Tag: kamari lassiter

Texans NFL Draft grade: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia 42nd overall

Texans NFL Draft grade for selecting Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter

The Houston Texans continue to stack talent into their young secondary and add a highly productive piece in Georgia defensive back Kamari Lassiter with the 42nd overall selection.

Lassiter projects as a potential immediate starter on the boundary opposite of their young star in Derek Stingley Jr. Lassiter was a lock down corner on a top Georgia defense and should slide right into his role on a Texans’ defense that continues to get better as they make another playoff push.

Smooth, refined, instinctive, and reliable, Lassiter is a proven commodity who will fit right into the DeMeco Ryans defense that values aggressiveness and confidence which Lassiter has plenty of as one of the best corners in all of college football.

Grade: A+

Texans select CB Kamari Lassiter with 42nd overall pick in 2024 NFL draft

The Houston Texans have found their No. 2 cornerback in Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter with the 42nd overall pick.

The Houston Texans have a new defensive back joining the squad.

After watching a run on cornerbacks to begin the second round, Houston secured the services of Georgia defensive back Kamari Lassiter with the 42nd overall selection. Lassiter was one of several defensive backs linked to the Texans throughout the pre-draft process.

A two-time national championship for the Bulldogs, Lassiter joins a revamped roster headlined by Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud and Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. He’s a fluid corner known for his physical demeanor and ability to win at the point of attack in man coverage.

Last season in Athens, Lassiter totaled 37 tackles and eight pass breakups. He was a three-year starter for the Dawgs, known for his alpha mentality in the huddle.

According to Pro Football Focus, only allowed two touchdowns in coverage, both coming in 2022. He also finished his Bulldogs’ career with 14 pass deflections and three sacks.

While known for his mean streak on the edge, Lassiter has the skills to be a nickel defender as well. He began his career splitting reps as a slot cornerback in 2021 before moving to the outside permanently in 2022.

Lassiter still has room to grow, but the upside is there. One major concern among scouts has been in tendencies to grab onto receivers after losing at the line of scrimmage.

Under second-year coach DeMeco Ryans, Lassiter should translate into a standout corner with upside as a No. 2 cornerback opposite potential All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr.

Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter goes No. 42 overall to the Houston Texans in 2024 NFL draft

Lassiter will join a Texans cornerback room that includes Derek Stingley and former first-rounder Jeffrey Okudah. He will have a chance to compete for playing time right away in Houston under defensive-minded head coach DeMeco Ryans.

The first Georgia Bulldogs defensive player came off the board in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft. Cornerback Kamari Lassiter was drafted by the Houston Texans with the 42nd pick.

Lassiter joined the Bulldogs as a four-star recruit in the class of 2021 from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He saw limited playing time as a freshman before starting during his final two seasons with the Bulldogs. Over the course of his career, Lassiter recorded 86 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack, an interception and 14 passes defended.

Lassiter showcased his ability as a lockdown corner at Georgia, surrendering zero touchdowns on 39 targets a year ago according to PFF. He effectively locked down one side of the field for the Bulldogs and earned a great deal of praise from Kirby Smart for his leadership of the defense.

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Lassiter will join a Texans cornerback room that includes Derek Stingley and former first-rounder Jeffrey Okudah. He will have a chance to compete for playing time right away in Houston under defensive-minded head coach DeMeco Ryans.

Georgia Bulldog named as potential surprise first-round pick

One Georgia Bulldog named as a possible surprise first-round pick in the NFL draft

Pro Football Focus’ Lauren Gray has named Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Kamari Lassiter as a surprise first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Lassiter is one of the top cornerbacks in the draft, but he is not regularly mocked in the first round.

The NFL draft almost always has a shocking first-round pick that most NFL draft experts and analysts did not expect. One recent example came in 2022 when the New England Patriots drafted Chattanooga offensive guard Cole Strange with the No. 29 pick in the draft.

Lassiter is not predicted to be a first-round selection according to most mock drafts. In fact, a recent mock draft projected Lassiter to go in the third round.

Gray also predicts Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin, Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall, Michigan receiver Roman Wilson and BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamatala could be surprise first-round picks.

The NFL draft will be held from April 25-27 in Detroit. The draft will be televised on ESPN and ABC. No Georgia Bulldogs are attending the event in person.

Texans add 3 defensive pieces in latest Mel Kiper Jr. three-round mock draft

In the latest three-round mock draft from ESPN, the Houston Texans revamp their secondary and defensive line.

Even after an expensive offseason in acquiring talent, the Houston Texans still have several defensive holes entering draft weekend. Defensive tackle, cornerback, linebacker and safety depth all remain weak points heading into the regular season.

A trio of those positions were recently addressed in ESPN’s latest three-round mock draft.

In a combined effort from Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates, the Texans bolstered their defensive line with the addition of LSU’s Maason Smith at pick No. 42.  Seventeen picks later, Houston adds another SEC star on the boundary to play opposite Derek Stingley Jr. in Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter.

At pick No. 86, the Texans walk away with one of the steals of the draft in Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin. All three players have at least two years of starting experience and have played in what many consider the more aggressive conference in college football.

Smith, a 6-foot-5 defensive tackle, likely would have garnered first-round buzz if not for a torn ACL suffered in the season-opener against Florida State in 2022. He possesses all the traits Texans coach DeMeco Ryans covets in a pass-rushing three-tech up the middle to create havoc in the interior.

“The Texans must continue to bulk up on the inside,” Yates wrote. “Smith is an upside swing for Houston; he has the raw tools to become a disruptor as both a pass-rusher and run-defender.”

Lassiter, a fan favorite at pick No. 42, should compete for starting reps alongside Desmond King in the nickel and Jeff Okudah on the edge. At 6-foot, most would consider him undersized, but the two-year starter loves contact and isn’t afraid to get physical when asked to play in man coverage.

“Lassiter doesn’t have the elite speed, but he’s a really solid corner,” wrote Kiper.  “The Texans ranked 29th in the league in yards per pass attempt allowed (7.7) last season.”

Nubin, who recorded 13 interceptions in five seasons with the Golden Gophers, is a ball-hawking machine that baits quarterbacks into throwing his way. Since 2021, the 6-foot-2 200-pounder has recorded at least three picks and two pass breakups.

“Perhaps no safety in the class has better ball skills than Nubin, who finds his way to the football constantly,” wrote Yates. “He had 13 interceptions in college, including five in 2023.”

The Texans own nine picks in the upcoming draft, several of which should be dedicated to drafting defense. Houston bolstered its front seven with the additions of Denico Autry, Azeez Al-Shaair and four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter, but still could use another interior tackle beyond Smith following the departures of Maliek Collins and Sheldon Rankins.

Packers picked as ideal landing spot for Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter

Matt Bowen of ESPN sees a good fit between the Packers and Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter.

In February, ESPN’s Matt Bowen picked the Green Bay Packers as the “best fit” for free agent safety Xavier McKinney, who eventually signed a four-year deal to join Matt LaFleur’s team. A few weeks out from the 2024 NFL draft, Bowen sees another fit in the secondary for Jeff Hafley and the Packers: Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter.

In his “favorite team fits for 20 top prospects,” Bowen connected the Packers with Lassiter, a potential second-round pick.

From Bowen:

The Packers already made a smart move in the secondary whey they added safety Xavier McKinney in free agency. Now, let’s address the cornerback position on Day 2 with Lassiter. He’s competitive and aggressive in man coverage schemes, and he sees plays develop quickly when playing zone coverage. Lassiter has the physical style to tackle on the perimeter, too. He gets downhill. Lassiter, who did not allow a touchdown as the nearest defender in coverage last season, is a fit in a Packers defense that will adjust its coverage tendencies under new coordinator Jeff Hafley.

The Packers have five picks in the top 100, including a pair of second-rounders (No. 41, No. 58).

Lassiter (5-11, 186) was a reserve for Georgia’s 2021 title team and then started 29 games over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, tallying 12 pass breakups and 8.5 tackles for losses.

According to Pro Football Focus, Lassiter forced 10 incompletions and allowed only 15 catches (on 39 targets) for 136 yards and no touchdowns into coverage last season. Almost all of Lassiter’s experience at cornerback came on the perimeter for Georgia.

The 21-year-old is PFF’s No. 37 overall prospect in the draft class.

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 82, Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter

Lassiter is on the smaller side, and he didn’t run well at the combine (4.64-second time in 40-yard dash), but solid agility times — like a 6.62-second time in the three-cone drill — helped save his athletic profile. His Relative Athletic Score is 6.24 out of 10.0.

The Packers brought back Keisean Nixon to play the slot and also re-signed Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell for depth and special teams. The team is also hopeful that Eric Stokes — a 2021 first-rounder — can return from several lower-body injuries that cost him the better part of two seasons and be a contributor again at perimeter corner. Jaire Alexander is locked in as one starter.

The Packers likely want to add a corner in this year’s draft. Could Lassiter be the target come Day 2? He’s young (still only 21), experienced (two-year starter in the SEC) and plays a premium position that needs long-term depth, and his height and agility match what the Packers generally look for in corners.

Field Yates’ new mock draft makes an unconventional pick for the Saints

Field Yates’ new mock draft makes an unconventional pick for the Saints. Does Georgia prospect Kamari Lassiter have what they look for at cornerback?

We’re finally entering the fun part of draft season: with only weeks remaining before the 2024 NFL draft kicks off, analysts like ESPN’s Field Yates are expanding their mock drafts to explore the first two rounds of picks (if not more). The real drama on draft day picks up after the obvious selections are made early on. And for a team with as many needs as the New Orleans Saints, it’s important to know what their options may be in the second round.

And with that in mind, we’re spending more time today talking about Yates’ pick for the Saints at No. 45 overall rather than the 14th selection (Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu, who has been a popular choice for New Orleans in the first round). Yates has the Saints picking Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Kamari Lassiter after addressing their bigger need at left tackle early on.

“The Saints restructured Marshon Lattimore’s contract late last season, fueling speculation that he could be a trade candidate this offseason,” Yates wrote. “Lassiter would add depth there if such a move happened. He’s sudden, confident and capable in man coverage.”

Lassiter weighs in at 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds, just meeting the Saints’ thresholds at the position, but his incomplete athletic testing makes it tough to say whether they would consider drafting him. His poor performance in the 40-yard dash on a fast track at Georgia’s pro day doesn’t help his case.

Yates reported that Lassiter timed the 40-yard dash between 4.50 and 4.51 seconds at Georgia’s pro day, but The Athletic’s Dane Brugler reports that he was timed much lower, between 4.61 and 4.63 seconds. NFLDraftScout.com, which has been working in partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame while tracking pro day results for decades, had him at 4.65. Yates is still high on Lassiter but other media draft analysts like NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah no longer rank him among their top 50 prospects. Before his pro day, Lassiter was Jeremiah’s 36th-best prospect.

Dubious pro day results aside, Lassiter doesn’t have the production of other players going early in the draft, or similar defensive backs the Saints have drafted in recent years. He only intercepted one pass in college while recording more than 1,000 snaps in coverage. Depending on where you look, in his three-year career he broke up either 9 passes (according to Pro Football Focus charting), 14 passes (College Sports Reference as well as ESPN), or 15 passes (Georgia’s team website). Marshon Lattimore, for comparison, had 4 interceptions and 11 passes defensed in just 357 coverage snaps at Ohio State.

The Saints could very well draft a cornerback regardless of their plans for Lattimore; Paulson Adebo is entering a contract year and Alontae Taylor was a liability in the slot. Lassiter’s future may lie in that same role guarding the slot, given his subpar size, and his controlled aggression making plays upfield. Lassiter only missed 8 tackles on nearly 1,700 defensive snaps in college, per PFF, and he was credited with making 8.5 tackles for loss the last two years. Getting him closer to the line of scrimmage where he can make plays in traffic and not worry about running in stride with faster receivers downfield could let him play to his strengths. If Lattimore is traded this offseason, Taylor makes the most sense as his immediate replacement, and the Saints would need someone else to man the slot.

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2024 Eagles mock draft roundup: Philadelphia reloads at cornerback position

With Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated mock draft roundup for Philadelphia at pick No. 22.

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Philadelphia has needs, but after a strong start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 22) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits believe the Eagles will reshape the secondary by targeting a cornerback.

With Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated mock draft roundup for Philadelphia at pick No. 22.

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Trades for QBs shake up Round 1; Ravens retool offensive line

We’re looking at an updated three round NFL mock draft for all 32 teams after the first wave of free agency

The Ravens are still in the crux of a potential Super Bowl window. Still, they’ll look drastically different on both sides of the football after undergoing massive changes to player personnel and the coaching staff. Eric DeCosta started the off-season with urgency, signing Justin Madubuike, one of the league’s best defensive linemen, to an extension. After inking Madubuike to a deal, Baltimore seemed to win the first wave of the free agency period after getting Derrick Henry for two years and $16 million. The talented running back could earn $20 million throughout the deal. All wasn’t perfect, as the Ravens suffered significant free-agent losses. Patrick Queen (Steelers), Geno Stone (Bengals), and Gus Edwards (Chargers) were among eight free agents to sign elsewhere. Baltimore also traded Morgan Moses to the Jets and released Tyus Bowser in a cost-cutting move. With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we’re looking at an updated three-round mock draft.

2024 NFL draft: Updated first round mock after Day 1 of legal tampering period

We’re looking at an updated first round 2024 NFL mock draft after the first day of the legal tampering period that saw Kirk Cousins to Falcons, Brian Burns to Giants, and Saquon Barkley to Eagles

The Ravens are heading into an uncertain offseason with an MVP quarterback, a shrinking Super Bowl window, and five of the top free agents in the NFL.

Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh have started the journey of retooling a roster that is in flux and set to see significant changes at offensive tackle, running back, wide receiver, linebacker, and cornerback, among other positions.

Justin Madubuike’s contract allows the Ravens to approach the draft from the best player available approach.

Baltimore lost five players during Day 1 of the legal tampering period, and with a massive week of free agency discussions set to begin, we’re projecting the first round of April’s NFL draft for all 32 teams.