The Houston Texans had one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2024. They were fifth in total defense and fourth in sacks as that unit helped carry them to their second straight AFC South title and another appearance in the divisional round.
One of the key pieces to that unit is star cornerback Derek Stingley. While he initially looked like he could be a swing and miss as a first-round pick, he put together consecutive seasons with five interceptions, earned an All-Pro nod, and had votes for 2024 Defensive Player of the Year. Because of that, Stingley was ranked as the No. 5 cornerback in the NFL by PFF.
"After a poor rookie season, Stingley has generated a 90.3 PFF coverage grade over the past two seasons — the best mark among all cornerbacks," John Kosko writes. "The 2022 No. 3 overall pick plays a high-risk, high-reward brand of football and threads that needle well, as his 12 interceptions across the past two years lead the league."
The Texans rewarded Stingley with a $90 million extension this offseason, locking him up for the long-term future as a centerpiece of their defense. Should the Texans want to take the next step and become Super Bowl contenders, Stingley will be one of those players that has to shine and help get them there.
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