First Impressions on Texans CB Kamari Lassiter

Is Kamari Lassiter the next star cornerback for the Houston Texans?

With the 42nd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans selected Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter.

Standing at 5-11 with 30 7/8” arm length and at 186 pounds, Lassiter was at one point seen as a first-round prospect, but saw his ranking fall progressively as winter turned into spring. By the time the 2024 NFL Draft had rolled around, Lassiter was ranked 69th overall in Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 150 Prospects, and ranked 45th overall on ESPN’s Big Board. This drop in ranking is rooted in disappointing 4.65 40-yard dash time, which could pose a problem in the NFL.

However, Lassiter was a very successful press cornerback in Georgia. Tallying 37 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and eight defended passes, and several more highlight-worthy hits, Lassiter was one of the star defensive backs for a loaded 2023 Georgia defense. Lassiter also garnered an 85.4 PFF grade, making him one of the highest graded cornerbacks of 2023.

Overall, Lassiter has plenty of good tape — especially in 2023 — showing off impressive hand fighting, play recognition, and intensity. But, his lack of athleticism and recovery speed became more and more apparent as time went on. If he can match is high-level play recognition with the NFL’s speed, he has the opportunity to be a fan-favorite on the Texans’ defense. He can bring the juice to get the whole stadium jumping!

Thanks to his tackling ability, Lassiter can line up as a nickel back or safety as well as cornerback, provided he improves upon his weaknesses. He has shown the ability to be a genuine asset to a defensive backfield, meaning one of Houston’s few weak spots entering the 2024 NFL Season may just be filled in.