Kamari Lassiter has looked the part of a solid No. 2 cornerback through four games with the Houston Texans.
Is he on the same level as Pro Bowler Derek Stingley Jr.? Not yet.
Is he in line to perhaps win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors? According to one publication, yes.
In the latest column dropped by ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, Lassiter was named the favorite to win the award one month into the season. Should that hold, it would mark the first time in franchise history that back-to-back players won Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. took home the honors last season after tying J.J. Watt’s rookie sack record at 7.5.
Barnwell believes that Lassiter has been one of the “stingiest” corners through one month of action and rarely has allowed an opponent to win during man coverage drills.
“Lassiter should be seeing plenty of targets, but he has allowed opposing quarterbacks to go only 4-of-12 for 123 yards with an interception, which came when he went off his own man in a scramble drill to pick off a Caleb Williams pass in Week 2,” Barnwell wrote.
According to NextGenStats, Lassiter is posting a 42.0 passer rating against a defender in coverage, which leads all rookies with at least over 50 defensive snaps. Barnwell notes that the second-round pick out of Georgia has also been one of the best cover corners —regardless of age — when asked to play in man.
“He hasn’t been perfect — Brian Thomas Jr. got him on a double move for a touchdown last week, only for [Jaguars QB] Trevor Lawrence to miss the throw — but in a season when there aren’t many great rookie defenders through four games, he tops the list,” Barnwell wrote.
Lassiter could be in line to keep building a rookie resume worth watching when the Texans play host to the Buffalo Bills this Sunday at noon CT.
