Jayden

Higgins

The report affirms Kirk’s position in the target pecking order, placing him ahead of Higgins and Noel, who were drafted in the second and third rounds, respectively, just two weeks ago. Kirk is scheduled to hit free agency in 2026, and while Higgins and Noel currently profile as the potential long-term Nos. 2 and 3 wide receivers, Texans coaches will not simply gift those roles to the intriguing Iowa State alums. Kirk’s status as a 2025 PPR scam option remains intact at this time. Higgins likely has the easier path to year one fantasy relevance than Noel, with Higgins profiling as a perimeter option for when Kirk kicks inside to the slot in three-wide receiver sets.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, “Higgins is the first second-round pick in NFL history to have a fully guaranteed contract.” It is valued at $11.7 million. Higgins will compete for the secondary perimeter wide receiver role this summer, and his fantasy value will likely come down to whether he can push veteran WR Christian Kirk into a slot-only role, giving Higgins access to two-wide receiver sets. He is off to a good start with the front office fully guaranteeing his rookie contract.

One of the most efficient wideouts in college football last season, Higgins will join Nico Collins and perhaps Christian Kirk or Tank Dell in three-receiver sets in a Houston offense looking to bounce back after a dismal 2024 campaign. The selection takes some shine off Kirk, who appeared to be the clear WR2 for Houston headed into the draft. Higgins (6’4/214) spent two seasons at Eastern Kentucky before transferring to Iowa State. His large frame and ability to win on the boundary were natural complements to teammate Jaylin Noel, also a highly-regarded receiver in this class. Higgins posted a 53/883/6 receiving line as a junior and found another gear in his final season. As a senior, Higgins went for 1,183 yards and nine scores on 87 grabs. Though Higgins is built like a contested-catch specialist with a 6’7 wingspan, only 22 percent of his career targets were contested, a relatively low mark for a receiver of his size. When a defender was on top of him, Higgins still managed to bring in over half of his contested looks. Pro Football Focus graded him as their No. 1 receiver (min. 50 targets) in the country in 2024.