Texans CB Kamari Lassiter impressing in early stages of OTAs
Texans CB Kamari Lassiter impressing in early stages of OTAs
Kamari Lassiter might be ready for a Pro Bowl season and join his All-Pro counterpart Derek Stingley Jr. in the spotlight this fall.
Lassiter, the Houston Texans' second-year No. 2 cornerback, set the tone as the No. 42 pick in last year's draft, totaling 11 pass breakups and three interceptions. He arguably was the best rookie corner in the league while helping Houston produce a top 10 secondary and a second consecutive AFC South division title.
Offseason team activities might be overblown in the public eye, but Lassiter is living up to expecations once more. Last year, he caught everyone's attention winning his one-on-one battles against All-Pro Stefon Diggs.
He did the same thing during team drills while guarding Pro Bowler Nico Collins during seven-on-seven drills. He broke up a pair of passes with Davis Mills under center in stride with the two-time 1,000-yard receiver. Lassiter also broke a pass intended for John Metchie III when lined up inside.
Everyone, including teammates, is paying close attention to his growth, along with teammate and defensive back Calen Bullock.
'It is fun watching them. They love football, they are passionate about it," Will Anderson said following practice. "You hear Kamari slapping his helmet. You hear Calen running to him. That is what you need on a defense like this. We play an attack style defense, and we have two attackers in the backend that don't mind getting their hands dirty.'
Lassiter is only 20 percent of the secondary that could lead the NFL in takeaways this fall. Stingley, who recently became the highest-paid defensive back after his dominant season, will line up on the opposing side. Bullock will have a new running mate after Houston traded former first-round pick Kenyon Green to Philadelphia in exchange for do-it-all safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The Texans also have back a fully healthy Jalen Pitre, who arguably was the most improved player last season, will command respect in the nickel position.
If Lassiter's success in OTAs can carry over to Week 1's matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, Houston could be more than just a good front seven and a promising roster that continues to win division titles.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
Where does the Bucs DL group rank in the NFC North in 2025?
Where does the Bucs DL group rank in the NFC North in 2025? We are continuing a Summer series here on Bucs Wire, ranking the position groups across the division. The major pit stops of the offseason have come and gone, which means rosters are set for the most part. Now, could someone pull off a major trade or sign a veteran free agent down the line? Of course, and they likely will based on our luck to throw things off. Regardless, we wanted to do this exercise just to give you, the reader, a state of the division. At the end of each article, we will also provide a recap of the scorecards so that we can keep a running tally for you to keep track of and see who has the best roster in the division. Next up are the defensive lines in the NFC South. Note: Each group will have varying numbers of players as each team doesn't run the same defense. 4) Atlanta Falcons Starting Group: Morgan Fox, Ruke Orhorhro, and David Onyemata The Falcons' defense has been neglected in recent years during the pivotal times of the NFL Draft. In 2024, they were expected to pursue an edge rusher and opted for a quarterback instead. This year, they sured up their linebacker group, but this group remains starving for attention. Ruke Orhorhro is a promising run defender, so if he can get some help from the players on the outside, they may finally have some efficiency from the group. 3) Carolina Panthers Starting Group: Derrick Brown, Bobby Brown III, and Tershawn Wharton Derrick Brown was coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2023, so expectations were high in 2024. Unfortunately, injury stopped that halfway through one game of the season, but now he is ready for a rebound. They add another player, Bobby Brown III from the Rams, to be a tag team partner for him to help take some pressure off him. 2) New Orleans Saints Starting Group: Chase Young, Davon Godchaux, Bryan Breese, and Carl Granderson The Saints team as a whole is a bit of a disaster in terms of roster building, but the defense has some bright spots, and this group is one of them. Chase Young proved to be a nice find in free agency and is returning to the team with more expectations for 2025. The team added another piece, this time from the Patriots in Davon Godchaux, who comes down to the Bayou with the thought that he can help the interior. Starting Group: Logan Hall, Vita Vea, and Calijah Kancey The Bucs have the best defensive line group in the division, far and away, when we look at things. Vita Vea is a perennial All-Pro selection each year he plays all 17 games, Calijah Kancey is on the fringe of becoming a 10-sack-a-season defender, and Logan Hall is starting to come into his own. This group is going to be leading the Renaissance charge for the Bucs defense in 2025.
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
Who is the Titans' biggest Achilles heel since 2020?
Who is the Titans' biggest Achilles heel since 2020? The Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans have a storied rivalry of two teams that share a city. The Titans originated in Houston and have deep roots dating back to the Houston Oilers, while the Texans are the current occupants of the city. The Tians lead the series 24-22, but no matter what kind of season either team is having, it's a tough game for both teams. The Titans and Texans have met 10 times since 2020, and the series has been split evenly over that time. However, the Titans have lost four of their last five meetings. Their biggest Achilles heel? Pro Football Focus says it's defensive end Derek Barnett. Barnett didn't turn into the star that many thought he would become when he was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, but don't tell the Tennessee Titans. Since he was claimed off waivers by the Texans in 2023, Barnett has faced Tennessee four times and has recorded at least an 84.6 PFF overall grade in all four games. His production includes 16 pressures, five sacks, a 23.4% pass-rush win rate and a fumble returned for a touchdown. Barnett joined the Texans for six games in 2023 after being traded from the Philadelphia Eagles. But his production against the Titans exceeds any of the other Texans' defenders. His impact is felt all along the line; two of his five sacks, both of his stuffs, and both of his fumble recoveries in 2024 came against the Titans. Mike Borgonzi has spent this offseason attempting to bolster the offensive line and add weapons for rookie quarterback Cam Ward, and we'll see if those efforts do anything to stop Barnett when the Titans see him this fall.
USA Today
32 minutes ago
- USA Today
Saints should reunite former Pro Bowl corner with one of his favorite coaches
Saints should reunite former Pro Bowl corner with one of his favorite coaches Ramsey-Staley reunion could solve Saints' cornerback concerns The cornerback position remains one of the biggest question marks for the New Orleans Saints heading into the 2025 season. Following the trade of Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore to Washington and the departure of Paulson Adebo in free agency, the team enters camp without a clear-cut starter on the outside. So who are the options? The Saints have made significant investments in the position, selecting Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry in the early second round in recent drafts. While both players bring pedigree and upside, they also come with uncertainty — whether due to inconsistent play (Taylor) or limited NFL reps (McKinstry). The team also brought back Isaac Yiadom, who spent last season with the 49ers, but ideally, the Saints are looking for more than just depth or insurance. They need a reliable, starting-caliber presence on the boundary. One name that continues to surface in trade discussions is Jalen Ramsey of the Miami Dolphins. Ramsey has reportedly been seeking a move, and both sides appear open to a fresh start. For New Orleans, the fit makes a lot of sense — particularly given Ramsey's past success under new Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. The two were instrumental in the Los Angeles Rams' No. 1 ranked defense in 2020, with Ramsey earning his second All-Pro nod and fourth Pro Bowl selection under Staley's leadership. That season would also serve as the launching pad for Staley's head coaching opportunity with the Chargers. Ramsey has made no secret of his respect for Staley, calling him 'the best defensive coordinator' he's played for. When Staley was announced as the Saints' new DC, Ramsey even reacted on social media with a supportive "My guy" — adding some fuel to the speculation. Even entering his ninth NFL season, Ramsey has shown little sign of decline. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded as the 16th-best cornerback in the league last year (76.9 overall), out of 222 qualifying players. His physicality, experience, and elite instincts would bring immediate stability to a Saints secondary that's currently filled with more 'what-ifs' than answers. The Saints have already explored potential additions with ties to Staley — most notably bringing in Asante Samuel Jr. for a visit last month. However, concerns over Samuel's health may complicate the possibility of a reunion. As it stands, the Saints have a young and promising, but largely unproven, group at cornerback. If New Orleans wants to solidify the position and return to being a stifling defense, making a move for Jalen Ramsey would go a long way to achieving that. With familiarity and a clear need at that spot, this is a move that makes too much sense to ignore.
