Like a flash, the 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone. Chock full of trades, charades, and busted parlays, this draft will go down as being one of the weirdest in recent history. Only two quarterbacks, Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart, were taken in the first round. Offensive and defensive linemen, the hog mollies, came off the board early, with five taken in the top ten picks and eleven taken in the top twenty. Late-round sleepers going went high, blue-chip players fell into the third round; you name it, it probably happened during the draft. In similar fashion, the Houston Texans also had an extremely odd, unpredictable NFL Draft, packed with six trades and nine selections; each one zanier than the last. No draft manned by general manager Nick Caserio will ever be boring, thats for sure! Now that all of us in the peanut gallery are left to sift through the rubble, I think its time to throw out some grades. Heres my first impression, knee-jerk grades to all nine selections:Round 2, Pick 34 Overall: WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State Photo by Luke Lu/Diamond Images via Getty Images Height: 6 4Weight: 214 : 33 1/8Hand: 9 1/8Combine; 40-Yard Dash: 4.47s; 10-Yard Split: 1.53s; Vertical Jump: 39; Broad Jump: 10 82024 Statistics: 13 Games, 87 Receptions on 129 Targets , 1, 183 Yards , 9 Receiving Touchdowns, 90.3 PFFIowa States most targeted receiver in 2024, Jayden Higgins was a big-body threat that had the speed to threaten at all levels of the opposing defense. Hes got an uncanny ability to track the ball and get his hands on it, even with cornerbacks draped all over him. Although, with as much speed as he has, he isnt very creative with it and doesnt gain much separation. But, with raw ability and production like this, you cant blame Nick Caserio for taking a chance of know, as I keep watching him, I start to understand why current Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins was such a parroted comparison. Just like Collins when he was coming out of Michigan in 2021, Higgins is an attractive professional prospect because of his height https://www.texansfanapparel.com/collections/christian-kirk-jersey, speed, and ball skills. Just like Collins, he ran a bit on an incomplete route tree and didnt use his speed as much as you would have liked to have seen. And, just like Collins, I predict Jayden Higgins will master his weaknesses, become a true X receiver, and eventually become a starter for the Houston Higgins put up a MONSTER 9.87 RAS, including a 4.47 40 at 64, 214lbs with a 39 vertical But hows the tape? Well elite separator 3% drop rate 56% contested catch rate career 3309 yards, 28 TDs willing blocker1st-rd talent. Comp is Nico Collinsand 2022, he spent much of his time as a nickel cornerback, producing more tackles and tackles for loss but with worse coverage, overall. But, as a nickelback, he was a premier tackler, squaring up defenders large and small and dumping them when they stand. Check out some of his highlights from Colorado or San Jose State from back then and youll see how he just tears down opposing players with his , in 2024, he added to his impressive utility belt of skills by becoming a significantly better coverage defender. Making the big move from nickelback to outside cornerback in his final year, Jaylin Smith somehow took it all in stride and became one of the stickiest man-coverage defenders in the Big Ten. I mean, his games against Michigan and Maryland were just eye candy; I can see why Nick Caserio wanted a skilled defender like this in the locker room. Regardless of where he was lining up on USCs defense, he was still one of its most productive or not that production will translate in the NFL, however, has yet to be seen. Unfortunately, Jaylin Smith is a little undersized for the position in the NFL at 5 10 1/2 and 187 lbs. Hes also slow to react in zone-coverage, further limiting his potential production in the NFL. However, when in man coverage, Smith is sticky and disruptive, effective at mirroring his receiver and getting his hands in the way. In the box, Jaylin Smith has multiple years worth of beautiful tackling, with great instincts to boot. If he can improve his instincts and become a bit twitchier of an athlete, Houston has just found another quality defensive back. But, if not, Jaylin Smith will either be darling of the roster bubble/practice squad or potentially a superstar on special teams. Not a bad pick, but at this point, I was HURTING for a guard!Grade: C+USC CB Jaylin Smith is probably headed towards a future in the slot in the NFL but it's a role I think he will do quite well in given his physical play style. 2nd most run stops in the class and it shows up on tape. Also has a good amount of special teams experience over the lastfree agency signing Devin Singletary, who took lead-back duties from Pierce in the middle of that season. Suffice to say, Dameon Pierce has not quite lived up to his 2022 highs, and Caserio needs another win at RB in the draft. In 2025, he may have just his next star in Woody and explosive are the defining characteristics of Woody Marks highlight reel. He finds the gap and blasts through it like few other tailbacks in this draft, but also contains the bendiness to make tacklers miss in space. Hes a danger in the receiving game, as well, making Marks a complete third-down scatback for the Texans updated offense. You throw Marks into the mix along with Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel C.J. Gardner-Johnson Jersey, and youre bringing in a track meet of offensive skill-position players. This still isnt the answer to the guard dilemma that I was personally looking for in the draft, but it is still a great pick at a position of need. Finally, the Texans have a third-down back! Although seeing as this was Houstons last draft selection in the top half of the draft, this running back pick comes at the expense of finding a contributor at guard for the 2025 season.