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With 2025 NFL training camps on the horizon, we’re starting to understand how 2025 NFL draft classes will impact each roster this season.
Let's look at the Houston Texans, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from each class, while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field.
Who are the Houston Texans rookies?
- Jayden Higgins (WR, Iowa State)
- Aireontae Ersery (OT, Minnesota)
- Jaylin Noel (WR, Iowa State)
- Jaylin Smith (CB, USC)
- Woody Marks (RB, USC)
- Jaylen Reed (S, Penn State)
- Graham Mertz (QB, Florida)
- Kyonte Hamilton (DL, Rutgers)
- Luke Lachey (TE, Iowa)
Houston Texans Draft Class Grade:
The Houston Texans received a B+ draft grade from Sharp Football.
Which Texans Rookies Will Make An Impact?
Houston elected to support C.J. Stroud with its selection of Jayden Higgins (second round).
Higgins’ size (6-feet, 4-inches) and versatility will add a new dimension to the Texans’ passing attack.
The Texans now have the option to line up with two big outside weapons with Higgins and Collins, or they can have Higgins play the big-slot role, where he lined up for 29% of his routes last year at Iowa State.
Higgins was among the most reliable pass-catchers in this class, with a catch rate 9.2% above expected based on route adjusted data over the last two seasons.
Joining Higgins in Houston will be his college teammate Jaylin Noel (third round), who will compete with Christian Kirk for snaps in a more traditional slot receiver role.
Much like Kirk throughout his career, Noel was frequently used to stretch the field from the slot for the Cyclones. He was one of just six Power Four receivers to see at least 25 targets at 15 or more yards downfield while lined up in the slot last season.
In the short term, Noel might not see a ton of action if Kirk wins the starting job. However, this is Kirk’s final contract year, giving Noel a clear path to the field in 2026.
Given the strengths of Higgins and Noel, those additions appear to be a purposeful effort to give Houston more versatility in the receiving corps as a whole, which should allow for further development from Stroud.
Aireontae Ersery (second round) was also a selection in service of Stroud’s development, though he may not see the field right away.
Cam Robinson was signed to a one-year contract to play left tackle, which will give the Texans some time to prepare Ersery for the job in 2026.
When Minnesota quarterbacks took a traditional dropback last year, Ersery’s blown block rate was just 1.4%, the nation’s sixth-best rate among left tackles.
Jaylin Smith (third round) was a surprising reach on Day 2 given his injury history and lack of production at USC.
Smith started 32 games in his career with the Trojans, but as a senior still allowed a catch rate 1.8% above expected based on route adjusted data.
Houston might move Smith back to the nickel corner role, where he performed slightly better in 2023 (catch rate 4.5% below expected). However, Jalen Pitre has performed well in that role and just signed an extension through 2028, so it’s unclear how Smith fits into Houston’s plans.
The selection of a running back came as no surprise in this deep class of ball carriers, but the choice of Woody Marks (fourth round) with a few more well-regarded prospects still on the board was odd. Marks turns 25 during his rookie year.
Marks put up good counting numbers during his senior year at USC, but greatly benefited from Lincoln Riley’s spread offense, which makes life easy on running backs.
When accounting for defenders in the box and the inside/outside direction of the run, Marks gained 14% fewer yards after contact than expected, which ranked 69th out of 80 qualified Power Four running backs.
As that stat demonstrates, Marks is probably not an early-down back in the NFL, but he does offer some value as a pass-catcher and likely plays that role behind Joe Mixon in 2025.
Jaylen Reed (sixth round) was a two-year starter at Penn State, primarily lining up at free safety.
Houston just drafted free safety Calen Bullock in the third round last year, so Reed will battle a few other veterans for a reserve role while playing on special teams.
Graham Mertz (sixth round) was a bizarre selection for a team that probably should have invested in another veteran backup quarterback in free agency instead.
Mertz was a game manager throughout his career at Wisconsin and Florida.
During his last full season in 2023, Mertz generated a pitiful 43% on-target rate on throws of 15 or more yards, ranked 103rd in the country. His lack of downfield passing ability makes it unlikely he develops into anything more than a low-level backup.
Kyonte Hamilton (seventh round) will compete for a roster spot on a crowded defensive line. He made little impact as a pass-rusher at Rutgers, but primarily played out of position at nose tackle.
Hamilton’s testing numbers indicate some potential for growth in a different role, making him an ideal late-round gamble.
Although Houston made a few odd choices, give Nick Caserio credit for investing significant draft capital into supporting his young quarterback.
Stroud now has a deep group of young receivers to develop with, and potentially his left tackle of the future on the roster.
This analysis continues in the 2025 Football Preview
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