The 2025 NFL Draft is now behind us, as the seventh round concluded on Saturday afternoon.
The Houston Texans were active this weekend, making several trades and walking away with nine new players. Notably, the team traded back out of the first round and picked wide receiver Jayden Higgins with their first pick at No. 34.
Higgins is a big-bodied receiver who could immediately play a role on the Texans’ offense. Then, with the No. 48 pick, the team landed massive offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery from Minnesota.
Ersery will be one of the players looking to take over the left tackle spot previously held by Laremy Tunsil, who was shipped to Washington this offseason.
Elsehwere, the most notable picks the team made were of Higgins’ teammate and fellow receiver Jaylin Noel, running back Woody Marks, and safety Jaylen Reed.
It was a solid haul for the Texans, but let’s identify the best and worst pick the team made over the weekend.
Best: Round 3, Pick 79- Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
Jaylin Noel is my favorite pick from this class. The Texans were able to snag him in the third round, and many mocks had the receiver going at the beginning of the second.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Noel ends up playing a bigger role as a rookie than Higgins thanks to his ability to contribute out of the slot. Noel caught 80 passes for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024 and demonstrated an elite ability as a route-runner with sure hands and speed that teams crave.
This is great value for the Texans and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the receiver put up numbers as a rookie. There’s no telling when Tank Dell will be healthy again, so Noel has the chance to take over that role.
Worst: Round 3, Pick 97- Jaylin Smith, CB, USC
The Texans nailed their first third-round selection, but their other pick felt like a massive reach.
Jaylin Smith has sub-30-inch arms, which is a big red flag for a cornerback. The USC product also has a slight frame which could make it hard to play with the physicality and toughness that’s needed in the NFL.
I don’t mind the team selecting a corner, but a better prospect could have been had at this point. For example, the versatile Upton Stout went off the board just a few picks later. Even Quincy Riley and Mac McWilliams are corners who went off the board much later who would’ve been better fits on this defense.
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