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Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. Makes Debut on NFL Top 100 Players List
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

As the NFL continues to countdown the Top 100 Players of 2025, another Houston Texans player has made the list.

Following an impressive 2024 campaign, Texans fourth-year cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. made his debut at No. 18 on the NFL Top 100 Players list, which is voted on by the players themselves.

Stingley, 24, who battled injuries during his first two seasons, was flat out dominant in his first full year with the club. In 17 games last season, he recorded 54 tackles, 18 passes defended, and five interceptions on the way to making his first Pro Bowl and earning first team All Pro honors.

He made such an impact in year three, Houston signed him to a three-year $90 million extension this offseason, making him the highest paid defensive back in the league.

This season, Stingley is set to anchor a young secondary alongside cornerback Kamari Lassiter, nickel Jalen Pitre and safeties Calen Bullock and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Last month, Stingley didn't hold back when he told ESPN's DJ Dien-Aime just how good the Texans secondary could be in 2025.

"Going based off of last year, plus the guys we got now, we should lead in interceptions probably by at least about 10 to 15," Stingley told ESPN. "I mean, we know we can get the ball. We just got to keep going to get the ball."

Stingley is the sixth different Texans player to be named to the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2025, joining running back Joe Mixon (58), defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (46), quarterbackC.J. Stroud (39), wide receiver Nico Collins (32), and defensive end Danielle Hunter (25). Like Stingley, Anderson Jr. and Collins are newcomers to the Top 100.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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