Kamari Ramsey NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Houston Texans S

The Houston Texans selected USC S Kamari Ramsey with the No. 141 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Kamari Ramsey is an exceptional read-and-react defensive back who consistently identifies route combinations, receiver tells, and triggers to the football. The versatility Ramsey showcases allows him to flow from a two-high alignment to a robber to the nickel, making him a defensive chess piece.

Ramsey is a former 4-star recruit and transfer from UCLA to USC, where he's playing in his second season as a key piece of the Trojans' defense. He made his impact felt immediately after his transfer with 60 tackles (43 solo), five and a half tackles for loss, two sacks, five passes defensed, an interception, and two forced fumbles.

Unfortunately, he didn't have a great senior season after taking on more reps at nickel and battling injuries. He'll be most impactful as a versatile safety who can line up in the post, hash, or as a robber.

Dan has covered the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL Draft since 2019 while contributing for RGR Football. Most recently, he spent the 2025 draft cycle at The Draft Network and is entering his first season in our scouting department.

Highlights

Kamari Ramsey Highlights

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Where He Wins

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— Ramsey has fantastic eyes in zone coverage and his instincts take him to the football regularly. His athleticism allows him to mirror the quarterback and stay in phase beautifully.

— He does a great job recognizing plays and route concepts. He's always around the play, whether it's a run or a pass.

— As an off coverage defender, he reads route breaks and receiver deceleration in an instant. He triggers downhill or to the receiver while regularly attacking the catch point.

— His athleticism is an asset and allows him to maintain backpedal speed and flip his hips while reading leverage and the quarterback's eyes. He sinks his hips to decelerate quickly, too.

— He's a willing participant downhill in the screen and run game. His quick trigger let's him flow in the direction of the ball carrier/throw before other defenders.

Areas of Improvement

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— When Ramsey gets stacked vertically, his recovery speed is questionable and receivers can gain separation. His lateral burst to turn and run can be late, putting him behind speedy receivers.

— While he's a willing participant in the run game, he must improve his tackling technique to not fall off as many tackles.

— His upside as a nickel defender is limited by his short area lateral burst, effectiveness as a man defender and tackling ability in the run game can still create an impact.

Grade, Rank and Pro Comparison

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GRADE: 7.4 (High-Level Backup/Starter Upside - Third Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: S Dante Trader Jr., Maryland (7.4 in 2025), S Kitan Oladapo, Oregon State (7.5 in 2024), CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia (7.4 in 2023)

OVERALL RANK: 76

POSITION RANK: S8

PRO COMPARISON: Ashton Davis

Measurables and Testing Data

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Height: 6'0 ¼"
Weight: 202
Hand Size: 9 ¼"
Arm Length: 30 ⅝"
Wingspan: N/A

40-yard dash: 4.47
10-yard split: 1.57
Vertical: 37"
Broad: 10'0"
3 cone: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Bench: 16