During the first round of the 2022 NFL draft on Thursday night, [autotag]Derek Stingley Jr.[/autotag] was one of the biggest shockers as he was selected third overall by the Houston Texans.
Stingley joins a Texans defense in desperate need of help. In 2021, the Texans ranked 31st in yards per play allowed. 2020 wasn’t much better, with Houston ranking 30th in that category.
Stingley joins a shortlist of cornerbacks who have ever been selected in the top five. In the case of the Texans, the organization has never selected a defensive back this high.
At one point during draft season, it looked like Stingley was close to slipping out of the top ten. In the days leading up to the draft, Stingley saw his stock skyrocket, boosted by a strong Pro Day performance.
Only one other defender in LSU history has been selected this high. The Kansas City Chiefs used the third overall pick on defensive lineman [autotag]Tyson Jackson[/autotag] in 2009.
It makes Stingley the first defensive back in LSU history to be chosen this quickly into the draft, which means a lot considering some of the names LSU has put out at that position.
Stingley joins the Texans at a time when the organization is at a crossroads. It’s been a mess in Houston recently, and it’ll take more than Stingley to fix it, but this could be the start of a rebuild. Here are five reasons why Stingley is a perfect fit with the Texans.