The Houston Texans could be left with Derek Stingley Jr. as the top man on their draft board at the third-overall pick.
In a defense-heavy draft, the Houston Texans could sure use some help. The top two prospects (Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux) are most likely going within the first two picks. That leaves the Texans with a handful of options, and one of the best, if not the best secondary player in the draft is Derek Stingley Jr. out of Louisiana State University.
Stingley Jr. comes to the draft NFL-ready as his grandfather, Daryl, was a first-round wide receiver who played for the New England Patriots back in the 1970s. Junior’s dad (also named Derek) played baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies for a few seasons as well.
Unfortunately, Daryl was paralyzed in a pre-season game against the Oakland Raiders in 1978, as Raiders Safety Jack Tatum (whose nickname was “The Assassin“) in a head-to-head hit that left him paralyzed at the age of 26. Daryl sadly passed away in 2007 when his son was only six years old.
So Stingley Jr. has gone through a lot in his life and is now one of the top NFL Draft prospects. What is the scouting report on him? With a plethora of awards, Stingley comes in highly regarded. However, in this past 2021 season, he struggled with injuries that forced him to miss a significant amount of time
So what are the positives and negatives that Stingley Jr. would bring if drafted by the Houston Texans? An in-depth look is in store:
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.
The Houston Texans have a very high chance of taking Derek Stingley Jr.
In a draft that features endless defensive talent, the Houston Texans cannot afford to miss out on one of the best prospects. Heck, he could even be the next version of Jonathon Joseph or Kareem Jackson who are the top-two all-time interceptions leaders in franchise history.
Many are comparing him to Stephon Gilmore of the Carolina Panthers, or Marshon Lattimore of the New Orleans Saints. Now the picture above shows him in his freshman year number of 24, but Stingley was granted the legendary number seven jersey, made famous by the likes of Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu, both originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals.
The injury concern is real and recognized. But the NFL has the best athletic trainers and resources to help get Stingley Jr. back on the track. Stingley Jr. can really be that investment piece that helps Houston claw it’s way back into relevancy on defense in a division that features Julio Jones, A.J. Brown, and Michael Pittman Jr.
Nick Caserio should watch the film and make his decision. Don’t be too surprised if the LSU product is the choice at number three.