Derek Stingley Jr. might be underrated.
No, really, even those who only pay attention to the highlight names would agree that the Houston Texans’ third-year cornerback is flying under the radar entering 2024 after a near-flawless second half of the season.
While injuries have hindered Stingley’s success when living up to the No. 3 overall pick standing, when he’s been on the field, there’s a sense of optimism. In 11 games last season, Stingley recorded a career-high five interceptions and allowed just 35 receptions in coverage.
Yes, the No. 2 cornerback spot remains a mystery entering June. Rookie Kamari Lassiter has been working with the first-team defense during mandatory minicamp and should start somewhere in the secondary. Ideally, seeing former first-rounder Jeff Okudah or C.J. Henderson command the other cornerback spot outside in place of Steven Nelson would solve two significant issues.
Of course, DeMeco Ryans is looking to build off his breakout season that resulted in Houston winning the AFC South for the first time since 2019. If Lassiter is the best fit for the defense, he’s starting Week 1 regardless of his rep count in practice.
ESPN’s Mike Clay recently released his 2024 projections, including ranking every cornerback group in the NFL. Where does Houston’s cornerbacks rank among the rest of the league? Here’s a look: