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Derek Stingley Jr. is the NFL’s new highest paid DB

Untitled design (1)by:Julie Boudwin•about 12 hours
NFL: Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
Oct 27, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) runs onto the field before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Derek Stingley Jr. has reached a contract extension with the Houston Texans that will make him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history.

The Texans have agreed to terms on a three-year, $90 million contract extension with Stingley Jr., including an whopping $89 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.

“The top has been blown off the DB market. Sources say Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. is the NFL’s new highest paid DB,” Rapoport wrote on Twitter. “Today is a good day for not only Derek Stingley Jr… but also Sauce Gardner. A new bar has been set.”

Stingley’s new deal resets the market for defensive backs, surpassing the previous high set by Carolina Panthers’ Jaycee Horn ($25 million per year). With an average annual salary of $30 million, Stingley now sits atop the cornerback pay scale. His agent, David Mulugheta of Athletes First, now represents the three highest-paid cornerbacks in the league, along with the two highest-paid safeties.

He was selected No. 3 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft out of LSU, where he helped the Tigers win the national title his freshman year and was a consensus All-American that season. He was a First-Team All-American the following season.

Stingley showed flashes of elite talent early in his NFL career but battled injuries, missing eight games as a rookie and six more in his second season. In Year 3, Stingley was fully healthy and played all 17 games, making his first Pro Bowl and first All-Pro team.

He matched his previous year’s total with five interceptions, while his 18 passes defended ranked second in the NFL. His elite coverage ability was reflected in his 84.4 Pro Football Focus grade, as he allowed just 42 receptions on 90 targets (46.7% completion rate) and held opposing quarterbacks to a mere 56.9 passer rating when targeting him.

Stingley shined even brighter in the playoffs, securing two interceptions and five more pass breakups in Houston’s wildcard win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Stingley’s extension comes on the heels of another massive payday for a former LSU star. Just hours earlier, his college teammate Ja’Marr Chase agreed to a four-year, $161 million extension with the Cincinnati Bengals, including $112 million guaranteed—making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

As part of the Class of 2019, Stingley was a five-star recruit out of Dunham School in Baton Rouge, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in the state, the No. 1 cornerback in the class and the No. 5 overall prospect in the class.

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