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.
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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.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
