The Houston Texans made a move that turned heads in the 2025 NFL Draft when they picked Wide Receiver Jayden Higgins with the 34th overall selection. Higgins who started at Eastern Kentucky before transferring to Iowa State is a story many people can root for. He did not come from one of the powerhouse programs everybody talks about, but he just kept working and believing in himself. Now he is headed to the NFL, and it feels like he is just getting started.
From Underrated to Unstoppable
Jayden Higgins’ road to the league was not an easy path. At Eastern Kentucky, he showed flashes of what he could do, putting up over 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns in two seasons. It was enough to get bigger schools to notice. He bet on himself by transferring to Iowa State. That bet paid off in 2023. He put up 53 catches for 983 yards and 6 touchdowns, which is good by anybody’s standards. Not to mention he averaged 18.5 yards per catch, which shows how dangerous he is every time he touches the ball. In the 2023 Liberty Bowl, he set a school record with 214 receiving yards which pretty much put an exclamation mark on his year.
It was in 2024 when Higgins took off. He racked up 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and 9 touchdowns. Higgins used his size, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 214 pounds to bully defenders and make tough catches look almost easy. He might not be the fastest guy out there, but you can tell he knows how to use his body and win battles that most receivers lose.
Houston Texans Get a Good One
The Texans were looking to add a big body at receiver, and they nailed it by grabbing Higgins. Houston does not just need speed. They need reliability and someone who can go up and get it when the game is on the line. Higgins brings that and more. He has great hands, good route running, and the toughness to fight through contact without blinking. Some scouts have said he reminds them a little of Allen Robinson or Tee Higgins, and you can see why. He knows how to get open and make the catch when it matters most.
Fans in Houston have every reason to be excited. Higgins is the kind of player who might not flash on every single play, but when it is third and long or when they are down near the goal line, he is the guy you want on the field. He is built for the hard catches, the ones that keep drives alive or put points on the board.
A Fresh Start in Houston
For Higgins, hearing his name called in the NFL Draft is not the end of his road. It is the beginning of something new. He has worked for every bit of it, from Eastern Kentucky to Iowa State and now to Houston. If he keeps playing the way he always has, with toughness and heart, there is no doubt he will stick around in the league for a long time. The Texans just got a whole lot better with him on the roster.
More must-reads: