Texans Add OL, CB and Two WRs on Day 2 of 2025 NFL Draft

HOUSTON – The Texans drafted Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins with the 34th overall pick, one selection into the second round.

Higgins is an imposing downfield target at 6-foot-4, 214 pounds who has the ability to win contested catches.

With his size, the Miami, Fla., native has a major advantage with his superior catch radius.

Higgins has the speed to create separation with a 4.47 time in the 40-yard dash and a 1.53 10-yard split. He has serious hops with a 39-inch vertical leap and a 10-8 broad jump.

A transfer from Eastern Kentucky who wanted to compete at a higher level, Higgins was a third-team All-American last season and a second-team All-Big 12 selection. He caught 87 passes for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns.

His first season at Iowa State, Higgins caught 53 passes for 983 yards and six touchdowns.

At Eastern Kentucky, he caught 13 touchdowns in two seasons, including 10 scores in 2022 on 58 catches for 757 yards.

He’s much larger than the defensive backs tasked with covering him.

His wingspan is over 6-foot-7.

He is still adding more polish to his route-running and refining his overall technique, but his upside is, like his body, regarded as huge.

HOUSTON – University of Minnesota left offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery, a consensus All-American selection named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, was drafted by the Texans with the 48th overall pick of the second round after a trade.

The Texans traded the 58th pick of the second round and a third round selection, 99th overall, to the Las Vegas Raiders to draft Ersery.

Ersery had visits with the Texans, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers and the Vikings.

Ersery was regarded as a potential late first-round draft pick and a prime target for teams in the second round that pass on a tackle early.

Ersery provides a massive, long-armed presence at the line of scrimmage at 6-foot-6, 331 pounds. He plays with heavy hands and quick feet and could also be deployed at right tackle. His timing on double-team blocks and in space both get high marks.

Ersery graded out well against Penn State star pass rusher Abdul Carter as they matched up one-on-one throughout that game. Ersery did a nice job of preventing Carter from using his superior speed, getting a consistent hand punch and keeping his shoulders square and not losing leverage.

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Ersery was named All-Big Ten Conference the past two seasons with honorable-mention notice in his third season for the Golden Gophers.

Ersery ran the 40-yard dash in 5.01 seconds at the NFL scouting combine with an impressive 1.75 10-yard split. He had a 29 1/2 inch vertical leap, a 7.81 three-cone drill and a 9-3 broad jump. He bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times.

Ersery started a dozen games at left tackle for an offense that averaged 26.15 points per game, 115.6 rushing yards per game and 222.15 passing yards per game. According to Pro Football Focus, Ersery gave up just one sack and one quarterback hit in 398 pass blocking snaps.

Ersery started the final 38 games of his career at left tackle.

HOUSTON – The Texans doubled up on Iowa State wide receivers in this draft, selecting Jaylin Noel in the third round one round after picking his teammate Jayden Higgins.

Noel is a shifty downfield target at 5-10, 194 pounds and was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year.

Noel was first-team All-Big 12 last season and second-team in 2023.

Noel caught 80 passes for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns last season in a sophisticated, pro-style offense.

In 2023, he caught 66 passes for 820 yards and seven touchdowns.

He finished his career with 245 catches for 2,855 yards and eight touchdowns.

A Kansas City, Missouri native, Noel chose Iowa State over Nebraska, Kansas State and Wisconsin.

In the third round, the Texans traded the 89th overall pick and a seventh-round pick (236th overall) to the Jacksonville Jaguars for their 102nd overall pick in the third round and the 142nd pick overall in the fifth round.

HOUSTON – USC corner Jaylin Smith visited the Texans along with a busy trip schedule that includes the Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Commanders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles, per a league source.

Smith started 21 games for the Trojans at nickel, 10 games at outside corner and once at safety. He intercepted two passes last season.

Smith has run the 40-yard in 4.45 seconds with a 1.6 10-yard split and a 32 1/2 inch vertical leap and a 10-2 broad jump.

Smith was a third-team All-Big Ten Conference selection, recording 49 tackles, four for losses and two pass deflections.