Houston Texans draft prospect: LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr.

Derek Stingley can be a franchise cornerback for the Houston Texans

Positives:

• Great closing speed, always makes eye contact with the ball
• Hits the ball out of the receiver’s hands at the last moment
• His technique sets him up for success, with very smooth hips in transition
• A tall and big frame for a corner reduces the chances of bigger receivers being able to toss him around at the line of scrimmage
• Cerebral in coverage and is reliable when put up against the opponents top wide receiver
• Excels in the run game and is able to shed blocks to make tackles

Negatives:

• Injury concerns may cause him to fall in the draft, as he only played in three games in 2021
• There were also concerns that his head wasn’t fully into the game when LSU had bad years in 2020 and 2021
• Other prospects who played the entire year may have caught up to Stingley Jr.’s skill level, something that could hurt his draft stock

Stingley should still be on Houston’s radar at the third overall selection. If he has to sit and recover from his injuries, it’s still going to be a great pick for Houston.