DeMeco Ryans Taking Notice of Derek Stingley Jr.'s 'Outstanding Talent'

Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. has been turning heads this offseason.

Every NFL season, new players emerge as strong contributors and stars and make a name for themselves. Sometimes, that player comes seemingly out of nowhere ... But usually offseason workouts are a good indicator as to how a player is developing... at least in the eyes of the coaching staff.

Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. has caught the attention of new head coach DeMeco Ryans, who is excited to work with the former No. 3 overall selection.

“Stingley has outstanding talent,” Ryans said. “Scouted him the last year and I know the talent that he has… Going to put him in a position to make a lot of plays for us. Put him in a position where he can excel and showcase his talents.”

Stingley has put on some muscle and is making a push for more playing time in his second season with strong contributions during Houston’s OTAs.

In the nine games he played in his rookie season, Stingley recorded 43 combined tackles, five passes defended, a sack and an interception. A lingering hamstring strain sidelined Stingley for the second half of the season, which motivated him this offseason to become more physically durable.

As a result of this and his play this offseason, ESPN picked Stingley Jr. as a surprising standout ahead of training camp:

Stingley looks physically improved compared to his rookie year. His ability has jumped out consistently throughout the spring. He was drafted one spot ahead of the eventual Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner, who was also first-team All-Pro. The comparison between the two won't stop, but if this momentum continues for Stingley, he can have a big year. -- DJ Bien-Aime

Stingley, with the help of safety Jalen Pitre, led Houston to improve to the 10th-ranked passing defense last year. This season, the pair hope to benefit from the system designed by Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke.

The Texans will need their help to reach their first winning record in four seasons. Houston currently has the second-longest odds to make the playoffs in 2023. With the odds stacked against them and young talent galore, the Texans, and Stingley, have a chance to surprise the league.

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