The Houston Texans are coming up on a critical decision that could redefine their group, specifically regarding the future of Kamari Lassiter.
Lassiter is only entering his third season.
However, he is on track to command a heft salary on his next deal, perhaps as soon as the 2027 offseason, which could leave Texans general manager Nick Caserio facing some difficult decisions with the roster.
Texans’ Kamari Lassiter Could Command Top Dollar
GettyKamari Lassiter is heading for a big payday.
The Texans selected Lassiter in the second-round with the 42nd overall pick of the 2024 draft. He has been a plug-and-play starter since he arrived.
“Stoots & Locker” co-host Landry Locker made a strong case for the Texans to figure out how they can retain Lassiter. Locker also made it clear that Lassiter is unlikely to come cheap when the time arrives.
“This is the best way I can talk about Kamari Lassiter: If Kamari Lassiter were to hit free agency, he would be the highest paid cornerback of all time. That’s how good Kamari Lassiter is. Now, players like Kamari Lassiter, you typically don’t let hit free agency. But you watch that guy out there, and he looks like one of the best players on one of the best defenses, and I don’t know what his weakness is at this point,” Locker said on “Texans Collective” on August 23.
“I’ll put it this way: Even if he just stays the same of what he is right now, if he hit free agency, he would be the highest-paid cornerback of all time. Now, Derek Stingley, if he gets an extension, will probably be the highest-paid cornerback of all time. But I was just really impressed with Kamari Lassiter.”
A Pro Bowl alternate in 2025, Lassiter will be extension-eligible in 2027.
His accolade will not hold the same weight in contract talks as an outright selection would have. That does not diminish what he has done or what he could become with more time
Lassiter was one of the players that ESPN’s Bill Barnwell listed in an article published in July as being worthy of a first-round draft pick in a hypothetical trade scenario. That could be a situation to monitor moving forward.
Insider: Kamari Lassiter Could Seek Trade Without Contract Extension
GettyKamari Lassiter could push for a new deal or a change of scenery.
ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime is also of the thought that Lassiter can and will command top-dollar on his next deal, be it an extension from the Texans or after a trade to a team possibly more willing to pay him.
Bien-Aime joked that if Lassiter steps on the field next year without a contract, then his agent is the “worst agent to ever exist.
He also projected that Lassiter could command “$30 million”
“The only thing is, how good would Kamari be as the No. 1 corner without Stingley. Stingley makes everybody life easier, because he’s that good. But then, I do think Kamari’s is really good,” Bien-Aime said on “Gallant Says” in May.
“For me, the question starts with Kamari and [Calen] Bullock. Kamari and Bullock. Even if he [Lassiter] has a decent agent, if they’re not trying to pay him what he’s worth next season, you ask for a trade, and that’s that. You just ask for a trade, you try to get out of Houston. It’s really that simple, because why wait? Why wait to get paid when you can get some–he can get some real chicken. He can get some real deal chicken.
The Texans will have to plot out their future carefully. They have given out plenty of new money over the past year-plus.
Hypothetical Derek Stingley Jr. Trade Scenario Still Resonates
GettyThe Texans could be forced into choosing one standout CB over another.
Notably, Stingley’s contract pays him $30 million on average, which is the third-highest on the Texans’ roster, per Spotrac. The Texans already led the NFL in cash spending at the cornerback spot in 2025. That number would only increase if Lassiter matched Stingley.
That has previously brought up the idea that the Texans would look to trade Stingley before Lassiter. Stingley was the third-overall pick in 2022.
Leadership could be a factor.
Locker expressed his belief Lassiter is head coach DeMeco Ryans’ (and general manager Nick Caserio’s) favorite player during a an episode that the Texans Collective published in May, noting how those guys get paid.
They also floated the idea that planning for Lassiter’s future is part of why the Texans have held off on C.J. Stroud’s new deal
Whatever the case, Lassiter is going to force the Texans to plan carefully.
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