​How many Houston Texans players are among the league’s elite?In ESPN’s most recent projections of the top 100 players in the NFL this season, five Houston Texans players made the list. Four of them were on defense: defensive ends Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, as well as cornerbacks Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter. Houston’s one player on offense who made the list was wide receiver Nico Collins.Among the top quarter, All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (No.15) and All-Pro defensive end Derek Stingley Jr. (No. 21) made it inside the top 25. After that, there was a slight drop-off, but five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter came in clutch at No. 39 following his second out-of-this-world campaign. Collins, a three-time Pro Bowler and among the league’s best vertical threats, came in at No. 44. Finally, Pro Bowl cornerback Kamari Lassiter came in at No. 91 after his successful season last year. As a second-year standout, Lassiter had four interceptions, seven tackles for loss and was named to the Pro Bowl. He is now going into his third year in the NFL, so he probably has yet to reach his peak in the league. “Lassiter would be the No. 1 cornerback on a lot of teams, but he just happens to share a defense with Derek Stingley Jr. Lassiter told ESPN recently that the ‘”‘mental” aspect of his game has improved, which he believes should elevate him more going into Year 3,” ESPN’s D.J. Bien-Amie wrote. “If he has another strong year, he should cash in a large extension during the 2027 offseason. Signature stat: Lassiter has allowed a 52% completion rate in coverage over the past two seasons, fifth best by any defensive back with at least 1,000 coverage snaps in that span (per NFL Next Gen Stats).Although the interception total is expected to decrease, Bien-Amie has Lassiter finished with 96 tackles, 20 pass breakups and two interceptions, finishing among the league’s best defensive backs entering a contract season. It’s not surprising that C.J. Stroud did not make the list after a rocky Year 3, but one Houston player who could have made it is running back David Montgomery. He may have spent the past few years as the backup behind Jahmyr Gibbs, but now that he is the undeniably top running back for the Texans, he should have a really good season.To read the full list of where every Texans player lands, click here.The Texans open the regular season on Sunday at Reliant Stadium against the Buffalo Bills.This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans Pro Bowl CB Kamari Lassiter named in ESPN’s Top 100 players