Look at it this way… Stefon Diggs was on pace for 100 catches and 1000 yards with 6 touchdowns. Not sure Higgins can be duplicate the catches and yards Year 1. I believe Higgins can develop into something really special and likely a Top 5 WR duo with Nico. I was already high on him before we picked him. Tank Dell was on pace for 62 catches and 810 yards with 4 touchdowns. Again, maybe year two. That would be crazy numbers for Noel at WR4. His comp is Christian Kirk who I was never high on (as a WR1) but that’s very productive as WR3 or WR4, if somehow Tank Dell finds a way back to form.
First Post Draft Projected 53 QB Stroud // Mills / RB Mixon // Pierce // Marks FB Brooks X-WR Collins // Hutchinson Z-WR Higgins // Watson // Dell (IR) Slot WR Kirk // Noel (PR / KR) Y-TE Schultz // Jordan F-TE Stover // Lachey LT Cam Robinson // Fisher LG Hernandez* // Tomlinson C Patterson // Scruggs RG Ersery // RT Howard // T. Brown LE Anderson // Barnett // Taylor LDT Rankins // Settle // Togiai RDT Autry // Edwards Jr. RE Hunter // Toohill LB Al-Shaiir // To'o-To'o LB Harris // Speed // Niemann CB Stingley // Darby CB Lassiter // Jaylin Smith NCB Pitre // Tremon Smith SAF Ballhawk // Stewart SAF Gardner Johnson // Ward K Fairbairn // P Townsend // LS Addington Metchie+ 6th traded for 5th
If you go by Twitter, where each guy seems to have a set of extremely enthusiastic supporters, I expect at least one of them to be very productive. LOL, one guy is Nico Collins II and the other is an uncoverable athletic freak who should have been drafted much sooner.
I loved the picks and think going WR in this draft was absolutely the right way to go. Rookies don't often have breakout seasons, so if even one does, we are ahead of the game. Kirk and Collins really need to stay healthy and we need a super solid run game.
It was a fun draft, I think Nick tried to move up and got blocked.................I give them a solid B, it wasn't sexy but I think we got "our guys"
Let's keep putting that energy out there! I think it's one of the reasons BDN did not keep drafting OL; he knew there was some solid vet OL FAs still available. Somebody start watching for the Texans' private jet...
I watched the 2024 reels for both receivers. They were hindered in college by a QB who wasn't too bad, but left so much meat on the bones with these two guys with inaccurate throws. Higgins being Nico II is possible if he goes next level in the NFL. He's big target that knows how to use his body and is very good at winning contested throws. I see him as a good 3rd down and red zone receiver who also separates from DBs downfield (but the QB has to make an accurate pass). Noel is extremely fast and elusive; a danger whenever he touches the ball. He outweighs Tank by 30-40 lbs. He should return punts. Might start some plays in the backfield. He could really be a handful to cover in the slot because one misdirection, he's gone and CJ will deliver the ball. Will Higgins and Noel be better this season than a healthy Diggs and Dell would have been? Not early on, but if they adapt quickly to the NFL, these guys could be a dynamite WR3/4 combo by late season.
I think the Texans drafted some solid guys they absolutely liked. They didn’t take anyone in a whim, they didn’t take a guy just because he was highly thought of by the national guys. If a guy from one of their clusters wasn’t available at a spot they were drafting, they moved up or moved down. Seems they tried to move up to get the OL guy the cowboys selected, but the cowboys wanted more value than the Texans deemed. So Texans waited to see if a guy they highly valued at the 25 pick would fall to them; but as soon as their well ran dry, they dangled the pick to get another guy from their next cluster while adding additional draft capital. I think that is smart to acquire a guy you value at a spot you know they’d be going in the draft. I was bummed that no OL was selected in the 1st round, but if their guys weren’t they’re, they traded a few positions to get a guy they liked in the next cluster. And WR was a huge need for the Texans…. Competent Receivers were sorely lacking by the playoff games - today’s CB are shutdown level good, unless the WR are elite level themselves. And though the receivers on the Texans less Nicco were harder working, they were not much more than backup level talent. Texans definitely improved the team, by infusing youth and cost controls.
