Todd McShay gives latest intel on Derek Stingley Jr.'s draft stock

Former LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. has been climbing up NFL Draft boards as of late – and he’s projected to be an early pick when the draft gets underway on Thursday night in Las Vegas. While Stingley is now said to be a top-10 pick, NFL Draft analysts continue to speak highly of the defender heading into Thursday.

As for ESPN’s Todd McShay, the analyst believes that Stingley shouldn’t be available past pick No. 10 on Thursday – and rightfully so. A former On3 Consensus five-star recruit who made 73 tackles while playing in just 23 games over three seasons at LSU, Stingley has the overall make-up to be a dominant NFL cornerback.

Speaking on ESPN’s First Draft show earlier this week, McShay shared his latest intel on Stingley’s draft stock heading into Thursday night – saying that Stingley most likely won’t be available for the Minnesota Vikings to draft at No. 12 overall.

“I think they’d love for cornerback Derek Stingley to fall to them, but if everything I’m hearing over the last few days is true, I don’t think Stingley gets there at No. 12,” McShay said. “To me, if you can get a top-10 player at No. 12 in a position that you need, I would go that route.

“Stingley, though – I’m hearing rumors that Houston might like him at three, ahead of Sauce Gardner. I’ve heard that Seattle at No. 9 likes him. So, according to what I’m hearing, I’m not sure that he’s going to get to 12. … If he does, that would be the pick.”

A 6-foot-1, 195-pound defender, Stingley is listed as a potential top-10 pick in most mock drafts. However, looking at the latest mock draft from ESPN NFL Draft insider Mel Kiper Jr. and McShay on April 19, they had Stingley going No. 12 to the Vikings – but that could always change, as McShay pointed out.