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Houston Texans' Derek Stingley Jr.: Top 10 CB in NFL?

Derek Stingley Jr. has looked like a top three pick in his first two seasons with the Houston Texans.

Jeremy Brener

Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) in action during the game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) in action during the game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
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Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he was expected to eventually emerge into one of the league's top cornerbacks.

However, he might be ahead of schedule. Just two years into his career, Stingley is being recognized as the 10th-best cornerback in the NFL in an ESPN survey polling executives, coaches and scouts.

“Stingley went one pick ahead of Gardner in the 2022 draft -- Nos. 3 and 4, respectively -- and while Gardner captivated earlier, Stingley is validating his status, too. Stingley had major ball production in 2023, with five interceptions and 13 pass breakups in 11 games. His 31% ball-hawk rate led the league. This is a case where the stats and the eye-test skills match,” ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler writes.

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The cornerbacks that ranked ahead of Stingley were Devon Witherspoon (Seattle Seahawks), Jaylon Johnson (Chicago Bears), Jaire Alexander (Green Bay Packers), Trent McDuffie (Kansas City Chiefs), Jalen Ramsey (Miami Dolphins), L'Jarius Sneed (Tennessee Titans), Sauce Gardner (New York Jets), Denzel Ward (Cleveland Browns) and Patrick Surtain Ii (Denver Broncos).

Stingley is seen as a centerpiece for the defense and the team at-large, so it's important for him to be one of the league's top players at one of the most important positions. And the fact that he's on pace to only get better is a great sign for the Texans.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.