With the big event just three weeks away, NFL Draft talk is about to hit a fever pitch. LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is considered to be one of the most intriguing first-round prospects this year, as he hasn’t played football since Sept. 18 and was recently dealing with a Lisfranc injury. CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards said he needed a strong Pro Day to raise his draft stock, and by all reports, he’s done just that.
All 32 NFL teams were in attendance for LSU’s Pro Day on Wednesday, and Stingley was the main attraction. He measured in at 6-0 1/4, 188 pounds, 30 5/8″ arm length and 74″ wingspan, per 247Sports’ Shea Dixon. Stingley also raised eyebrows by running an unofficial 4.37 40-yard dash, recording a vertical of 38.5″ and a broad jump of 10’2.” Per Dixon, the 40 time and vertical would have ranked in the top five among cornerbacks at the NFL Combine, and both would have ranked first among the cornerbacks being discussed as first-round picks.
Stingley is CBS Sports’ No. 2 cornerback in the 2022 NFL Draft behind Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, but the LSU star is our No. 6 player in the entire class. Both should be the first two cornerbacks off the board, but where and in what order is still to be determined. Wednesday’s workout could be enough for a team to take Stingley over Gardner if it comes down to it.
Louisiana’s Mr. Football had an immediate impact at the next level, as he recorded 38 total tackles, 15 passes defended and six interceptions as a freshman while LSU went undefeated and won the national championship in 2019. This would be his best season on record, however, as Stingley played in just 10 games over the next two years due to injuries. While that may be a red flag, the two-time All-SEC player has obvious talent.
Our CBS Sports NFL Draft experts have Stingley going in the middle of the first round, as high as No. 12 to the Minnesota Vikings and as low as No. 15 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles. However, this workout may have boosted his stock.
