New Guy TRIED TO TELL YOU About Derek Stingley Jr., The Lockdown Corner Who’ll Transform The Texans’ Defense

Don Juan Moore. Getty Images.

YESS!!!!!!! YES!!!!!! YES!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS WHAT A HIT!!!

The Houston Texans just drafted Derek Stingley Jr. No. 3 overall and I just made a not-inconsiderable-amount-of-money-at-least-to-me. I had so many close calls in NFL betting this past season, and the Texans just SAVED ME! I got Stingley at +6500 to be the third overall pick on April 12.

If you've casually been following the 2022 NFL Draft class, you know Derek Stingley Jr. and Cincinnati's Ahmad Gardner were in a heated battle to be the CB1. Houston is betting on the tape Stingley submitted as a true freshman in 2019. Not only did he have a phenomenal season for the national champion Tigers, but he went up against guys like Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase in practice. That whole iron sharpens iron adage is a real thing.

If you won't take my word for how amazing Stingley has the potential to be in the NFL, take it from a future Hall of Famer who knows firsthand what it takes, longtime cornerback Richard Sherman:

Speaking of Pro Football Focus, they ranked the Texans 32nd out of 32 NFL teams in 2021 when it came to coverage grades. I kind of hate how the organization handled the David Culley situation, how they basically tanked last year to get a high pick this year, and just their whole vibe overall is a little off-putting.

Give credit to Houston GM Nick Caserio for this at least: He recognized the horrendous deficiency in the Texans' defensive backfield. Stingley is probably the best possible solution to remedy that glaring flaw. I guarantee you defensive-minded head coach Lovie Smith was pounding the table for Stingley to plug in to his defense. Provided Smith sticks to his predominant Tampa 2 coverages, Stingley is an excellent fit for that. And really, to be honest, he's a great fit in any scheme.

Stingley is an absolute stud of an athlete. The injury bug unfortunately bit him hard the past two seasons. But I think Caserio and Houston correctly recognized how in-shambles LSU's program was over the past couple years. That, combined with Stingley's extended absences from the field, initially dinged his draft stock.

Reason prevailed in the end, though. Stingley probably could've been a top draft pick if he was eligible to come out for the draft in 2019. He's that damn good. This is a big-time All-Pro type of talent we're talking about here. As long as Stingley stays healthy, I think this will be a Grand Slam pick by the Texans that can bring a spark to their ongoing rebuild.