Texans Draft Scouting: Cal Safety Kingston Lopa

The Houston Texans have had a disappointing first three weeks, particularly on defense. This isn’t on one person, but they’ve had trouble in the secondary. As a result, the unit could be addressed in the 2027 NFL Draft. If it is, they must consider Cal safety Kingston Lopa.

Lopa spent two years at Oregon, only playing 186 snaps, before transferring to Cal this offseason. The former four-star recruit has shined in his increased opportunity and is college football’s breakout star. The six-foot-five, 210-pound redshirt sophomore has had a dominant first three games with five interceptions and 14 tackles. 

Lopa is a massive, rangy safety whose stellar instincts and strength against the run make him a first-round prospect. He plays everywhere on the defense and is constantly near the ball. He has shocking agility for his size and can quickly change directions and reach top speed. He’s smooth at backpedaling and has fluid hips, helping him in coverage.

It’s unwise for quarterbacks to target Lopa. He has an uncanny ability to find the ball and read the quarterback's eyes, giving him time to fly across the field and make the play. Then, his receiver-esc ball skills allow him to highpoint the football and steal it from a receiver. 

Beyond that, Lopa’s a fantastic contributor against the run. He’s strong enough to battle against blockers and flies downhill to defend the run. He excels at navigating through blocks to quickly reach the ball carrier. He needs to clean up the missed tackles, but the potential is there to become an excellent tackler.

The main question surrounding Lopa is his sample size. We’ve seen him dominate through three games, but that’s practically all he’s played. His showcasing his abilities on a bigger scale is the key to establishing himself as a first-round prospect instead of an early-season wonder.

If he does, Lopa will be an enticing target for the Texans. They signed veteran Reed Blankenship to pair with Calen Bullock, but he’s struggled so far. There’s still time to improve, and he will, in all likelihood, but safety should be at the top of their wish list in the 2027 NFL Draft.

As things stand now, Kingston Lopa could rise out of the Texans' range. However, that’s not currently important. Plenty will change before April, so now’s the time to identify talented prospects who could be an option during the draft. Lopa’s exceptional frame, ball skills, and ability against the run make him an intriguing target.