When the Houston Texans entered the 2025 season, no one expected three of their mid-round rookies-Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and Woody Marks-to play such pivotal roles so quickly. But as the NFL often reminds us, plans are great until reality hits. Injuries, depth chart shifts, and unexpected opportunities opened the door, and these rookies didn’t just walk through it-they ran, caught, and blocked their way into Houston’s future plans.
Let’s start with the wide receiver room. When Higgins and Noel were drafted at No. 34 and No. 79 respectively, the path to playing time wasn’t exactly wide open.
Nico Collins had already cemented himself as the Texans’ top target. Christian Kirk, a seasoned vet, was expected to slide in as the No.
- Dalton Schultz had become a reliable safety valve for C.J.
Stroud, and Xavier Hutchinson-who shared a college background with both rookies-was presumed to have the inside track for that fourth spot.
But the NFL is nothing if not unpredictable. Kirk was banged up for most of the year, and Hutchinson never quite seized his opportunity.
That opened the door for Higgins and Noel to make their mark-and they did just that. Higgins, in particular, emerged as a legitimate weapon.
He finished the year with 41 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns, tying Collins for the team lead in scores. Those aren’t just solid rookie numbers-they’re signs of a player with WR2 upside in a system that’s still evolving around Stroud.
Noel’s production was more modest-26 receptions for 292 yards and two touchdowns-but he flashed enough to earn trust, both as a receiver and in the return game. For a third-rounder in a crowded room, that’s a strong foundation to build on.
Then there’s Woody Marks. If you looked at the Texans’ backfield in the offseason-Joe Mixon, Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce-you probably didn’t expect the rookie taken at No. 116 to lead the team in rushing.
But that’s exactly what happened. With Mixon sidelined before the season really got going and Chubb working his way back from previous injuries, Marks stepped in and never looked back.
He led the team with 703 rushing yards and chipped in another 208 yards and three touchdowns through the air. His 911 total yards ranked fifth among rookie running backs league-wide.
Marks didn’t just fill a void-he gave Houston a new dimension. His ability to contribute in both phases of the offense made him a valuable chess piece for offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, and his durability was a steadying force in a backfield that saw plenty of movement.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio didn’t hold back in his praise during his year-end press conference. “Two really good players.
Excited about their future,” he said of Higgins and Noel. “Higgins showed he’s got a chance to be a really good player.
He’s been as productive as any of our offensive skill guys the last month or two. J-Noel showed what he can do in the return game and probably will get more offensive chances next year.
But, I mean, two good football players.”
That’s high praise from a GM who doesn’t hand it out lightly. And it speaks to a broader truth: these rookies didn’t just survive their first NFL season-they thrived in it.
But as every NFL veteran will tell you, Year 2 is the real test. The league adjusts.
Defenses study tape. That rookie surprise factor is gone.
Just ask Dameon Pierce, who burst onto the scene with 939 rushing yards as a rookie but couldn’t replicate that success in the seasons that followed. The margin for error shrinks, and the work gets harder.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans knows it, too. “For the young guys, especially our rookies, I thought all of them contributed a lot to our season,” he said.
“They stepped in, stepped up and did some really nice things for us. But I tell those guys, ‘Hey, you don't have long to rest.
You have to get back to really training your bodies throughout the offseason.’ That’s where I’ve always seen the growth-from Year 1 to Year 2-for guys that attack the offseason the right way.”
That offseason work will be critical-not just for Higgins, Noel, and Marks, but for a Texans offense that still has questions to answer. The development of these three, along with players like left tackle Aireontae Ersery, could be the difference between a team that flashes potential and one that takes the next step into serious playoff contention.
The Texans found real value in the middle rounds of the 2025 draft. Now, it’s about building on that momentum. The NFL doesn’t wait for anyone, and the clock on Year 2 is already ticking.