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Getty Derek Stingley Jr. #24 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after intercepting a pass in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs during the SEC Championship.
Another Monday means another mock draft debut and this one has the Atlanta Falcons turning to an LSU star.
Falcons’ own digital reporter, Scott Bair, released his first mock draft of the offseason with Alabama offensive lineman Evan Neal going No. 1 overall to the Jaguars.
And with the No. 8 pick, the Falcons select cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.:
“The Falcons add an elite talent at a premium position, teaming the LSU product up with A.J. Terrell to form what could be one of the NFL’s best cornerback tandems,” Bair writes. “If Stingley can find and improve on the form he showed a few years back, the Falcons will have a true lockdown corner. The early runs on edge rusher and offensive tackle prevent them from going in that direction, but they still fill a need with the best player on the board.”
Bair also notes Stingley’s NFL comparison in Carolina Panthers stud corner, Stephon Gilmore.
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Stingley’s Scouting Report
Current Year: Junior
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 195 pounds
Since his true freshman season in 2019, Stingley was regarded as a future top-five NFL draft pick when he led the SEC with 6 interceptions and was second in the nation with 21 pass deflections.
But things took a turn during his sophomore year when missed three out of ten games, one due to an illness and two others due to injury. He also played just three games this past season due to an undisclosed injury.
Nonetheless, he’s still projected to go high in round one and Pro Football Network breaks down Stingley’s advantages in his official scouting report, emphasizing speed:
Stingley’s scouting report begins with size. At 6’1″ and 195 pounds, he owns the prototypical size of an NFL cornerback. However, size alone isn’t enough for success. Thankfully, Stingley is blessed with ideal length at the position, which helps him be disruptive both at the catch point and at the line of scrimmage. He routinely uses his length to get a jab in at the point of the snap, gaining an advantage from the get-go.
An exceptional athlete, Stingley can go toe-to-toe with the fastest wide receivers that college football has to offer. The LSU cornerback begins his coverage campaign from an excellent, low stance. From there, he explodes into an impressive backpedal, with the fluidity to turn and run with ease. He demonstrates excellent play speed, but there’s more to him than simply being able to run.
CB is a Falcons’ Roster Need
Similar to last season, the Falcons will enter the 2022 season with a very young secondary and weak depth at the cornerback position.
2019 first-round draft A.J. Terrell will remain the star of the show while Fabian Moreau, Avery Williams, Darren Hall and Richie Grant look to compete for larger roles. The Falcons could also have Isaiah Oliver back, but he’ll hit the open market come the new league season, while Kendall Sheffield remains on the hot seat as a cut casualty.
Thus, the Falcons will look to the draft or free agency to bolster this group. Whether or not its Stingley remains up in the air, it doesn’t seem like adding, yet, another young guy to the secondary mix will be their first move at No. 8 overall.
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