The Houston Texans went into final season with heightened expectations following 2023’s spectacular run to the AFC South crown and a playoff victory, and regardless of the overwhelming sentiment being that the staff took a step again in 2024, they nonetheless received the division once more whereas as soon as once more profitable a playoff recreation to advance to the Divisional Spherical.
Whereas the offense might have left loads of meat on the bone final season, Houston’s protection was high 5 within the NFL in yards and takeaways, and far of that may be attributed to 1 participant who not too long ago drew a comparability to Corridor-of-Famer Deion Sanders.
Kevin Patra of NFL.com not too long ago wrote an article that featured a prolonged quote from Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who likened star younger nook Derek Stingley Jr. to the legendary Sanders.
“Derek positively has a number of the greatest fingers that I’ve seen,” Ryans mentioned. “From the nook perspective, you’ll be able to throw in Coach Prime (Deion Sanders), some nice fingers as nicely. However, Derek, he’s a singular participant. He’s very gifted, very gifted. For me, what I’m most inspired about is, from after I first bought right here, to see the place Stingley has grown to and what he’s turn out to be, it’s very spectacular to look at, to see the expansion of a participant, the event of him. For him to be on the high of his craft, high of the sport as a cornerback place, like he’s performed an impressive job.”
Stingley has gotten higher in every of his three seasons since Houston made him the third total decide within the 2022 draft, and he appeared in all 17 video games for the primary time final yr whereas racking up 5 interceptions for a second consecutive yr and deflecting 18 passes.
Stingley has emerged as one of many league’s greatest corners, and at simply 24 years outdated, there isn’t any query his ceiling might be a lot larger than what we’ve already seen from him.
Evaluating him to Sanders is excessive reward, as Stingley nonetheless has a protracted technique to go to achieve his 53 interceptions, however his playmaking means is up there with the very best of the very best for the time being.
Texans followers have one, and it’s clear that Ryans acknowledges that.
The publish Texans Defender Attracts Comparability To Deion Sanders appeared first on The Chilly Wire.
