Texans cornerback duo vastly underappreciated in Pro Football Focus' new rankings
How good is the Houston Texans' secondary entering 2026? In a sense, slightly underrated by Pro Football Focus compared to other rankings around the NFL, most notably at cornerback.
Houston Texans' Kamari Lassiter and Derek Stingley Jr. have been vastly underrated by Pro Football Focus in their 2026 top 32 cornerback rankings. The duo's skills have been overshadowed by general perceptions of their performance. Stingley, who has been the second-best cornerback since 2024, was ranked No. 7 overall, behind notable players such as Patrick Surtain II, Devon Witherspoon, and Sauce Gardner.
PFF's Dalton Wasserman highlighted that Stingley's elite ball skills led to four interceptions and nine pass breakups despite a volatile 2025 coverage campaign. Lassiter, currently ranked No. 9, emerged as a top shutdown cornerback last season, with a PFF grade over 80 for both run defense and coverage. Both players have consistently ranked high in coverage grades over the past three years, with Stingley leading the pack with a 90.3 grade.
The Texans' acquisition of these two cornerbacks has positioned them as one of the best duos in the NFL, with Stingley being the best man coverage cornerback in the AFC since 2024 and Lassiter being one of the best run defenders on the outside.
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