The Houston Texans have a wide receiver who has quietly put together a very consistent training camp, and his name is Xavier Hutchinson.
Hutchinson was drafted by Houston in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he’s only gotten better over the past two years.
At first glance, you might look at his stats and question his impact, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Hutchinson has been buried on the depth chart behind Nico Collins, Tank Dell, John Metchie III, and even Stefon Diggs during his time
in Houston, which meant limited chances to truly shine.
Fast forward to the Wild Card round of the 2024 playoffs — that’s when Hutchinson made the biggest play of his career, hauling in a clutch first-down bomb from C.J. Stroud that gave the Texans’ offense the spark they needed to swing momentum back in their favor.
The former Iowa State standout checks every box physically, with his long 6’3 frame and a sturdy 210 pounds to go with it.
This training camp, Hutchinson has finally had the chance to be more involved, with only Collins and Christian Kirk ahead of him. He’s taken full advantage, making plays on a consistent basis and putting himself in position for a bigger role in 2025.
Houston also drafted two other Iowa State receivers this offseason, both of whom have impressed, but Hutchinson has an opportunity right now — and he intends to prove what he can do this season.
