The Texans made their first splash of the 2025 NFL Draft by trading back from pick No. 25 to No. 34 overall, landing Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins early in the second round. The move down with the Giants gave Houston flexibility—and still brought them a potential weapon with rare physical tools.

Higgins comes in at 6'4", 214 pounds, with a 4.47 forty and a 39-inch vertical. That size-speed combo makes him a strong candidate for an X receiver role or a power slot option, where he could carve out a significant target share. While he can win from the boundary, the mismatch potential inside might unlock more of his upside.

Fantasy Pros analyst Derek Brown sees Higgins as a developing player in the mold of former Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas. Higgins ranked 20th in yards per route run vs. man coverage, showing he can create separation against NFL-style looks. He’s forced 25 missed tackles over the past two years, though he’s not exactly a YAC monster—averaging 4.5 yards after catch per reception. For comparison, Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan posted 5.5 YAC per catch for his career and had more missed tackles forced in 2024 alone than Higgins managed across two seasons.

Still, Higgins’ physicality and potential as a power slot make him a fascinating fit for Houston’s offense. If he had played at a higher-profile program, some scouts believe he might have cracked the first round. He’ll need to improve his release off the line and consistently play to his size, but the traits are all there. With Jaylin Noel as his teammate at Iowa State, Higgins didn't always have the spotlight—but in Houston, he might just grow into it. He possesses similar traits to Nico Collins, which could come in handy considering Collins tends to miss time due to injury every season.

Here's what NFL.com's Draft Analyst Lance Zierlein thinks about Higgins via NFL.com:

Big inside/outside wideout with modest athletic attributes but outstanding ball skills that make him a projectable NFL prospect. Higgins needs a more limited route tree but can operate on all three levels in the right scheme. He’s smooth but physical in his routes and does a nice job of creating pockets of separation with force and strength. He has mismatch qualities from the slot with body control and a catch radius that make him a menace on jump balls downfield. He won’t outrun cornerbacks and is nothing special after the catch, but his size, ball skills and competitiveness create a profile of production as a future contributor in three-wide sets.
 

With their second pick in Round 2, the Texans traded up to No. 48 to select Minnesota offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery, sending picks No. 58 and 99 in the deal.

Ersery, a 6'6", 331-pound tackle from Minnesota, was named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year after a standout college career. A three-year starter at left tackle, Ersery consistently anchored the Gophers’ line and proved his talent by holding his own against top competition, including the top pass rusher in the 2025 Draft, Abdul Carter. Off the field, he's a gamer who enjoys Madden and Call of Duty.

Here's what Zierlein had to say about the Texans' new offensive lineman via NFL.com:

Three-year starter at left tackle with good power. Ersery is not a natural bender, which creates disadvantages with leverage and when attempting to mirror moving fronts. He’s well-versed in Minnesota’s outside zone attack, but might be more consistent in power, inside zone and hat-on-hat matchups. He’s huge, but he sets with good quickness to the rush, using his length and hand strength to gather it or lock it out. His anchor is derived from his upper half, which opens him to hand counters. Ersery has the potential to become an average starting tackle on the right side, but his success will be tied to matchups across from him.

Be sure to watch the video below as the crew from Texans on Tap reacts to the picks live on YouTube!

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