Texans Derek Stingley Jr. Listed on 2023 All-Breakout Team
General manager Nick Caserio and the Houston Texans caught some off guard when they used the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., taking him over the perceived top prospect at that position, Sauce Gardner.
Gardner -- who ended up going to the New York Jets a pick later -- would win the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. The former Cincinnati Bearcat impressed so much in his rookie season that Pro Football Focus ranked him their No. 1 cornerback in the NFL ahead of the 2023 season.
But while it's fair to wonder if the Texans overthought things taking Stingley over Gardner, Bucky Brooks of NFL Media recently listed the former as a breakout candidate for 2023:
"Lost in the Texans' disappointing 2022 season: The impressive flashes delivered by the No. 3 overall pick," Brooks wrote. "But in his nine-game debut, the silky smooth corner displayed the athleticism, agility, and instincts to blanket receivers in man or zone coverage."
Still only 21, Stingley had 43 combined tackles, five passes defended, a sack and an interception in nine games. Obviously, being able to stay healthy in his first year under new head coach DeMeco Ryans will be a crucial test for the former LSU star.
Right or wrong, there's arguably going to be increased pressure on the Texans' budding young core, given that the team traded their own first-round pick in 2024 to the Arizona Cardinals for the right to draft EDGE Will Anderson Jr.
Obviously, the largest amount of pressure in that regard will be on Anderson, and regardless of how he plays, the Texans will still have the Cleveland Browns' first-round pick next year as part of the Deshaun Watson trade. But there's no doubt that the Texans need to show they are moving in the right direction in 2023, and Stingley, Anderson and quarterback C.J. Stroud are at the forefront of that.
Want the latest in breaking and insider news for the Houston Texans? Click Here
Follow Texans Daily on Twitter and Facebook
Make sure to subscribe to our daily podcast @LockedOnTexans today! Click here To Listen.
Want even more Houston Texans news? Check out the SI.com team page here.
