Texans Rookie Draws Exciting NFL Comparison That Will Have Fans Buzzing
A rookie wide receiver for the Houston Texans is generating major excitement as he draws a thrilling NFL comparison heading into his first season. The Texans had a solid showing in the NFL Draft, particularly in the early rounds, where they addressed a key need at receiver by selecting two talented pass-catchers from Iowa State.
The Texans picked up Jayden Higgins in the second round and Jaylin Noel in the third. While Higgins is the more physically dominant prospect, some experts believe Noel may ultimately be the more successful receiver at the professional level.
Noel, who is expected to play in the slot, will join Nico Collins and Higgins, who are anticipated to line up on the outside. But which NFL player does Noel remind analyst Steve Palazzolo of? None other than Los Angeles Chargers standout, Ladd McConkey.
Jaylin Noel is one of my favorite picks of this draft for the Texans and one of the best value picks of the whole draft IMO.
Here are the thoughts on him from @StevePalazzolo_ & @SamMonsonNFL on Noel and his player comp being Ladd McConkey! pic.twitter.com/ZvyjplHDzC
— Jacob (@TexansJacob) May 11, 2025
McConkey had a sensational rookie season in 2024, posting 82 receptions for 1,149 yards and 7 touchdowns, with a remarkable 73.2% catch rate. Though primarily a slot receiver, McConkey showed impressive versatility in his debut year.
Could Noel evolve into a player with a similar impact? Texans fans certainly hope so, as the team is in need of receiving help after losing Stefon Diggs to free agency and with Tank Dell set to miss the 2025 season due to a knee injury.
Noel had a standout four-year career at Iowa State, with his best season coming last year when he caught 80 passes for 1,194 yards and 8 touchdowns, cementing himself as one of the nation’s most explosive threats.
It’ll be exciting to see if the 22-year-old can replicate that success with the Texans next season.
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