Iowa State’s Xavier Hutchinson picked 205th overall by Texans in 2023 NFL Draft

IOWA CITY — The Houston Texans have selected Iowa State wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson with the 205th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Hutchinson was the 26th wide receiver selected in the draft. Assuming he makes the Texans’ 53-man roster, he will be catching passes in Houston from former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was the No. 2 overall pick.

The former Iowa State standout slipped further in the draft than some experts expected. A seven-round mock draft from The Athletic this week had Hutchinson going in the fourth round at the 133rd overall pick.

“This is a classic example of a guy — his workout didn’t go great, but he’s a good football player,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said Saturday. “A player that the offensive staff thought highly of.”

Hutchinson was a 2022 finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the top wide receiver in college football, and an Associated Press All-American.

The 6-foot-2 wideout was a first-team all-Big 12 honoree in all three seasons in Ames.

The Jacksonville, Fla., native had 107 receptions for 1,171 yards and six touchdowns last year. His 107 receptions were 40 more than the next-best Big 12 wide receiver.

He is the second Cyclone selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. Will McDonald was the 15th overall pick, reuniting with Iowa State teammate Breece Hall on the New York Jets.

Hutchinson is the first Iowa State player to be drafted by the Houston Texans in program history. He also is the first wide receiver drafted since Hakeem Butler in 2019.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com