2022 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: CB Derek Stingley, Jr, LSU

Notables

Stingley's 2019 tape as a press-man cornerback may be some of the most impressive college CB play, considering he was a true freshman in the SEC. He had a 37 percent catch rate with six interceptions, and 15 passes defended.

He was only penalized twice as he aligned 883 times outside, 50 times in the box, 17 times at safety, and 81 times in the slot. He also recorded 38 tackles, one for a loss, and eight STOPs. Stingley was a consensus All-American.

His 2020 and 2021 seasons weren’t as strong as his 2019, but they weren’t terrible. In the two seasons, he allowed a 45% catch rate for 201-yards with five passes defended. He still earned first-team All-American honors in 2020, where he was only targeted 29 times.

Stingley has some family ties with the NFL; his grandfather Darryl Stingley was a first-round pick by the New England Patriots out of Purdue in 1973. His father also played cornerback at Purdue and went on to play professional baseball.

Stingley couldn’t compete at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine because he wasn’t 100 percent ready post-foot surgery. He competed at his Pro Day in early April, and he performed well. His movements looked effortless. Stingley wasn’t impressed with his 40-time after his Pro Day; he stated that he could run faster than a 4.3.

Strengths

Weaknesses/Can Improve

Summary

Overall, Derek Stingley is an elite-level athlete with high-end man coverage skills. He’s very disciplined at the line of scrimmage and uses a physical jam and ride while expanding WR releases towards the sideline and being a nuisance. Stingley is very fluid and seamlessly flips his hips, stays in phase, and possesses unique body control when shifting momentum all while displaying excellent abilities to start/stop and react to WR’s movements.

His 2019 tape was by far his best film, and he hasn’t played much football lately due to the foot injury. I understand the reservations with Stingley, but he has top-five cornerback in the NFL potential.

Not many cornerbacks have his type of athletic traits, physicality through the catch point, and discipline at the line of scrimmage, which says a lot about Stingley. As much as I appreciate his 2019 tape, the injury gives me some pause, as does the regression, albeit cornerback is volatile and the traits were still evident in his last two seasons.

The Giants could have serious interest in a cornerback with one of their first-round picks. Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is a great fit who doesn’t have the injury concern that Stingley possesses, but Stingley is also a great fit for the philosophy that defensive coordinator Don Martindale wants to employ. If he stays healthy, Stingley will be an impact cornerback in the league -- one who has true man coverage traits.

 GRADE: 6.95 M

“M” stands for medical concerns

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