With the 42nd pick in the second round, the Houston Texans selected former Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter.
Lassiter will play with defensive backs Derek Stingley Jr. and Jeff Okudah and will work under head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Lassiter finished his playing career with 87 total tackles. Lassiter led the team in the 2023 season with eight pass breakups and 37 total tackles. He also had 3.5 stops for a loss of 11 yards. He had a career high five tackles against Tennessee in the 2022 season and also matched this high against Vanderbilt, Florida and Ole Miss in 2023.
The 6-foot defensive back has all the tools necessary to be a successful NFL defender. At the NFL combine, Lassiter showcased his athleticism in drills in the three-cone drill which he finished in 6.62 seconds and the 20-yard shuttle in 4.12. Lassiter’s three-cone drill time was the fastest of any cornerback at the combine.
Lassiter is a consistent player on the field. Despite his lack of speed and height, he manages to create tough situations for the opposing team’s offense which will benefit him significantly in NFL play.
Lassiter does lack some top end speed that was brought to light at the combine and dropped his draft stock significantly. However, if the Texans can help him improve his top speed, he will flourish in the NFL and be a force for Houston in the coming years.