Best AFC 2025 NFL Draft picks
USA TODAY’s Tyler Dragon breaks down which teams in the AFC drafted the best this year.
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The Houston Texans traded out of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft as the New York Giants moved up to secure Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. In return, the Texans received multiple picks, including the No. 34 overall selection, the second pick of Round 2.
Houston used that pick on offense as they did for much of the draft, selecting Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins. He was the first of six draft picks the Texans spent on offense; Houston selected his former college teammate Jaylin Noel in Round 3.
Higgins signed his rookie contract with the Texans and, in doing so, made draft history: He is the first Round 2 pick to sign a fully guaranteed contract. It’s for four years and $11.7 million, per multiple reports.
Higgins and Noel were on-field on May 9 for the start of Texans rookie minicamp.
Starving for football action shot. Rookie wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel tossing the ball before workout. pic.twitter.com/4bstrJrnNX
— Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) May 9, 2025
The Texans have signed all of their draft picks but Higgins is the only one to receive a fully-guaranteed contract.
Jayden Higgins stats
Higgins started two full seasons for Iowa State after transferring from Eastern Kentucky. Here’s how he did in 2023 and 2024:
2023 (13 games): 53 catches, 983 yards, six touchdowns2024 (13 games): 87 catches, 1,183 yards, nine touchdownsTexans WR depth chart
The Texans have a lot of new faces in the wide receiver room after free agency and the draft. This is how things look entering minicamp: