ACC honoree had six 100-yard games at Stanford.

Xavier Restrepo, Miami
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound slot is a smooth route-runner who can punish both zone and man-to-man defenses. The Miami product recorded 154 receptions for 2,219 yards and 17 touchdowns over his final two seasons, including career-highs in yards (1,127) and touchdowns (11) during his All-American campaign in 2024.

“Those are a handful of players that come to my mind, that I think could be very productive in this system,” Sikkema said while recapping the five. “It just depends on what production they’re going to get from some of the guys they have on the roster right now.”

You can listen to the full conversation on YouTube and Spotify.