The Houston Texans' 2025 season ended the same way the 2023 and 2024 seasons did, with a loss in the Divisional round of the playoffs. That is not a bad thing in the slightest as the franchise has won a playoff game in each of the last three seasons, and the organization can be proud of the fact that it found some more young talent that can contribute consistently.
Two of the top wide receivers in the 2025 NFL Draft were Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, and both players came out of Iowa State. Houston drafted both players on the second day of the event, which turned out to be a smart move, as both wide receivers were needed during the 2025 season.
Higgins was more involved on the offensive side of the ball during the duo's rookie season, as he hauled in 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season. He also added nine receptions for 98 yards in the postseason.
Higgins proved he has what it takes to be a contributor within this offense in the long term, and General Manager Nick Caserio spoke glowingly about the young wide receiver during his press conference at the end of the season: "I think Higgins showed he's got a chance to be a really good player. He's as productive as any of our offensive skill players over the last month or two of the season."
Noel, on the other hand, had to fight for some more opportunities. He didn't catch a pass in the postseason, and he ended the regular season with 26 receptions for 292 yards and two touchdowns. He showed his versatility though as he put up over 1,000 yards in the return game, which was a factor Caserio highlighted: "I think Higgins showed he's got a chance to be a really good player. He's as productive as any of our offensive skill players over the last month or two of the season."
It will be interesting to see how these two are involved moving forward with the Texans, especially with Tank Dell likely to return to the lineup to start the 2026 season. Dell has proven to be one of C.J. Stroud's favorite targets, so it might be difficult for Higgins and Noel to jump him in the wide receiver pecking order.
Regardless of what happens in the future, the Texans hit on these two wide receivers, as both have been productive in different areas of the game, and their roles should grow moving forward.