A Perfect Fit: Jaylin Noel’s Skill Set and How He Complements C.J. Stroud

Jaylin Noel was part of one of the most explosive wide receiver duos in college football. He had a highly productive career at Iowa State, capping it off with an impressive 80 catches, 1,194 yards, and 8 touchdowns from various alignments.

At 5’11” and 196 pounds, Noel’s build is reminiscent of Amon-Ra St. Brown, who thrives in the Lions' offense as both a receiver and blocker. His skill set and usage also mirror the roles of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua in Sean McVay’s Rams scheme. Noel’s willingness as a blocker, ability to win in the middle of the field, and overall explosiveness make him a perfect fit for the slot in today’s NFL.

Versatility and Playmaking Ability

Noel’s tape shows he can operate from a tight slot alignment and create big plays when isolated on safeties—who often struggle to match his quickness and route-running ability. He has multiple examples of shrugging off a linebacker’s contact, maintaining balance, and attacking downfield, often setting up deep post routes for touchdowns. This skillset makes him a valuable weapon in play-action-heavy schemes, where he can exploit mismatches in the secondary.

Beyond his route-running, Noel consistently wins in contested-catch situations, whether it’s securing a deep ball in double coverage or making tough grabs in traffic in the quick game. His ability to generate explosive plays outside also adds another layer of versatility, particularly from condensed formations, where defensive backs may be hesitant to press him.

Physicality and Blocking Impact

Plenty of receivers can run routes and get open, but very few possess the physicality to impact the run game as blockers. While Noel isn’t as big as Nacua or Kupp, he is a willing and aggressive blocker—one of the most essential traits for excelling in this area. Players like Julian Edelman and Amon-Ra St. Brown have thrived in this role despite being a similar size, and Noel’s strong core and lower-body strength suggest he could do the same.

For receivers who prove to be reliable run blockers, the reward is often more opportunities in the passing game, as offensive coordinators trust them to stay on the field in multiple situations. Noel has that potential.

A Steal for the Texans?

If Noel falls past the second round, he could be an absolute steal—especially for a team that runs a McVay-style scheme. He would be a perfect fit for the Texans, bringing a complementary skill set to Nico Collins while giving new offensive coordinator Nick Caley another weapon to stress defenses.

In an ideal scenario, the Texans could address the trenches early in the draft and still land Noel in the third round. His versatility, physicality, and explosiveness make him one of the most underrated receivers in this class—and in my opinion, it’s not even close.