HOUSTON (AP)-- The
Houston Texans resolved some requirements in the NFL draft in spite of not having a first-round pick this year.
A year after picking quarterback C.J. Stroud second general and trading up to get protective end Will Anderson Jr. with the following choice, the Texans didn't have a choice in this draft up until No. 42 in the 2nd round.
After boosting their offense substantially by trading for star receiver Stefon Diggs and running back Joe Mixon this offseason, the Texans utilized their early draft selects to improve their secondary.
They did that by taking Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter with the 42nd choice and including USC safety Calen Bullock in the 3rd round at No. 78. Both could move into the beginning lineup instantly with
Houston looking to upgrade the cornerback spot opposite Derek Stingley Jr., the 3rd general choice in 2022, and the complimentary safety position to have fun with strong safety Jalen Pitre, a second-round choice in 2022.
The additions should bolster a defense which ranked 23rd in the NFL last season by allowing 234.1 yards passing a video game.
General supervisor Nick Caserio raved about Lassiter, who won 2 national championships with the Bulldogs.
" Lassiter has position bent-- he's played in the border, played inside the formation," Caserio stated. "I 'd state he has fun with a linebacker-type mindset. He's a corner, however he takes on. He's difficult, he's physical."
Lassiter began 29 games integrated in his last two seasons at Georgia where he broke up 8 passes and had 3 1/2 tackles for losses last season. His draft stock may have fallen due to the fact that of concerns about his speed after he ran an informal 4.60 40-yard dash at Georgia's pro day.
" I'm sure there will be a concern about his speed, and how fast he ran," Caserio said. "But he's not slow. The speed truly wasn't a concern of ours. The time is the time. We're preparing football players; we're not preparing track teams ... when you enjoy him play in the SEC, you don't leave and have that concern."
Coach DeMeco Ryans continuously preaches the importance of an unrelenting state of mind to his group-- and particularly his defense. He stated Lassiter is the ideal example of that.
" Kamari provides toughness," Ryans stated Saturday. "You speak about energy and the method he plays the game-- he likes football ... he's everything that our team is about."
Bullock was a three-year starter for the Trojans where he had 9 interceptions-- 2 that were returned for touchdowns-- and 151 deals with.
A
Houston Texans fan participates in the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in
Detroit. The Texans selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Blake Fisher with their other choice in the 2nd round at No. 59. Fisher is a versatile lineman after playing both left and right tackle in his college career.
" I believe we've constantly been a big believer (that) you can't have enough deals with on your football group," Caserio said.
REUNION
Houston reunited Stroud with his former college teammate when it drafted Ohio State tight end Cade Stover in the fourth round. The 6-foot-4, 251-pound Stover, who invested his very first year as a linebacker, had 982 backyards getting with 10 goals integrated in his last 2 seasons with the Buckeyes.
Stroud posted a picture on social media of the 2 of them commemorating in the end zone while at Ohio State soon after he was prepared Saturday.
" This guy is whatever you want in a football player," Caserio stated. "This is probably among our favorite football gamers in the whole draft.".
STAYING IN SCHOOL
The Texans added to their defense in the 6th round with Oregon security turned linebacker Jamal Hill. He had 147 takes on, 2 interceptions and four forced fumbles in five seasons with the Ducks.
Later on in the 6th round, the Texans caught another gamer who invested five seasons in college in running back Jawhar Jordan. He spent two seasons at Syracuse before spending his last 3 seasons at
Louisville where he ran for a career-best 1,128 yards and 13 touchdowns last year.
Houston finished up the draft by taking USC defensive end Solomon Byrd and Auburn defensive tackle Marcus Harris and Michigan offensive deal with LaDarius
Henderson in the seventh round.
Byrd was in college for a whopping 6 seasons after investing four seasons at Wyoming and 2 seasons with the Trojans. Harris played at Kansas for 2 seasons before spending the last 3 years at Auburn.
Henderson spent 4 seasons at Arizona State before ending up with one season at Michigan.
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