Could This Texans WR Be the Next Steve Smith Sr.? Analyst’s Bold Comparison Revealed

If you told me a year ago that the Houston Texans would be quietly assembling a receiving corps being compared to the gritty, relentless Steve Smith Sr., I’d have raised an eyebrow—maybe two. Yet here we are, with third-round pick Jaylin Noel catching serious buzz from analysts who see shades of that fierce competitive spirit and compact frame that made Smith a nightmare for defenses. It’s almost poetic, isn’t it? A new Texans era sparked by C.J. Stroud’s arm and fueled by receivers channeling the very fire of a Carolina Panthers legend. But here’s the kicker—can Noel live up to the shadow cast by one of the most fearless slot receivers ever? Or is this just the opening act of showing what Stroud’s Houston offense might truly become? Either way, the Texans’ transformation is one heck of a story unfolding, and I’m all in to see how deep this rabbit hole goes.

The Houston Texans have become a brand-new team with C.J. Stroud as their starting quarterback.

This team didn’t have much hope after Deshaun Watson left, as the offense was stagnant for a few years before he came in.

He’s helped transform the organization in just two seasons, a sign that acquiring the right quarterback can go a long way for a franchise.

The Texans have committed to building this team around Stroud, whether it be signing players in the offseason or making moves in the draft.

They drafted two receivers in this year’s draft, including Jaylin Noel, who they took in the third round.

Noel was their second receiver taken, selecting fellow Iowa State alum Jayden Higgins in the second round, putting their money where their mouth was to give Stroud more weapons.

Both players have received high praise coming into the league, but Noel has gotten a lot of buzz lately, including from analyst Emory Hunt, who talked about him at length in a recent appearance on Ross Tucker’s podcast.

“Noel reminds me so much of Steve Smith Sr.,” Hunt said.

“Noel reminds me so much of Steve Smith Sr.”@FballGamePlan has some high praise for the Texans new WR: pic.twitter.com/zkpLlcsLRd

— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) May 5, 2025

Getting compared to a player like Steve Smith Sr. is high praise, especially for someone who hasn’t played a down of NFL football.

At 5’10”, the comparison is pretty easy to make and straightforward for fans to see what Hunt is talking about, as Smith had a similar frame.

Noel and Higgins were both solid offensive options at Iowa State, and if they can keep their chemistry flowing in Houston, there’s no telling what this team’s ceiling might be, and how well Stroud can perform in his third season.

The post Analyst Compares Texans WR To Steve Smith Sr. appeared first on The Cold Wire.