Texans to have one of the more intriguing position battles in the league heading into training camp
The Houston Texans have a good problem on their hands for the 2024 season, and heading into training camp. They have a position group that is deep, or maybe, too deep, I should say. That's a good problem to have, as depth is never a bad thing. But, this leads them to one task – […]
The Houston Texans have a good problem on their hands for the 2024 season, and heading into training camp. They have a position group that is deep, or maybe, too deep, I should say. That's a good problem to have, as depth is never a bad thing. But, this leads them to one task – they must find out who will win the position battle in training camp.
The Texans do have one of the best cornerbacks in the league, Derek Stingley. He's a young guy who isn't known as much nationally as the guys like Pat Surtain and Sauce Gardner, but he's right up there with them. When it comes to depth behind Stingley, they have that, too.
The Texans drafted Kamari Lassiter, a cornerback from Georgia, in this past draft. They signed former top-10 picks C.J. Henderson and Jeff Okudah. Now, it's time to see which of those three will win the battle for the second starting cornerback on the team.
Pro Football Focus broke down some of the best position battles going on this offseason, and they chose this one as one of them. That's how exciting it's going to be at training camp.
Jeff Okudah vs. CJ Henderson vs. Kamari Lassiter The Texans have built one of the best rosters in the NFL heading into quarterback C.J. Stroud’s second season, but one of the biggest question marks is who will start opposite Derek Stingley Jr. at cornerback. Okudah has yet to live up to his billing as the third-overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, with his below-average career-high PFF coverage grade (54.4) coming in 2022. It’s a similar story for Henderson, who was the ninth overall pick in that same draft. His 48.9 career-high PFF grade is even lower than Okudah’s. Their previous struggles will open the door for Lassiter to start right away. The second-round rookie had his best season in college in 2023, earning an 87.2 PFF coverage grade for Georgia.
The Texans will pick the right guy who not only fits the best but is the best throughout training camp. This is a good problem to have, and while Okudah and Henderson may not have worked out as elite cornerbacks like the teams who drafted them thought they would be, they are great depth pieces and have proven that they can be good.
As for Lassiter, he was one of the best cornerbacks in college last season. He's physical and long. There may be a scenario where he fights for the starting nickel position if the other two looks to be doing better at outside cornerback. I said it once, and I'll say it again – the Texans have a good problem on their hands.
Houston Texans free agent steal Jeff Okudah is already impressing at OTAs
The Texans have a sneaky good secondary.
