The Houston Texans went into last season with heightened expectations following 2023’s impressive run to the AFC South crown and a playoff victory, and despite the overwhelming sentiment being that the team took a step back in 2024, they still won the division again while once again winning a playoff game to advance to the Divisional Round.
While the offense may have left plenty of meat on the bone last season, Houston’s defense was top five in the NFL in yards and takeaways, and much of that can be attributed to one player who recently drew a comparison to Hall-of-Famer Deion Sanders.
Kevin Patra of NFL.com recently wrote an article that featured a lengthy quote from Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who likened star young corner Derek Stingley Jr. to the legendary Sanders.
“Derek definitely has some of the best hands that I’ve seen,” Ryans said. “From the corner perspective, you can throw in Coach Prime (Deion Sanders), some great hands as well. But, Derek, he’s a unique player. He’s very talented, very gifted. For me, what I’m most encouraged about is, from when I first got here, to see where Stingley has grown to and what he’s become, it’s very impressive to watch, to see the growth of a player, the development of him. For him to be at the top of his craft, top of the game as a cornerback position, like he’s done an outstanding job.”
Stingley has gotten better in each of his three seasons since Houston made him the third overall pick in the 2022 draft, and he appeared in all 17 games for the first time last year while racking up five interceptions for a second consecutive year and deflecting 18 passes.
Stingley has emerged as one of the league’s best corners, and at just 24 years old, there is no question his ceiling could be much higher than what we have already seen from him.
Comparing him to Sanders is high praise, as Stingley still has a long way to go to reach his 53 interceptions, but his playmaking ability is up there with the best of the best at the moment.
Texans fans have a good one, and it’s clear that Ryans recognizes that.
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