Derek Stingley Jr. NFL Draft 2022: Scouting Report for Houston Texans’ CB

POSITIVES

— Willing in run support. Shows good quickness and ability to slip blocks with physicality to stick his nose in on tackles.

— Can be physical in block destruction. Uses hands well to control receivers.

— Triggers quickly to run reads. Displays very good tackling in the open field.

— Fluid athlete with the ability to quickly sink his hips while showing seamless hip swivel.

— Patient in press at the line of scrimmage, also displaying very good lateral quickness to keep leverage and cushion.

— Possesses very good speed and recovery speed to quickly get back in phase with the receiver.

— Versatile player with the ability to play in zone coverage. Has very good vision and anticipation. Looks to bait quarterbacks and jump routes.

— Tracks the ball in the air very well. Has the ball skills needed to succeed at the next level.

NEGATIVES

— Lacks strength and physicality when tackling bigger backs.

— Can get shielded in the run at times.

— Occasionally gets lazy or bored. Allows other defenders to make tackles or play on ball.

2021 STATISTICS

3 G, 8 TOT, 3.5 TFL, 1 FF

NOTES

— Injured left foot in summer. Was able to play three games before sitting out and getting procedure done. 

OVERALL

Derek Stingley Jr. is a crafty defensive back who was interchangeable throughout LSU’s secondary in 2020. He is a fluid athlete with a smooth running style and hip swivel. Stingley shows very good patience in press while using his hands well to control receivers in both the run and pass game.

He has the speed to run with receivers downfield and the recovery speed to make up for when out of position. He sinks his hips well to get in and out of breaks while showing a good burst to the reception point.

Stingley plays with good physicality in the run game, with the willingness to tackle. He reacts quickly to the reads, doing a good job in block destruction. He occasionally struggles with bigger blockers and the tackling of bigger running backs, though.

Stingley has the ideal length teams are looking for in cornerbacks. Paired with his elite athleticism, ball skills and scheme flexibility, he should be an early pick for the cornerback positions. A foot injury kept him out of all but three games this season, so he will have to prove to doctors that he is back to 100 percent.

GRADE: 8.9 (Impact Player – 1st Round)

OVERALL RANK: 4

POSITION RANK: CB1

PRO COMPARISON: DeAngelo Hall

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings