A well-deserved honor for the third-year corner.
Do y’all remember when the Houston Texans drafted Derek Stingley in 2022? There was so much argument about which player the Texans, who had needs everywhere on the roster, should take at the time.
Then he played in his rookie year and it looked like the Texans had made yet another mistake, drafting Sting instead of Sauce Gardner who the New York Jets would take with the very next pick. “Same old Texans,” fans would say.
It was understandable at the time. He missed significant amounts of time in his rookie year, and when he was healthy, he didn’t exactly show a lot of promise.
Fast-forward two years later and Texans fans are now saying “Sauce Gardner who?” and “I always knew that Stingley was the right pick.”
It’s funny how things work out.
And now, as part of his rise to prominence, Stingley has been named to the AP 2024 NFL All-Pro first team.
This season, Stingley recorded 52 tackles (35 solo, 17 assisted) along with 18 passes deflections and five interceptions, which is tied for team best along with rookie safety Calen Bullock.
He is also the only Houston Texan to make either of the All-Pro teams.
It is a much deserved honor for him and now the only thing Texans fans have to be concerned about is how much money he will inevitably command as one of the premier corners in the league.
Congrats Sting! Here’s hoping to many more years of All-Pro awards as a Houston Texan!