The Houston Texans are looking to tap into another level during the 2025 season. This team has talent, but they have hit a wall in the postseason, getting bounced in the divisional round for two straight years.
They made it a priority to add more pass catchers to the offense for C.J. Stroud, and they accomplished that mission. They traded for Christian Kirk before adding Jayden Higgins in the second round and Jaylin Noel in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft.
While Houston's top three WRs will be Nico Collins, Higgins, and Kirk, Noel is someone fans should keep an eye out for.
Jaylin Noel Could Become Texans' Hidden Gem
Although Noel missed a few practices in minicamp, he should be ready to roll when training camp opens up on July 22 at Houston Methodist Training Center.
Over the first two days of OTAs, writer Chancellor Johnson was impressed by the young pass-catcher. On X, he expressed that Noel's quickness is something that stood out to him.
During his time at Iowa State, Noel was a speedy athlete who swiftly got in and out of his breaks as a route runner. He has outstanding hands and consistently catches the ball away from his body. Noel also has some experience returning kicks.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, he ran a 4.39 40-yard dash and a 41 1/2 inch vertical jump. In 51 games in college with Iowa State, Noel had 245 catches for 2,855 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns.
With Tank Dell's status for the 2025 season in serious doubt, Noel is someone who could take his role as the fast, deep threat who can stretch the field.
There's a reason that Houston took him with the 79th overall pick, as they felt he would be a great addition to the offense. While he may not be thrust into a starting role immediately, as the season goes on, he will be a player who makes it difficult to keep him off the field.
Training camp will be the next opportunity for Noel to impress his teammates and coaches, but it's evident he has the skillset to be a quality playmaker in the NFL.