Sep 15, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter (4) celebrates his interception against the Chicago Bears in the second half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Texans' Young Defender Set to Make Huge Year 2 Leap

Originally posted on Houston Texans on SI
By Dylan Feltovich | Last updated Jun 6, 2025 6:00 AM ET

The Houston Texans may have found a hidden gem in cornerback Kamari Lassiter.

After a solid college campaign at the University of Georgia, Lassiter was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft by general manager Nick Caserio. At 6-foot, 180 lbs, the 22-year-old defensive back was not the most athletically-gifted player on the field in college, but he played with high intuition, which made him a tough cornerback in coverage.

In his first season with the team, Lassiter received an ample amount of playing time, but year two will be even better for the rising defender.

When talking to the media on Wednesday, Lassiter emphasized his commitment to getting better by stating that “We’d be here all day if I told you every single thing that I’m trying to work on.”

Kamari Lassiter is special:

“Whenever I put these cleats on I turn into a different person. It just means more to me.”

“We’d be here all day if I told you every single thing that I’m trying to work on.”

“Football has been the love of my life since I was 3 years old.” pic.twitter.com/9nArbE6eJL
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) June 4, 2025

Obviously, his words only hold value if they are backed up by his play on the field. However, Lassiter showed plenty of signs in year one that he can be a high-impact player for Houston in the future. In 2024, the former Georgia Bulldog finished with five pass breakups and three interceptions, along with a coverage grade of 72.6, according to PFF. Lassiter's rookie season in the NFL was a perfect gateway for him to explode in 2025, as he will have a sense of familiarity within head coach DeMeco Ryans' defense.

Outside of his confident demeanor and familiarity with the system, another key factor that will assist Lassiter in year two will be playing alongside rising star cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.

The former 2022 first-round pick made huge strides last season with the Texans' as he finished the year with 10 pass breakups and 5 interceptions with a PFF coverage grade of 74.9. With Stingley now making the jump as a true No. 1 cornerback like the franchise intended him to be, Lassiter could thrive as the team's second cornerback, especially with the recent news of Ronald Darby retiring.

This article first appeared on Houston Texans on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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