Houston Texans Draft WR Jaylin Noel 79th Overall

Both Iowa State receivers are coming to Houston!

With the 79th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans select: WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State. Nick Caserio is double dipping in Iowa State!

General manager Nick Caserio must’ve watched the highlights of this prolific college duo at Iowa State and decided he wanted to bring the whole package down to Houston! Jaylin Noel, the other highly rated Iowa State wide receiver opposite of Jayden Higgins (Houston’s first 2025 Draft selection), is a speedy slot receiver that’ll remind you of current Texans WR Tank Dell. His 2024 statistics at Iowa State are:

• 14 Games
• 80 Receptions
• 1,194 Yards
• 14.9 Y/R
• 8 Touchdowns
• 9 Rushing Attempts, 38 Rushing Yards
• 13 Punt Returns, 199 Yards, 15.3 Y/Ret
• 3 Kick Returns, 53 Yards, 17.7, KRTD

His Combine results are:

• Height: 5’ 10”
• Weight: 194 lbs.
• Arm: 29 ½:
• Hand 8¾”
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.39s
• 10-Yard Split: 1.51s
• Vertical Jump: 41.5”
• Bench Press: 23 Reps

Here’s what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had to say about Jaylin Noel:

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.

Noel is quite the talented receiving option in the slot, effective at using his footwork and speed to gain separation early and rack up yards. He’s got game-breaking speed and acceleration that functioned as a perfect compliment to Higgins’ outside role for the Cyclones’ offense.

Although, Noel has many suspicious analysts nervous about his prospects in the NFL, mainly due to his size. Being 5’ 10”, 194 lbs. in the slot is deeply worrisome at the NFL level, the slot cornerback and linebackers could eat him alive! Okay, exaggeration aside, it might be a hard transition to the NFL. Larger defenders will be able to knock him around, and his hands are small, which will exacerbate his dropping problem in the NFL. But, despite this, I find myself believing in that he’ll be able to carve out a role on this team.

Maybe it’s just me rooting for the underdog, but Noel’s speed and sleight of hand when route running were second to none in the Big 12. He was extremely productive for one of the top offenses in the country, but the jump in competition in the NFL could be daunting. The ceiling for Noel could be Tank Dell or higher, but the floor might be as a low as special teams returner fighting for a roster spot.

What do you think of this pick? Were you a big fan of Jaylin Noel while he was cutting up hapless defenders in Big 12, or do you think he’ll have a hard time in the big leagues? Let us know down in the comments below!