It’s no secret that the Big 12 Conference featured some of the nation’s best wide receivers in 2024, and that fact was significantly reflected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Heading into draft day, the Big 12 Conference was home to the top four pass catchers in the draft, in terms of drop rates.
Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins was listed atop the drop rates list, with a rate of just 1.4%. His stock steadily rose throughout the draft process, nearly climbing into the first round. He was selected by the Houston Texans with the 34th overall pick and is set to reunite with his Cyclone teammate, Jaylin Noel (No. 8 drop rate), in Houston, whom the Texans were also able to draft.
Following Higgins is a two-way tie between Heisman-winner Travis Hunter and TCU’s Jack Bech, who shared a 1.5% drop rate. Hunter was the first non-quarterback selected in the draft at No. 2 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who traded up to get him, while Bech fell to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 58.
The fourth notable name on the list was Arizona’s standout wide receiver prospect Tetairoa McMillian, who was selected with the eighth overall pick by the Carolina Panthers. He checked in at No. 4 on the drop rate list with a rate of 3.5%.
