The Houston Texans picked former LSU Tigers cornerback Derek Stingley with the No. 3 overall selection in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL draft Thursday night.
Stingley fills an immediate need for Houston as a No. 1 corner. The former Bayou Bengal also gets a chance to play for one of the greatest defensive minds in the game — at least since 2000 — in coach Lovie Smith.
However, there is more than checking off a box on roster needs that Stingley will provide to the Texans’ secondary.
According to Will Rosenblatt from the LSU Wire, Stingley also has versatility as a cornerback, which will help Smith as he has had to adapt his Tampa 2 scheme throughout the years.
Considering how many needs the Texans have, they are going to have to get creative on defense to help make up for some deficiencies.
Having a guy like Stingley allows for some flexibility. His talent and ability allow him to do anything. He’s best in man coverage where he has the opportunity to fight for jump balls, but he has the speed and closing ability to play some zone. He’s got the burst to make a play at the line of scrimmage.
This is a team still finding their way and Stingley lets them use the best scheme for some other players that might need a more specific role.
If the Texans have a dynamic cornerback that can shadow an individual receiver while also sticking to the scheme when asked, it gives Smith options when it comes to calling plays, which the 63-year-old will do for the first time since 2009 when he was coach of the Chicago Bears.
Stingley played in three games in 2021 due to a Linsfranc injury. If Stingley is able to prove the injury was a fluke and stay available and consistent, then the secondary may have found its new playmaker.
