Linebacker is the weakest and thinnest position on Kansas City’s defense. Nick Bolton hitting free agency after this season won’t help the situation. The Chiefs need to take stock of the top linebackers in the 2025 NFL draft and invest in some depth pieces.
Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Jay Higgins projects as a mid-round selection who could slide to the late fifth or mid-sixth round of the draft. He led all FBS defenders with 171 combined tackles last season, serving as the fixer of Iowa’s talented defense. He totaled more than 500 career special teams snaps across five different units in college, which paved the way for him to see action early in his NFL career.
Higgins lacks elite physical traits. His open-field speed, agility, arm length and frame don’t turn heads, but he plays with an elite motor. Higgins races with urgency to get outside the numbers and make plays along the sidelines. He shows off some burst to close ground and help his defensive backs make plays in space.
Higgins operates in shallow zone drops and prefers to keep receiving targets in front of him. He occasionally matches up with tight ends in off-man coverage over the slot. Higgins quickly closes on pass catchers to limit opportunities after the catch. He arrives with nice power and is an efficient wrap-up tackler.
#Iowa LB Jay Higgins has been especially impressive dropping in coverage and getting his hand on the football. Has an interception in each of the last two weeks, a nice PBU in coverage against Minnesota, and a forced fumble vs. Iowa State.
Just a steady player, good instincts. pic.twitter.com/vzxkUbC8od
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) September 24, 2024
Higgins’ athletic concerns show up in man coverage. His footwork appears heavy in coverage, and he lacks the straight-line speed and twitch to match NFL-caliber pass-catchers in space. He projects best as a high-motor prospect who rotates into the formation on run downs.
The Hawkeyes face Wisconsin at home on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. The Badgers dropped their last game against Penn State last weekend, while Iowa defeated Northwestern.