Todd McShay explains debate on Derek Stingley Jr. ahead of 2022 NFL Draft

After his stellar freshman season, the hype around LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. was through the roof. The star defensive back looked to be a sure-fire top pick when his time came to join the NFL. However, the hype has dwindled a bit, with multiple experts predicting Stingley to slide a bit come April.

However, Todd McShay of ESPN is still a believer in Stingley. In his NFL mock draft 2.0 following Super Bowl 56, McShay predicted Stingley to crack the top ten.

“Then the New York Jets, back on the board again. No. 10 — Derek Stingley,” revealed McShay. “If you go back to 2019 and study his tape, he might have the highest grade of any player in this draft. That’s how good he was. He’s a shutdown cover corner. Six interceptions as a freshman that year. But the last two years things fell apart at LSU. He had some injuries, only played in ten games.

“So there’s a lot of debate in war rooms throughout the NFL right now, where does Stingley belong? But I think if he turns it back on, he could be the best cornerback in this draft when it’s all said and done.”

As McShay mentions, Stingley was one of the hottest prospects in football after his freshman season. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone his way since then. Injuries and inefficient coaching deterred his college career.

Still, the NFL will be on the potential Derek Stingley Jr. flashed come April. Whichever team drafts him will be elated to turn in their card.

Todd McShay’s NFL mock draft 2.0:

With Super Bowl 56 behind us and the 2022 NFL Draft on the horizon, here’s Todd McShay’s mock draft 2.0.

1) Jacksonville Jaguars — Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
2) Detroit Lions — Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
3) Houston Texans — Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
4) New York Jets — Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
5) New York Giants — Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
6) Carolina Panthers — Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
7) New York Giants — Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
8) Atlanta Falcons — Drake London, WR, USC
9) Denver Broncos — Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
10) New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks) — Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
11) Washington Commanders — Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
12) Minnesota Vikings — Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
13) Cleveland Browns — Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
14) Baltimore Ravens — Tyler Linderbaun, IOL, Iowa
15) Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami Dolphins) — Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
16) Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis Colts) — Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
17) Pittsburgh Steelers (via mock trade with Los Angeles Chargers) — Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
18) New Orleans Saints — Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
19) Philadelphia Eagles — Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
20) Los Angeles Chargers (via mock trade with Pittsburgh Steelers) — Jordan Davis, IDL, Georgia
21) New England Patriots — Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
22) Las Vegas Raiders — Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
23) Arizona Cardinals — Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State
24) Dallas Cowboys — David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
25) Buffalo Bills — Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
26) Tennessee Titans — George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
28) Green Bay Packers — Devonte Wyatt, IDL, Georgia
29) Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco 49ers) — Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
30) Kansas City Chiefs — Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
31) Cincinnati Bengals — Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
32) Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams) — Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina