Todd McShay pegs the perfect fit for Derek Stingley in the 2022 NFL Draft

LSU cornerback Derek Stingley was widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the NFL Draft entering the 2021 season, and despite a season-ending injury, he still projects as an early first-round selection.

Stingley was a five-star recruit in the 2019 class, and he immediately proved his worth as the No. 1 cornerback (On3 Consensus) in the group — as a true freshman, in 2019, Stingley was a consensus All-American, amassing 38 total tackles (31 solo stops), a fumble recovery and six interceptions, all while helping LSU string together a perfect season, SEC Championship and national title. One year later, Stingley kept up the high-level production, notching 27 total tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, earning him first-team All-American honors in several publications. But his 2021 season was cut short; after undergoing surgery on a foot injury, Stingley appeared in just three games before being sidelined.

Regardless, his draft stock is still as high as ever before, and ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper sees a team atop the draft board that would be a fit for Stingley.

“With the Jets at No. 4, this is two picks they have in the top-10, I went with cornerback Derek Stingley,” McShay started. “A year ago with the Jets, they had four picks on the offensive side, they have to address the defense.  They’re allowing a league-high, 8.4 yards per pass attempt this season, so they need a cover corner.”

The Jets have not drafted a cornerback in the first round for well over a decade; they’ve drafted other members to its secondary such as former Pro Bowl selection Jamal Adams. But this year, McShay thinks Stingley could be a first.

“Stingley, if you go back to the 2019 tape, with his length, his speed, his oily hips, his ball-skills, he had six interceptions as a freshman,” McShay added. “That, to me, makes him the top corner in this draft but he was injured the last two years.  I’ll be interested to see if that affects his draft stock.” 

Regardless of whether the Jets end up selecting Stingley that early, he still projects as a first-round selection. LSU never specified the exact injury or surgery, but it’s been reported that he sustained a foot injury and underwent some form of procedure. Then-head coach Ed Orgeron said that it was a nagging injury, and one that got worse over the course of the three games he played.

“I appreciate all of the support from LSU and the fans,” Stingley said in a statement. “I’m doing all that I can to return to the field as soon as possible. I want to finish out the season with my teammates and I will do everything I can to get healthy so that I will be able to play again this year.”