Jaylin Noel

ANALYSIS
The Texans already took Noel's Iowa State teammate Jayden Higgins in the second round, so the dominant Cyclone duo reunites in Houston. Nico Collins and Christian Kirk might be too good to lose that many targets to the rookie duo in 2025, and Noel in particular might get the short end of the stick as the smallest of the four, but Noel's athletic testing and collegiate production indicate that he should seize whatever opportunity he's given. At 5-foot-10 with short arms Noel does not have the conventional build to line up on the boundary, though Noel's 4.39-second 40-yard dash showed he absolutely has the wheels to burn a defense deep if they aren't careful. Collins and Kirk both have had their share of durability troubles and Tank Dell isn't expected to be available anytime soon, so there's a chance Noel plays meaningful snaps in 2025 even though the Texans would prefer to keep him in a reserve role. Regardless of his short-term situation, Noel projects as a starting NFL wideout eventually.

ANALYSIS
Noel has consistently generated second-round buzz in mock drafts. He cemented his status as an intriguing wide receiver prospect with a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, where Noel led all wide receivers with a broad jump of 11-foot-2 while tying for the top vertical jump at the position with 41.5 inches. If the Iowa State product lands in Arizona, he could earn a starting job out of the gate across from 2024 first-round pick Marvin Harrison.