- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 459,970
- Reaction score
- 44
One Cyclone is nice. Two can cause a natural disaster.
After trading down nine spots and out of the first round Thursday night, the Houston Texans finally bolstered their passing attack by selecting Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins with the 34th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Midway through the third round, his counterpart from Ames remained on the board, so general manager Nick Caserio ensured that Houston grabbed fellow Iowa State star Jaylin Noel.
Noel is an explosive athlete who makes up for his overall route-running skills with strength after contact and solid hands. After posting back-to-back 60-plus catch seasons while totaling over 800 receiving yards, Noel's value as a third-round pick might make him a steal in the AFC South.
As Rocco Becht's No. 2 force, Noel totaled a career-high in receptions (80), receiving yards (1,194) and touchdowns (8) while securing another 10-win season in the Big 12.
Here's a quick rundown on Noel:
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 200 pounds
Age: 22
From: Kansas City, Missouri
Noel and second-round receiver Jayden Higgins will remain teammates with contrasting styles at their next stop. There's certainly a redundancy question given Christian Kirk's presence and the other figures in play here, but Noel is the kind of pass catcher who can further put C.J. Stroud at ease with his ability to uncover.- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
"Noel’s blend of receiving and return talent could carry more sway with teams given the league’s new kickoff rules in 2024. He’s primarily a slot receiver but has enough size and speed to kick outside in a pinch. His routes can be a little unfocused but that’s correctable with coaching. What can’t be coached is his consistent play speed. He can accelerate and separate from turns and stems and tends to uncover on cross-country routes. The catch focus can be inconsistent, but he is willing to mix it up in the middle of the field and is a natural after the ball is in his hands. Noel’s upside and punt/kick return value could make him a Day 2 pick with the potential to develop into a starter."
"Jaylin is a really good football player. Inside receiver, plays outside of formation, punt returner and handles the ball. He's tough. We got some feedback from some teams, you know, just unsolicited. Literally one of the best 30-man visits, this is after the Draft, that they had. It speaks to who Jaylin is. Get him on the phone and talk about the pick he's crying because he just poured so much into it. He cares a lot."
: This might be the best pick of the draft. Not of the Texans' draft, but the entirety of all 257 picks. Noel is a small-framed but eplosive route-runner that wins with exceptional footwork and the ability to create separation in small spaces. He's also a willing blocker that won't allow his small frame to make him a non-factor in the run game. From a perception standpoint, personality role and fit, Caserio deserves a ton of credit for doubling down on Cyclones and realizing this was the best player on the board. - Cole Thompson
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans 2025 draft pick profile: WR Jaylin Noel
Continue reading...
After trading down nine spots and out of the first round Thursday night, the Houston Texans finally bolstered their passing attack by selecting Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins with the 34th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Midway through the third round, his counterpart from Ames remained on the board, so general manager Nick Caserio ensured that Houston grabbed fellow Iowa State star Jaylin Noel.
Noel is an explosive athlete who makes up for his overall route-running skills with strength after contact and solid hands. After posting back-to-back 60-plus catch seasons while totaling over 800 receiving yards, Noel's value as a third-round pick might make him a steal in the AFC South.
As Rocco Becht's No. 2 force, Noel totaled a career-high in receptions (80), receiving yards (1,194) and touchdowns (8) while securing another 10-win season in the Big 12.
Here's a quick rundown on Noel:
The Basics
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 200 pounds
Age: 22
From: Kansas City, Missouri
Breakdown
Noel and second-round receiver Jayden Higgins will remain teammates with contrasting styles at their next stop. There's certainly a redundancy question given Christian Kirk's presence and the other figures in play here, but Noel is the kind of pass catcher who can further put C.J. Stroud at ease with his ability to uncover.- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Lance Zierlein's Scouting Report
"Noel’s blend of receiving and return talent could carry more sway with teams given the league’s new kickoff rules in 2024. He’s primarily a slot receiver but has enough size and speed to kick outside in a pinch. His routes can be a little unfocused but that’s correctable with coaching. What can’t be coached is his consistent play speed. He can accelerate and separate from turns and stems and tends to uncover on cross-country routes. The catch focus can be inconsistent, but he is willing to mix it up in the middle of the field and is a natural after the ball is in his hands. Noel’s upside and punt/kick return value could make him a Day 2 pick with the potential to develop into a starter."
What GM Nick Caserio Said
"Jaylin is a really good football player. Inside receiver, plays outside of formation, punt returner and handles the ball. He's tough. We got some feedback from some teams, you know, just unsolicited. Literally one of the best 30-man visits, this is after the Draft, that they had. It speaks to who Jaylin is. Get him on the phone and talk about the pick he's crying because he just poured so much into it. He cares a lot."
RAS Score
You must be registered for see images attach
Grade: A+
: This might be the best pick of the draft. Not of the Texans' draft, but the entirety of all 257 picks. Noel is a small-framed but eplosive route-runner that wins with exceptional footwork and the ability to create separation in small spaces. He's also a willing blocker that won't allow his small frame to make him a non-factor in the run game. From a perception standpoint, personality role and fit, Caserio deserves a ton of credit for doubling down on Cyclones and realizing this was the best player on the board. - Cole Thompson
Highlights
First Interview
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans 2025 draft pick profile: WR Jaylin Noel
Continue reading...
