Following free agency, Texans general manager Nick Caserio understood which direction he’d turn in the upcoming NFL draft.
Moves made at defensive end, running back and linebacker confirmed that cornerback would be a top option on Houston’s big board come early in the second round.
Still, Caserio figured whichever rookie would serve as the “first” pick for the 2024 cycle likely wouldn’t make a “significant impact” in Year 1 since the AFC South champions built a roster worthy of contending in free agency.
That was that thought process before Kamari Lassiter showed up to OTAs. Turns out the second-round pick out of Georgia is forcing his way into being an x-factor for DeMeco Ryans’ defense in Year 2.
Lassiter, a two-year starter for the Bulldogs, shined during practices last month in coverage. Everyone saw the pair of pass deflections against Stefon Diggs posted on the team’s X page, but there’s more behind the scenes.
Lassiter was fluid coming out of his breaks. He broke up a pass intended for the 6-foot-4 Nico Collins despite standing at 5-foot-11. He kept pace with speedster Tank Dell in the nickel on a vertical route, thus eliminating him from the play.
Initially, Lassiter was pegged to compete with Myles Bryant and Desmond King for the starting nickel position. With training camp around the corner, the “Locksmith” might have locked down a spot on the outside opposite former first-rounder Derek Stingley Jr.
Georgia junior CB Kamari Lassiter kept drawing my attention against South Carolina
Gamecocks couldn’t get much going on his side of the field. Recognition here is impeccable, eyes are in the right place and he breaks on the ball before #9 can get a hand on him pic.twitter.com/Bb1QQ24AVd
— Tim Verghese (@TimVerghese) September 18, 2023
“What I have seen from Kamari is a guy that has been locked in since day one that he has gotten here,” Ryans said following OTAs. “He is very competitive, he is making plays, he is an instinctive player. I think a lot of guys have been fired up to see what he has been able to do over the past couple weeks.”
Draft analysts pegged Lassiter as an ideal fit for Ryans’ scheme because of his physicality near the line of scrimmage. Ryans’ patented “SWARM” mentality is built around a player’s premise flying to the football and playing to the end of the whistle.
That’s Lassiter, who allowed just a 38.5% completion rate in coverage last season, the lowest among SEC defenders and…
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