Jaylin Noel is ensuring that he gives Houston Texans fans hope that he could be the long-term answer in the slot.
Yes, he’s working mostly with the second-team offense, but plays like Monday could catapult him into a much more promising role as training camp continues to unwind heading into the regular season.
Noel, the Texans’ third-round pick and “other” receiver from Iowa State, has been the more consistent player entering five days of training camp. That doesn’t mean Jayden Higgins hasn’t flashed, but the 5-foot-11 shifty slot option caught more than the eyes of fans who were in attendance on Monday morning at the Methodist Training Center.
During team drills, fellow rookie Graham Mertz uncorked a 40-yard pass downfield toward the end zone. Noel, who was known for his speed during his time with the Cyclones, blew past defensive back Myles Bryant for the easy touchdown and an uproar from the fans.
Here’s a look at the clip below.
Selected 79th overall, Noel should become the long-term slot receiver following the 2025 season, with Christian Kirk going into a contract year. Consistency was key for the do-it-all offensive weapon during his time in Ames, as he served as arguably the best chain-mover in the Big 12 for two seasons.
Helping Iowa State secure its first 11-win season in program history under Matt Campbell last fall, Noel finished with 80 catches for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns. He also posted 820 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions in 2023, leading the Cyclones to a 7-6 finish.
“Jaylin’s already ahead of the curve just with the way he prepares and, you know, who he is as a person and as a player,” Kirk said. “Like I said, he prepares really well. He’s smart. And so, you know, for him, it’s just, you know, going out there and playing fast, which I struggled with as a rookie.
“He’s going to have a great career in this league and make a lot of plays for us.”
The Texans return to training camp practice on Tuesday morning.