Summary

Kamari Lassiter was selected in the 2nd Round (#42 Overall) in the 2024 Draft out of University of Georgia. Lassiter brings a strong combination of instincts, fluid movement, aggressive mindset, and versatility. He’s ahead of many at his draft spot in terms of readiness and upside. His weaker areas are not critical flaws, but they do place constraints on how he’ll be used (and his ceiling) unless he upgrades them. In the right scheme and with the right coaching, he should be a key contributor for years.

Strengths

• Fluid movement and coverage instincts: Quicker than fast, he shows strong transitional quickness and ability to smoothly go from pedal to break, which helps him stay with receivers in the slot and on the perimeter. He has good recognition of route concepts and shows an ability to read what the receiver is doing and respond promptly.

• Anticipation in zone: In zone schemes, he is noted for maintaining good leverage, spacing, and using his anticipation to defend passes. Bleacher Report

• Run‑support willingness & physicality: Despite being slightly lighter than some corners, Lassiter is willing and able to come up and make tackles in the run game. He plays with a competitive attitude, aggressive in press coverage and at the catch point. nfldraftbuzz.com

• Versatility & scheme‑fit: His tape suggests he can play inside or outside, and adapt to both man and zone coverage systems, giving him flexibility for different defensive fronts. He has played at a high level in a top college program with strong competition, which is a good indicator of readiness for the next level. thedraftnetwork.com

Weaknesses

• Top‑end speed / deep‑vertical chops: A common criticism: while his movement is fluid, his straight‑line speed — especially when tasked with carrying very explosive deep receivers — may not be elite. Because of this, some believe he’ll be most effective in schemes that rely more on zone or pattern‑matching than pure man‑to‑man downfield. thedraftnetwork.com

• Size / strength mismatch vs physical receivers: At ~180 lbs and 6′0″, he may be at a disadvantage against very large, physical receivers at the catch point or when fighting through blocks. nfldraftbuzz.com

• Discipline on an island: Sometimes overplays or gambles in coverage (e.g., “plays with eyes in the backfield,” or “can get too handsy”), which can lead to penalties or being susceptible in transition. Bleacher Report

• Ceiling / polish: While the potential is high, some analysts believe that unless he sharpens his weaknesses, he might settle in the “very good starter” category rather than becoming a perennial elite shutdown corner. nfldraftbuzz.com

Fit & Outlook

Lassiter projects as a very promising young cornerback who could start early and contribute significantly, especially in defenses that emphasize zone coverage, pattern recognition, and speed/field awareness rather than relying solely on matchups with elite speed receivers. If he continues to develop his strength, press technique, and maximize his closure speed, he has the potential to be a top‑tier starter. But the path to becoming one of the league’s elite “lockdown” corners will require him to refine those marginal areas (speed vs. deep threats, strength vs. physical receivers, penalty discipline).