The Texans landed two defensive backs in their first three selections in the 2024 NFL Draft.
It’s a position that Texans general manager Nick Caserio has visited often on Day 2 of the draft. The additions of cornerback Kamari Lassiter at pick No. 42 and safety Calen Bullock at pick No. 78 were at positions of need in the Texans’ defensive backfield.
The knock on the prospects is centered mostly around the presumed value in where they were selected. Lassiter was considered by some as a second-round prospect, including the Texans it would seem. Bullock was viewed mostly as a third- or fourth-round prospect. Draft grading season has come to an end and the rookies are starting to appear at their mini-camps. Now, it’s time to pivot towards how the prospects fit, their strengths and weaknesses and the projected trajectory of their career(s).
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We’ve taken a look at Lassiter already. Here’s how Bullock breaks down as a prospect and projected future in Houston.
Texans rookie S Calen Bullock has Year 1 value
Calen Bullock Profile
Measurements: 6-foot-2 | 188 pounds | 32.5-inch arms | 6-foot-6 wingspan
NFL Combine: 4.48 40-yard | 1.51 10-yard
Oddly enough, Bullock fits the prototypical profile of an outside cornerback at the next level while Lassiter better matches the athletic profile of a safety. Their value may lay in their versatility as defensive backs more than a “cornerback” and “safety” as each can play outside or inside at cornerback and safety as well. The selection of each adds value to the other where they can be tried in competitions at the outside cornerback position, starting in nickel or playing safety.
Calen Bullock thread 🏈
— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) May 9, 2024
- Closes fast & arrives here
- Acceleration & speed
- Proper angle pic.twitter.com/XjARuULmrb
Bullock will need to add to his slender frame regardless of the position he plays in the NFL. He has the height at 6-foot-2, combined with the arm length, a plus-4-inch wingspan and a combination of acceleration and speed desired at the position. Lassiter and Bullock could be tried in the competition at outside cornerback opposite Derek Stingley Jr., along with Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson.
Each of the rookies could also compete to start in nickel with Desmond King II and Myles Bryant. Lastly, the 21-year-old rookies could compete as the top replacement to Jimmie Ward and/or Jalen Pitre at safety as well as start in three safety looks if Houston utilizes big dime.
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Lassiter and Bullock each have strengths and weaknesses regardless of where they play. It’ll be interesting to see where each finds their home position and starts blossoming to their potential.
Calen Bullock strength
- Versatility
- Explosive in attack
- Closes windows quickly
- Can matchup versus tight ends and smaller receivers in slot
- Moves easily with full-body fluidity
- Hips and feet to play at cornerback
- NFL prototypical size, length, speed for cornerback
Calen Bullock weaknesses
- Recognizes late on running plays
- Gets out of position, leaving void in run defense
- Will go high on tackles and give up YAC fighting to drag down
- Missed tackles when he’s upright and uses timid arm tackle attempts
- Pro Day numbers were lacking with a 33-inch vertical | 10-foot broad | 8 reps of 225
Calen Bullock's NFL position
Bullock and Lassiter as well should each be viewed as defensive backs. Their home position is TBD at the moment. Bullock should get looked at outside cornerback in a group, not including Stingley Jr., that’s not proven. If Bullock struggles outside or they fear overloading him with cross-training at too many spots, then they could try him in the slot, especially if Lassiter wins the outside cornerback spot.
If Bullock doesn’t work or they don’t want to try him on the outside and Lassiter wins the nickel job, Bullock then would focus on learning the free safety position and work to fix his flaws while he prepares to step up if Ward were to miss time. If Houston is only looking at him at safety, they could get him on the field as a rookie with Ward and Pitre in big dime to put their best defensive backs on the field by limiting how deep they go into their cornerback depth.
The verdict on Calen Bullock
The ease and quickness of Bullock’s movement skills make for an easy buy-in on his upside. Texans’ head coach DeMeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke will need to help him find consistency in his tackling before he can be trusted as the last line of defense at safety.
Bullock has true centerfield range with 4.4 speed and length as well. Behind the Texans' pass rush, Bullock could be a game-changer and take Ryans’ defense to a different level. His upside is enticing, he just needs to prove to his new coaches that he can be trusted.
The expectations are that Bullock is coming in to compete at safety and Lassiter at a cornerback spot and that’s probably the case but due to their versatile skill sets, athletic profiles, strengths and weaknesses their NFL situation is more fluid than those labels. For now, they’re defensive backs. Even if they start Year 1 at a specific position, they’re so young and versatile that they could see a move in-season, 2025 or later. The Texans drafted two defensive backs that can contribute in 2024 and they will figure out how to best utilize each’s abilities.
