Star CB: ‘Phenomenal’ Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr. Deserves More’ Credit’

Even in a small sample size, Houston Texans' cornerback Derek Stingley impressed a former Pro Bowler in his rookie season.

A nagging hamstring injury limited Houston Texans' cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. to just nine games during his rookie season, but a former standout player at his position was still impressed with what he saw out of the No. 3 overall pick. 

Antonio Cromartie -- he of the four Pro Bowl selections and a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2007 -- is now working as a coach training cornerbacks. The 39-year-old was very complimentary of Stingley when asked about the second-year cornerback. 

“Love him, I don’t think he gets enough credit because he’s not in a bigger market,” Cromartie said to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. “I think if Sting was in New York, it would be a whole different spiel. I think Stingley had a great rookie season and I think it’s going to be even better as he goes on. The kid is phenomenal.”

On one hand, it's funny that Houston continues to be referred to as a smaller market in sports discourse given that it has the fourth-largest population of any city in the United States. On the other hand, the Texans began play in 2002 and have won 11 games over the last three seasons. There isn't the same type of tradition or media presence with the Texans that there is with, say, the Jets. 

Speaking of the Jets, cornerback Sauce Gardner -- taken a pick after Stingley -- was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year and a First-Team All-Pro in his rookie season in the NFL. Right or wrong, Stingley will always be compared to Gardner, and as the latter takes the top spot in most preseason cornerback rankings, the former needs to take a major step forward in his second NFL season. 

In the nine games he played in his rookie season, Stingley recorded 43 combined tackles, five passes defended, a sack and an interception. As Pro Football Focus recently noted, he should benefit from the transition to system designed by coach DeMeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke. 

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