Tag: nick caserio

Texans GM rips NFL for suspension and portrayal of LB Azeez Al-Shaair

Nick Caserio didn’t hold back in breaking down the poor portrayal made by the NFL against Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair amid suspension.

On Monday, Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans went to bat for linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair amid a suspension in the works.

A day later, it was Nick Caserio’s turn to call out the NFL.

Caserio, along with multiple members of the organization, took exception with the league’s characterization of Al-Shaair following his three-game suspension. With owners in attendance, Caserio ripped the NFL for its choice wording and description of Al-Shaair in the letter laying out the sixth-year linebacker’s suspension.

“Nobody embodies our program more than Azeez,” Caserio said. “What he’s about, what he’s been through. There’s not a more selfless individual more about the team, who has earned the respect, that represents everything we want this program to be about.

“We’re talking about some of the commentary that has been made about his character, about the person that he is, about what his intentions are, from people who, quite frankly, don’t know anything about Azeez Al-Shaair.”

Caserio also called out the league office for its lack of consistency regarding suspension lengths, pointing to other instances around the league where players have received underwhelming punishments for similar hits on players.

“For the league to make some of the commentary that they made about lack of sportsmanship, lack of coachability, lack of paying attention to the rules, quite frankly, it’s embarrassing,” Caserio said. “So I think the big thing from our perspective — talk about a player who’s never been suspended, never been ejected. So now we’re saying that he’s going to be suspended for three games. Look, it is what it is. I think the big thing from our standpoint — and all teams want this — is just some level of consistency.”

Caserio, who’s set to close on his fourth season as the Texans’ GM, said they spoke to the league office and still feel as if there’s not a good explanation for the punishment. Al-Shaair, who can’t return until the Week 18 season finale, plans to appeal the ruling in hopes of limiting the suspension to either one or two games.

While Caserio defended his player, he also hoped that Lawrence continued to get healthy following a hit that left him unconscious and forced him into the concussion protocol.

“The most important thing is the health and safety of our players and I would say the health and well-being of Trevor,” Caserio said. “Hopefully Trevor is going to be okay.”

Much like Ryans, Caserio made sure to let the NFL know where he stands.

“Where we take umbrage is the picture that has been painted about Azeez, his intentions, who he is as a person,” Caserio said. “Quite frankly, it’s bulls—, and it’s unfair to the individual, it’s unfair to the organization. We love everything about Azeez Al-Shaair and everything he brings to this team.”

The Texans return from their bye week to take on the Miami Dolphins in Week 15.

Watch: Texans rookie safety Calen Bullock record third interception

Houston Texans rookie safety Calen Bullock recorded his third interception of his rookie season to get the ball back to his offense

Green Bay Packers Xavier McKinney leads the NFL interceptions with five picks.

Houston Texans rookie safety Calen Bullock is close behind at halftime after securing his third interception of the season just before the end of the first half of Week 7’s matchup at Lambeau Field.

Bullock picked off Packers quarterback Jordan Love on their first offensive snap with three minutes remaining in the second quarter.

It’s the third Texans takeaway in the first half.

Houston’s offense has struggled to move the ball on offense but has used its two previous takeaways to score 10 points. Bullock, who also picked off New England Patriots passer Drake Maye last week, is one of five players with three or more interceptions entering Sunday.

The USC product has seen a steady increase in playing time throughout the early part of his rookie season. He got his first start as a result of veteran Jimmie Ward missing a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Bullock was a third-round pick in April’s NFL Draft. Texans general manager Nick Caserio has had plenty of success in the third round, including Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Christian Harris.

The Texans will begin the second half on offense.

Texans hire ex-Patriots staffer Steve Cargile as senior personnel executive

The Houston Texans have made another hire.

The Houston Texans are adding a few new names to the front office.

According to KPRC2 Sports, the Texans have hired former New England Patriots director of pro scouting Steve Cargile as a senior personnel executive and assistant director of pro scouting.

Internally, Houston also has promoted DJ Debick to director of pro scouting as the replacement for the director of pro scouting Ronnie McGill, who wasn’t expected to return following the 2023 season.

Cargile played 16 games in the NFL at safety between five teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and Cleveland Browns after going undrafted out of Columbia. He spent time under Caserio and Bill Belichick in New England before a position shift this offseason with the latter’s departure.

Debick, a fellow John Carroll alum like Caserio, first met the Texans general manager when hired as a scouting assistant in 2016 in New England. He was promoted to area scout in 2018 and followed Caserio to Houston in 2022.

Prior to his promotion, Debick served as the Texans’ assistant director of pro scouting.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium for the start of NFL training camp on July 18.

Report: Texans director of team development Dylan Thompson hired by Commanders

Dylan Thompson, the Houston Texans director of team development, is headed to the NFC East after three seasons in the Lone Star State.

Dylan Thompson is getting his shot elsewhere.

Thompson, who spent the past three seasons as the Houston Texans director of team development, has been hired by the Washington Commanders for a similar role, according to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson.

Thompson has been regarded for his work ethic, passion and attentiveness with players since being hired by Houston. The South Carolina native was influential in Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud’s progression and maturation from rookie to rising star.

“Dylan is one of the best human beings that I’ve ever met in my life,” Stroud said of Thompson earlier this offseason. “There’s a ton of people, great people in this organization, but DT has been the main person.

“You talk about a brother like to somebody who loves you no matter what happens on that field, you can feel that. I just appreciate that and now he’s going to be mad at me, but, man, he’s a great person, and really one of the reasons why I feel like we were very successful this year.”

Thompson, 32, joined the Texans in 2021 under then-executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby. He was known for developing player’s characteristics as they transitioned from college to the pros.

Before joining the Texans, Thompson served as the director of player development at Charleston Southern following stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.

A two-year starter at South Carolina, Thompson led the SEC with 3,574 passing yards, and totaled 26 touchdowns in his senior season. For his career, he threw for 5,401 yards, 40 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

“There is no Will Anderson without Dylan Thompson,” defensive end Will Anderson recently told Texans Wire’s John Crumpler.”

Could Texans be parting ways with a WR before training camp?

With the arrival of Stefon Diggs, one of the Houston Texans receivers could be looking for a new home in 2024.

The Houston Texans have ample mouths to feed in the passing game next season as C.J. Stroud looks to go from stellar rookie to perennial MVP. 

In fact, there might be too many targets for his disposal, meaning a player or two could be on the market as a trade candidate before the season begins. 

Texans general manager Nick Caserio recently appeared on Fanduel’s Up and Adams podcast to discuss the recent offseason moves, including the acquisition of Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs. With his arrival, one receiver will move down the pecking order and could see their reps diminish. 

To avoid those concerns, Caserio mentioned that a potential shake-up to the receiver room would likely come before Week 1 arrives. 

“That room is going to be really competitive,” Caserio  We’re probably going to have to move on from some players who are going to be playing other places, but we’ll try to keep as many good players as we can here.”

The Texans wanted to add ample firepower to their seventh-ranked passing attack this offseason while Stroud is still on his rookie contract. When broken down, Houston realistically traded back 19 spots in the draft with the Minnesota Vikings to acquire the four-time Pro Bowler Diggs from Buffalo. 

Right now, Diggs will only be a Texan for one season. Houston voided the final three years of his current contract and added $3.5 million to his annual salary. Last month, the Texans ended all “WR No. 1” conversations by extending Nico Collins on a three-year deal. 

Diggs, who leads the NFL in receptions since 2020 (445), joins a loaded receiving room headlined by Collins, Tank Dell, John Metchie III, Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson and Noah Brown. The Texans also brought back Dalton Schultz on a three-year deal and drafted Ohio State standout Cade Stover in Round 4. 

To add more fuel to the firey offense, Houston traded for Pro Bowler Joe Mixon from Cincinnati at the start of free agency and still has tight end Brevin Jordan, fullback Andrew Beck and running back Dameon Pierce as part of the passing game. 

“Philosophically, what DeMeco and I have tried to do is build as competitive and deep a roster as possible,” Caserio said. “We understand there are going to be challenges we face during the course of a season. This league is so competitive … but our job is to try to build as good a team as we possibly can—give ourselves an opportunity to compete against a lot of good teams, lot of good coaches.”

Diggs, Schultz, Mixon and Collins won’t be going anywhere given their contracts. Stover was drafted last month and Dell, who is coming off a season-ending leg injury, was on pace for 1,000 yards last season as Stroud’s No. 2 target. 

Metchie, Brown and Woods feel like the clear cut candidates entering training camp. Metchie, the 2022 second-round pick out of Alabama, missed all of his rookie season after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, a rare but treatable form of cancer.

Last season was Mecthie’s true first year in the pros, so Caserio might be hesitant to pull the plug on a player with upside, especially after his performance in the wild-card round victory over Cleveland. 

Brown inked a one-year deal to return this offseason, so it feels he could have an advantage given his guaranteed contract situation. Woods, who signed a two-year deal last offseason, might be an ideal trade candidate as a WR No. 3 for any team in the market for a proven target. 

Caserio didn’t lean one way when talking cuts, so it’s best not to assume which player is on the block. Expect all three players to be under watch as mandatory camp begins later this week.

Texans GM Nick Caserio talks DeMeco Ryans’ hiring, expectations in Year 2

It’s hard to believe just 16 months ago DeMeco Ryans was hired and Texans GM Nick Caserio detailed went into the process of his hiring

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio some gave insight into the decision to hire DeMeco Ryans as head coach ahead of Year 2. 

Caserio, who appeared on FanDuel’s Up & Adams earlier this week, played a role in securing talent to build off three failed seasons in Houston that ended with coaches being shown the door. 

Ryans, a former second-round pick and Pro Bowl linebacker for the AFC South franchise, served as the architect when placing the pieces in the correct order to win a division title for the time in four years.

 

“I can’t say enough great things about him,” Caserio said. “He’s one of the best coaches in the league, and we’re very fortunate to have, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work with him every day.”

Houston finished 10-7 and won the AFC South crown, making Ryans and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud the fifth rookie head coach and quarterback duo to win the division. The Texans them thumped the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card round for their first playoff victory since the days of Bill O’Brien.

Anyone who predicted those results from Houston after a 3-14-1 finish must have had Doc Brown’s DeLorean or a Texans’ super fan hat on.  After blowing a 24-0 lead to Patrick Mahomes on the road in Arrowhead, the Texans finished with a combined 7-26-1 leading up to 2023.  

“We just needed a little bit of a jolt, and we were looking for the right person,” Caserio said. “Football, in the end, is a people business, and we can talk about schemes, but you need somebody that can galvanize an entire group of people.”

Ryans previously spent six seasons in San Francisco, including his final two seasons when he served as defensive coordinator. The 49ers defense was in the top 10 in points allowed both years under Ryans, peaking as the lowest-scoring defense in 2022. 

“When you look at players’ performance in San Francisco, I would say he had a huge hand in developing Fred (Warner), Dre (Greenlaw) and Azeez (Al-Shaair),” Caserio said. “When you look at how his defenses played in San Francisco, they played with energy and fast and ferociously.”

While most NFL franchises were hiring offensive-minded coaches, Caserio took a different approach after firing Lovie Smith, though Ryans’ past times with the organization didn’t factor into the decision. 

“DeMeco and I really didn’t know each other besides knowing of each other. He’s such a great human being,” Caserio said. “He’s a great person and very genuine and sincere, and he is who he is. His energy and juice are on a consistent basis.”

A change of energy emmerged when Ryans arrived back to NRG Stadium for the first time since 2012.  Fans got their wish as the inngural defensive standout signed on the dotted line to coach for the team that drafted him in 2006.

During Ryans’ six-year stint in Houston, he was a first-team All-Pro linebacker (2007) and two-time Pro Bowler.  He spent three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles before retiring in 2015, but immedietly transitioned into coach the following offseason. 

“When you can put yourself in the player’s shoes when you’re talking to the team and understanding that they’re looking at the coach and understanding he sat in that chair and has grown through some of that stuff, then it makes it easier for a player to do the things we ask of them,” Caserio said. 

Ryans won the Pro Football Writers of America’s Coach of the Year and finished one first-place vote behind Cleveland’s Kevin Stefanski for the honor of the Associated Press’ honors. 

Caserio took a plenty of heat for firing coaches after hiring one-and-done coaching staffs in back-to-back years. National media outlets pointed to the Texans’ record with Caserio as GM, and if Ryans had not produced the way he did in year one, it might have led to Caserio’s time ending in Houston.

Caserio admitted to learning from his mistakes. Smith’s firing was a wake-up call that change was needed in his approach to hiring coaches.

That led to arrival of Ryans. So far, it’s been the right move.

“You try to learn the best you can on a year-to-year basis,” Caserio said. “You have to make difficult decisions, but ultimately try to do what’s best for the organization as a whole.”

Texans hire former New England Patriots RB Shane Vereen as player personnel assistant

Former New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen is headed to join the Houston Texans….in the scouting department.

A former New England Patriots running back is headed to the Houston Texans. No, it’s a rewind to the 2021 season when Rex Burkhead hopped on a plane to NRG Stadium. 

The Texans are hiring former Patriots standout Shane Vereen as a player personnel assistant, according to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson. Vereen previously worked as a college football analyst for Pac-12 Network and FOX Sports. 

A standout runner from Cal drafted in the second round in 2011, Vereen spent seven seasons in the pros before retiring in 2018. During his time with the Patriots and Giants, he rushed for 1,489  yards and eight touchdowns. Vereen also caught 221 passes for 1,864 yards and 11 scores.

Most used as a secondary runner, Vereen made waves during New England’s Super Bowl appearance in 2015 against the Seahawks. In Glendale, he caught a team-high 11 passes for 64 yards en route to a 28-24 win. 

Texans fans likely remember Vereen best for his performance in the 2012 divisional round playoff win, where he posted a career-high three touchdowns on five catches and seven rush attempts for 114 yards of offense. 

General manager Nick Caserio knows Vereen well from his time in the Patriots’ player personnel department under Bill Belichick. Now, Vereen gets to reunite with one of the people who believed in him coming out of the then-Pac-10 in the pros. 

Should Texans Trade For Saints Pro Bowl CB Marshon Lattimore?

In a recent article Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay mocked the Texans acquiring Marshon Lattimore, but is it a move they should consider?

The Houston Texans have been one of the league’s more active teams this offseason as they prepare to build off last year’s surprise playoff run. 

Even after landing Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter with its first selection in last month’s draft, cornerback remains a position of need. And with the Texans following the “all-in” persona, perhaps they’re willing to part with another mid-round pick for a high-profile prospect.

In the latest article Bleacher Report, Alex Kay positioned a trade that would send four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore to Houston in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick.

Lattimore, 27, could come with a lower trade value since the Saints are up against the salary cap. New Orleans will be a league-high $72.8 million over the cap in 2025 due to its refusal to rebuild since the retirement of future Hall of Fame quarterbak Drew Brees. 

The Saints have been in a comparable spot for years but always got under the salary threshold by trading some of their highest earners and Lattimore fits the description. He’s slated to make $14.6 million in 2024 before the per-year price jumps to $31.4 million in 2025 and $28.6 million in the final year of the deal. 

Moving on from Lattimore seems more reasonable after the New Oreleans selection of Kool-Aid McKinstry in Round 2. The Alabama product has the tools to be a day-one starter, making Lattimore flexible to ship elsewhere. 

Houston continues to be in the market for veteran talent as it tries to put together a deep playoff run while franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud remains on his rookie contract. 

Below is why the Texans should and should not trade for Lattimore. 

Why The Texans Should Make A Trade

Since being selected with the 11th pick in the 2017 draft, Lattimore has been one of the league’s best defensive backs. In seven seasons, he’s had 15 interceptions along with 86  defelcted passes and two defensive touchdowns.

Houston has spent the offseason throwing several darts at the position, hoping one sticks opposite of Derek Stingley Jr. During free agency, the

Texans took chances on one-year deals with former first-round picks Jeff Okudah and CJ Henderson. In the draft, they took Lassiter, who has experience both in the slot and on the boundary. 

Lattimore would immedietly start opposite the third-year Stingley while Lassiter settled into the NFL. Lassiter likely would compete with veteran Desmond King for first-team reps at the nickel.  

Houston’s already made multiple win-now moves throughout the offseason as it prepares for a first-place schedule after winning the AFC South. Next season, the Texans face seven teams ranked in the top 10 for passing yards from a year ago.

And keep in mind that the Bears just added No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the Jets welcome back Aaron Rodgers in their hunt for a postseason berth. 

While the Texans had an above-average defensive unit a year ago, their pass coverage numbers were underwhelming. Opponents averaged the sixth-highest (6.5) net yards gained per pass attempt against Houston’s secondary last season. Houston’s upgraded its pass rush, but adding Lattimore would take the defense from the middle of the pack to the upper echelon. 

Lattimore might be a veteran, but he’s still in his prime entering Year 8. His addition would bring a veteran presence to a young but prosperous defensive back room. 

Why The Texans Should Not Make A Trade

Despite still having $23 million in 2024 cap space and a projected $46 million next offseason, Houston needs to plan beyond this fall when discussing extensions to players who prospered a season ago. 

Nico Collins is in the last year of his deals and will command a significant pay raise. So will Stefon Diggs, whom Houston traded a 2025 second-round pick for to Buffalo earlier this offseason. Even after voiding the final three years of his contract, the four-time Pro Bowl target remains in talks toward a new deal. 

Christian Harris, Denico Autry and Jalen Pitre will be free agents entering 2026. So could Stingely and fellow former first-round pick Kenyon Green if GM Nick Caserio elects to pass on picking up their fifth-year options. 

In 2026, four of Houston’s anticipated offensive line starters, including All-Pro Laremy Tunsil, will hit the market.

Reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. and Stroud’s second contracts will likely be near the top of their position group if they continue their trajectory toward stardom. 

More to the point, acquiring Lattimore is an immediate splash move, but it also impairs Houston’s spending limits in the future.

Injuries have also limited Lattimore to playing in half of the Saints’ games the past two seasons, making him a risky option with a significant hit against his team’s salary cap. 

 

The same injuries have hurt Lattimore’s versatility in coverage. When Lattimore has been in coverage the past two seasons, the opposing receiver’s average yards per reception is 11.3, the lowest mark of his career. 

New Orleans is no longer asking Lattimore to carry receivers downfield. Instead, it’s transitioned him to playing more underneath coverage. It’s hard to imagine the Texans wanting to bring in an oft-injured, expensive, scheme-dependent cornerback rather than find a cheap stop plug.

Caserio has also done well in this area in recent years, gaining quality play from veteran options such as King and Steven Nelson, who could return on another short-term deal. 

Should Texans extend Nico Collins before 2024 season begins?

With Nico Collins entering the final year of his rookie contract, and annual salaries rising, The Houston Texans should extend him now.

NFL free agency started over a month ago, and the NFL draft happened last week, leaving fans to wait for rookie minicamp and offseason training activities to start.

Now enters one of the quietest times of the year for fans, but it doesn’t mean teams aren’t working hard behind the scenes to improve their rosters.

The Houston Texans are in a good spot after an extremely active offseason. Houston filled several holes in free agency and through offseason trades, bolstering its roster to compete with the elite teams in the AFC for years to come.

There’s more work to do, and with $23.6 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, the Texans have plenty of ammunition to secure deals. But what about taking care of one of their own?

Wide receiver Nico Collins is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Because he was not a first-round pick, he cannot receive a fifth-year option.

Houston’s options are either to make him a deal, put him on the franchise tag after the season, or watch him walk in free agency.

Collins had a breakout third season, totaling 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns while becoming quarterback C.J. Stroud’s primary target. The former third-round pick is in line for a cushy new contract that reflects his level of play.

On “The Athletic Football Show“, co-hosts Nate Tice and Robert Mays argued that Houston should look to make a deal sooner rather than later. So what’s the holdup?

 

Injuries, inadequate quarterback play, and an overall bad environment for a young wide receiver hurt Collins in his first two seasons. The results were 70 catches for 927 yards and three touchdowns across 24 games. 

Houston may want to see another year of production before they hand out wide receiver one money to Collins. The acquisition of former All-Pro Stefon Diggs adds to the target competition, so how Collins plays alongside a fellow upper-echelon wideout may factor into its decision.

However, it’s a dangerous game to wait and see. Around the league, teams are locking up their young receivers, with Indianapolis signing Michael Pittman Jr. to a three-year deal worth $70 million, including a $46 million total guarantee, and Philadelphia inking Devonta Smith to a three-year, $75 million contract.

Neither Pittman nor Smith reached Collins’ level in 2023, though both have been sturdy options in their respective passing games, hence why Tice and Mays argue the Texans should get the deal done now before the asking price expands to top-10 status next offseason. 

“He (Collins) looks like a top-10 guy now, and I would give him Devonta Smith pay, so he plays like A.J. Brown,” Mays said.

Smith’s $25 million annual salary serves as a good benchmark for a potential Collins extension. However, as more time passes, more teams iron out deals. 

The Lions inked Amon-Ra St. Brown to a four-year, $120 million contract – the largest annual average for a receiver until Brown’s three-year, $96 million extension –  on Apr. 24. St. Brown’s contract includes $77 million in guarantees the second most behind Brown’s monster deal which guarantees him $84 million. 

Star receivers like Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase are awaiting new deals, and both will likely reset the market by this time next offseason. 

The price tag for receivers — more specifically leading targets — only continues to grow. In 2019, Julio Jones’ three-year, $66 million was the largest extension. Today, Jones’ 22 million salary would rank lower than  Diggs’ $22.5 million pay, which currently is the 12th highest-ranked contract among receivers, according to Spotrac. 

While the logic of waiting another year and making Collins prove he’s elite holds some merit, what if he takes another step in Year 4?

In games featuring Tank Dell, Collins posted 50 receptions for 800 yards and five touchdowns. Over 17 games, the average comes out to 85 catches, 1,360 yards, and eight touchdowns. 

Diggs’ arrival only takes more attention off of Collins. An improved run game and better health along the offensive line bodes well for the offense as a whole and for Collins to raise his efficiency level, which was top five in nearly every metric last season.

Pro Football Focus graded him as the fifth-best receiver last year, and he finished top in yards after catch per reception and yards per route run. 

Texans general manager Nick Caserio hasn’t been keen on giving lucrative contracts. In three years, the largest contract he’s dished out was to All-Pro Laremy Tunsil worth $75 million over three years. 

It would make sense for Collins’ deal to be in a similar range. A three-year extension would come off the books right as Stroud enters his sixth season, which, if the Texans use the fifth-year option, would be the first year of his perceived monster deal. 

Nobody expected Collins to be a number one option heading into last season, but now it’s clear he can be for years.

The clock is ticking for Caserio and company to complete a deal. 

Texans new CB Kamari Lassiter ready to live up to ‘Locksmith’ persona

Nicknamed ‘The Locksmith,’ new Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter is ready to lock down receivers in the AFC for years to come.

Sporting a silver chain with an industrial-sized lock engraved with ‘K3‘ in the center, Kamari Lassiter made sure to properly introduce his alter ego to his new fan base. 

“I call myself the locksmith,” the newest Houston Texans cornerback said. “I pride myself on having stuff on lock. I really wanted to get a lock [made] with the name ‘locksmith‘ on there.” 

Lassiter, a consistent playmaker and lockdown defensive back at Georgia, will be expected to live up to his name down at NRG Stadium this fall. Fans in Athens were able to see him bloom from a four-star defender into a two-time national champion. 

The 6-foot Alabama native did it all during his three seasons with the Bulldogs. He started his career in the nickel, then moved to the outside in 2022 and became the alpha of Kirby Smart’s secondary. 

“Kamari provides toughness,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Saturday following the draft. “You talk about energy and the way he plays the game. He loves football. It shows on the tape. It jumps off the tape. He’s a versatile player. He can play inside, he can play outside.”

Lassiter saved his best collegiate season for 2023, totaling 37 tackles and a team-leading eight pass breakups. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed 15 receptions on 37 pass attempts for 135 yards.

While earning second-team All-SEC honors, Lassiter didn’t allow a touchdown. In three seasons with the Dawgs and over 1,110 snaps in coverage, two players have crossed the pylon. 

“You just talk about a guy who is a leader, a guy who works hard. He’s everything that our team is about,” Ryans said. “You talk about everything being relentless and attacking. With the relentless mindset every single day, that’s what Kamari brings.”

From an on-field standpoint, Lassiter was considered one of the top corners. He impressed during pre-draft meetings with teams, but a 4.6 40-time knocked him out of the first-round conversation. 

While the Locksmith has been known for ending plays with breakups, he hasn’t been able to turn the key in turnovers. Lassiter finished his collegiate career with one interception compared to 14 pass deflections. 

General manager Nick Caserio wasn’t concerned. The film shows Lassiter’s natural ability to guard shifty receivers in the slot or on the perimeter, areas he’ll both work at during training camp. 

“We’re drafting football players; we’re not drafting track teams,” said Caserio Friday evening. “I know speed is important. I’m not saying speed is not important. We don’t feel that that’s an issue for this particular player. When you watch him play in the SEC, you don’t walk away and have that concern.” 

Lassiter was on Houston’s radar from the beginning of the draft process. Caserio said he was one of the top prospects they identified who fits Ryans’ “SWARM” mentality. 

With the Texans, Lassiter should be a Day 1 starter, whether it be at the nickel position or opposite former first-round pick Derek Stingley Jr. Houston elected not to retain veteran Steven Nelson this offseason, pivoting toward younger options in Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson on one-year deals. 

Okudah, the 2020 No. 3 pick, has been hit-or-miss throughout his career and is on his third time in five years. He saw progress early last season after being traded to the Atlanta Falcons from Detroit but was benched toward the year’s end in a playoff hunt. 

Henderson, a fellow 2020 first-round pick, mostly was a reserve during his final two seasons in Carolina after being traded by Jacksonville following his rookie season. 

The Texans also re-signed Desmond King on a one-year deal and replaced Tavierre Thomas with Myles Bryant. Lassiter will have to earn playing time, but he’s excited to learn under Stingley, someone he remembers watching at LSU while at American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa. 

“When you talk about just pure raw talent and true corner who can just go out there and just play anywhere on the field and go with the best of them, I feel like Derek Stingley is one of those guys,” Lassiter said of Stingley. “Being able to learn up under a guy like that who’s been in the league for a couple of years now and earned respect, that’s someone who I can take parts of his game and add on to mine.”

While the Texans were sold on Lassiter, the latter was sold on Houston. Not just the coaching staff, but also the vibes. He told his family and friends that the roster was young and it felt like a place he’d thrive. 

Throughout the draft process, countless mocks featured Lassiter as the 42nd pick for Houston given his play style and demeanor. Scouts considered him an ideal fit for Ryans’ man-heavy defense after mixed play in coverage during the team’s run to the postseason. 

Back home in Alabama, Lassiter was envisioning the same.

“You watch football and you think you’d fit in and enjoy playing at,” Lassiter said. “I feel like Houston is one of those places.”