Kamari Lassiter, CB Georgia: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Lassiter was a four-star recruit from American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa, Ala. in the class of 2021

Cornerback Kamari Lassiter faces high expectations this coming season as the current Bulldogs attempt to uphold the standard their defense set in recent years. Lassiter projects as a top 100 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.

Kamari Lassiter, CB Georgia: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior outside cornerback from Savannah, Ga.

Background: Lassiter was a four-star recruit from American Christian Academy in Tuscaloosa, Ala. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 239 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 213 for Rivals, and No. 231 for On3.com. Lassiter was an unranked four-star recruit for ESPN with an 80 grade out of 100. While in high school, Lassiter led American Christian to a 12-1 record and a state championship runner-up finish. He tallied 210 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, ten interceptions, 22 passes defensed, and four forced fumbles across his career. Lassiter also spent time at wide receiver, snagging 103 receptions for 2,488 yards and 35 touchdowns.

Injuries & Off-Field: Slightly hampered by a hamstring entering the 2022 season

Awards: N/A

Pros: Special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units, mostly fluid hips to flip and carry receivers vertically, good acceleration to reach top speed quickly, little trouble staying attached to vertical routes, willing to be physical and re-route receivers, instances of recognizing and quickly closing on in or out breaking routes, found success mirroring receivers and crowding them at the top of the stem against Ohio State (2022) when he wasn’t guarding Marvin Harrison Jr., smothers corner routes, works overtime to guard pass catchers on extended plays, quick to diagnose and demolish wide receiver screens, willing run defender, instances of stacking wide receiver blocks and turning the RB back inside, challenges larger blockers

Cons: Committed five penalties in 2022, limited slot experience, thin/lean build, arm length appears average but not elite, not sudden or twitchy, minimal ball production, 4.3 40-time wide receivers test his deep speed, downfield grabbing and holding will draw more penalties in the NFL, concern about allowing deep throws opens easy short and intermediate completions, allows separation on crossing routes, too quick to turn his back to the receiver, loses receivers in his blind spot, too quick to declare hips, completely turned around by Marvin Harrison Jr. (2022) twice, short-area agility is lacking, struggles to gear down from full speed and redirect, struggles to stay attached at the top of comeback routes, struggles to plant his foot and drive to stay attached on comeback routes, not a press corner, gets grabby when he loses off the line, doesn’t deliver meaningful punches in press, punches miss the mark, struggles to disengage from wide receiver blocks

Overview: Lassiter has special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units and played to the field and boundary sides of Georgia’s defense in 2022. His hips are mostly fluid, allowing him to flip and carry receivers vertically. Lassiter has good acceleration to reach his top speed quickly and has little trouble staying attached to vertical routes. He’s willing to be physical and re-route receivers. There are instances of him recognizing and quickly closing on in or out breaking routes, but his route recognition skills are still developing. Lassiter struggled to handle projected first round picks Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka against Ohio State (2022), but he found success mirroring the other Buckeyes receivers and crowded them at the tops of their stems. The former four-star recruit excels at smothering corner routes, completely shutting off the throwing window. Lassiter quickly diagnoses and demolishes wide receiver screens. There are flashes, but his ability to anticipate routes and close off potential targets is highly inconsistent. He’s a willing run defender who occasionally stacks wide receiver blocks and turns the ball carrier back inside. Lassiter challenges larger blockers to set the edge. The junior committed five penalties in 2022 and has limited slot experience. His frame is lean, and he lacks elite arm length. Lassiter isn’t sudden or twitchy and failed to produce high-level ball production as a sophomore. Receivers who flash 4.3 40-time speed will test Lassiter’s deep speed. His downfield grabbing and holding will draw more penalties in the NFL. The Georgia native’s concern about allowing deep throws opens easy short and intermediate completions. He allows separation on crossing routes and lacks the short-area agility to gear down from full speed and redirect to challenge comeback routes. Lassiter struggles to plant his foot and drive to stay attached on comeback routes. He played heavy doses of zone and off-man coverage in 2022 but saw very little action in true press coverage. Lassiter doesn’t project as a press corner at the next level. He gets grabby when he loses off the line, which happens frequently when he's asked to play physical early in the route. Lassiter misses his punches in press coverage. He declares his hips too early, which leads to receivers sneaking into his blind spot and turning him around. Marvin Harrison Jr. (2022) did this twice, generating wide open downfield throws. While he is a willing run defender, Lassiter struggles to disengage from wide receiver blocks.

Overall, Lassiter lacks the elite athletic profile, technique, and ball production to warrant consideration as a first round selection. He’s only been a full-time starter for one season, so there’s a chance he re-defines his prospect profile in 2023. However, his current tape would’ve made him the eleventh-best cornerback in the 2023 draft class at best.

Role & Scheme Fit: Outside corner in a zone-dominant scheme

Round Projection: Mid Second to Early Third

Size: 6'0", 180 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 05-10-23