Texans draft WR Jaylin Noel: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
The Houston Texans further bolstered their receiving corps on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel in the third round with the No. 79 pick.
Noel, who's listed at 5-foot-10 and 194 pounds, is a bit undersized, but the former Cyclone was a reliable option in the slot during his time in the Hawkeye State.
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The wideout blossomed from a true freshman and depth piece for current San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy into an impactful three-year starter. Noel, following a second-team All-Big-12 selection as a junior, corralled 80 receptions for a team-high 1,194 yards and with eight touchdowns as a senior. He was also named first-team All-Big-12 as a returner and earned Big-12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year honors after averaging 17.7 yards per kick return and 15.2 yards per punt return.
With his ability to stretch the field and play special teams, Noel, after finishing his collegiate career with a flourish and impressing at the NFL combine, could quickly prove his value as a versatile receiver for coach DeMeco Ryans. Noel left Iowa State ranked second (245) and fourth (2,851) in career receptions and receiving yards, respectively.
In the second round, the Texans selected Noel's college teammate Jayden Higgins with the 34th overall pick.
Noel ranked No. 42 in Dane Brugler's top 300 big board. Here's what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:
'A sturdy and speedy athlete, Noel is smooth in and out of his breaks and plays with 'stickum' hands to consistently secure throws away from his body. Despite not being much of a tackle-breaker, he has a pull-away gear (with or without the ball) that makes him a playmaker (eight catches of 50 yards or more over the past two seasons, third-most in the FBS). Overall, Noel is a smaller target but very quarterback-friendly because of the confidence he has in his hands and his athletic versatility, which makes him tough to cover. His scouting report and college tape give flashbacks to those of Christian Kirk when he was an NFL Draft prospect. Noel can have a similar pro career.'
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Jaylin Noel NFL Draft Tape 🎥#Big12FB | @CycloneFB pic.twitter.com/cdYEGvWIo2
— Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) April 14, 2025
Come back later for more analysis of Noel.
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