With the NFL season in the books, it is now time for the NFL draft, which will run from April 28-30. ESPN’s Todd McShay released his post-Super Bowl mock draft for the first round Wednesday and he has one LSU player slated in the first round: cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.
He is considered one of the top players at his position in the class, and McShay has Stingley going to the New York Jets with the No. 10 pick. He is projected to be the second cornerback taken behind Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner from Cincinnati, who McShay had going to the Carolina Panthers with the eighth pick.
Here’s what McShay said about the projection.
The Jets went offense with their first four picks in 2021, and we just handed them an offensive tackle (Ikem Ekwonu) at No. 4. So yeah, this is defense all the way, especially with safety Marcus Maye facing free agency. The Jets could certainly get by with Bryce Hall and Brandin Echols at corner, but Stingley could be the steal of the draft if things go this way. The big question is whether the LSU product can return to form and produce as he did in his 2019 freshman year, when he had six interceptions. A left foot injury held him out of all but three games in 2021, but if he realizes his potential, Stingley would certainly improve a defense that gave up 8.0 yards per pass attempt and hauled in just seven interceptions in 2021.
Stingley missed all but three games in 2021. If he can regain his 2019 freshman form, he could end up being the best corner in the draft.
Stingley was excellent during the national title run, logging 38 tackles, six interceptions, and 21 passes defended as a freshman. He started all 15 of LSU’s games, won the SEC Newcomer of the Year Award and was a First Team All-American. The cornerback was part of the LSU defense that only gave up one passing touchdown in the season’s last four games.
In 2020, Stingley played in seven games compiled 27 tackles and five passes defended, but he did not get challenged much in his sophomore season. In a game against Texas A&M, he broke up a career-high three passes to make his way to the All-American team.
There are questions surrounding Stingley after he was mostly absent in 2021, but he remains one of the best defensive backs available in the draft.
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