USAT: Jets Wire audio clip

USAT: Jets Wire

Jan 14, 2022

ESPN’s NFL draft insider duo of Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay has the Jets landing a star from the SEC in a mini mock draft they released on a podcast with fellow ESPN insider Field Yates. Kiper Jr. and McShay have the Jets selecting LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. with the No. 4 pick. Stingley Jr. to New York has become a popular pick in the early parts of mock draft season, as the Jets are in need of a starting outside cornerback opposite Bryce Hall. Stingley Jr. is the consensus top cornerback in this year’s draft despite missing most of his final season at LSU due to a foot injury that required surgery. Despite the concerning injury history — Stingley Jr. also missed time in 2020 with the same left foot injury, which left him no choice but to go under the knife — he still carries lockdown potential and has drawn comparisons to Saints star Marshon Lattimore. Stingley Jr. showed what he can do when healthy in 2019, helping lead LSU to a national championship with 38 tackles, 15 pass breakups and six interceptions. Teams stopped throwing at Stingley Jr. by season’s end. “He’s got the oily hips, he’s got the top-end speed, he has the length that you need at the cornerback position,” McShay said. “If you’re just going off of value and position need, I think Stingley makes the most sense.” Stingley Jr.’s durability issues are a legitimate concern that might give Joe Douglas pause if he is available for the taking with the fourth pick. The Jets have been down this road before with Dee Milliner — albeit long before Douglas was the general manager — and it didn’t end well. Milliner played in just 21 games over three seasons with New York. Red flags aside, Stingley Jr. managed to prove his worth when healthy. There simply were not any cornerbacks in college football better than him when he was on the field. If the Jets deem the reward worth the risk, the son of former Patriots wide receiver Derek Stingley Sr. could be donning Gotham Green this time next year. List Jets Rookie Power Rankings: The final 2021 report card Email Sign up Like this article? Sign up for the Jets Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning An error has occured Please re-enter your email address. Thanks for signing up! You'll now receive the top Jets Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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