The Houston Texans have added another dynamic piece to their secondary, and it is one on whom they have some well-sourced insider intel: Kamari Ramsey, a safety formerly of the USC Trojans.
Ramsey was the first pick of the fifth round, taken 141st overall.
He joins arguably the strongest unit for the Texans across the board, and figures to help out as a rookie at a position that was much-maligned this past season.
Texans Add Kamari Ramsey in Round 5 of 2026 NFL Draft
GettyKamari Ramsey #7 of USC celebrates a stop during a game against Penn State/
Ramsey was the Texans’ third pick of Day 3, and their only selection in Round 5. Despite his draft slot, Ramsey presents an intriguing skill set for Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke.
“Ramsey plays physical in the box, and in the back half, he will fly downhill hard and initiate contact,” Scouts Inc. wrote in their pre-draft profile. “He does a good job of keeping contain, sending the ball carrier back to help inside. He can close space quickly but at times will take bad angles in pursuit; he needs to work on eye discipline. Against the pass, he has the range to cover the deep half and will attack the ball at the apex point of the catch.”
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein projected Ramsey as a fourth-round pick, giving some context on the value at which the Texans are getting in the “versatile safety prospect with solid size.”
“Ramsey saw a heavier workload at nickelback in 2025 after splitting time at all three safety spots in 2024. He plays with average eyes in space and good break anticipation when matched up in man. He was adequate covering the slot in college but might not have enough short-area burst and athleticism to do the same in the pros,” Zierlein wrote.
“Needs to close downhill in run support with greater urgency when playing from depth. His tackle-finishing saw a massive improvement in 2025, but with multiple games missed in consecutive seasons, Ramsey’s draft stock could take a hit due to durability concerns.”
Kamari Ramsey Reunites With Former Trojans Teammate
Ramsey will back up Texans starters Calen Bullock and 2025 free agency signing Reed Blankenship, and could sub for nickelback Jalen Pitre if need be.
However, he is also reunited with his former USC teammate, Texans cornerback and 2025 third-round selection, Jaylin Smith. Smith missed most of his rookie season, but his pre-draft profiles touted similar versatility.
Bullock is also a former Trojan, and he was teammates with Smith from 2021 through 2023.
Ramsey missed Bullock by one season, spending the 2022 and 2023 seasons at in-state rival UCLA.
The Texans boast a pair of stellar corners in Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter, and Ramsey profiles as a strong fit for the “SWARM mentality” Ryans preaches. Last season, the Texans cycled through several options next to Lassiter.
Blankenship should shore the position up, but the Texans know all too well the value of having quality depth, which they hope Ramsey will be able to provide at some point.
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