ESPN ranks Houston Texans CB room best in the NFL for 2026 season

Practically no one in the NFL had more takeaways than the Houston Texans ' defense.

Among the Texans ' top players as far as takeaways were their top cornerbacks, Derek Stingley Jr and Kamari Lassiter . Both corners had four interceptions; Stingley also had a forced fumble and Lassiter had seven tackles for loss.

In Mike Clay's most recent positional rankings for ESPN , he ranked Houston as the top cornerback room in the NFL.

"Derek Stingley Jr. is one of the league's top cornerbacks, ranking first at the position in both passes defensed (46) and interceptions (14) over the past three seasons," Clay wrote. "He's joined on the perimeter by 23-year-old Kamari Lassiter, whose 17 passes defensed last season ranked sixth in the NFL. Jalen Pitre is among the league's most versatile and productive defenders, operating as Houston's primary slot corner and handling safety duties in base coverage. Jaylin Smith -- a 2025 third-round pick -- also adds upside from the bench."

Not only do they have elite starters, but they also have talented depth players. With the talent Houston has at the cornerback position, it is easy to see why they were ranked the best in the NFL.

It is certainly fair to say that if the defense overall performs at the same level as last year, they will have one of the best defenses in the NFL once again.