Teams that possess a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft often have needs at several key skill positions, and cornerback is one of them. Shutdown defensive backs are hot commodities in a pass-heavy league that values sheer athleticism and versatility. And this year's draft class is considered deep, comprised of several prospects who can serve as immediate starters in pro-level schemes.
Interestingly enough, there haven't been many cornerbacks selected early in the first round. In the last 25 years, just one team -- the 2020 Detroit Lions -- has chosen a corner in the top-three, and dating back to 1981, there've been only 16 corners taken in the top-five. With no consensus top-overall pick this year, it's unclear when the first cornerback will hear his name called. But CBS Sports analyst Ryan Wilson believes it might be one of LSU's brightest stars.
"I've talked to a couple of teams already, they think Derek Stingley Jr. is going top-five. Nobody in the media had been talking about that up until this week," Wilson told The Zach Gelb Show on Tuesday. "I've gotten confirmation that it can happen... I think it's going to come down to Sauce Gardner and Stingley, and those guys can go very closely together. And one or both, which is crazy, could end up in the top-seven, for sure. I think one goes in the top-five."
Stingley, who's listed at 6-foot and 190 pounds, is now the top-ranked corner and second-overall prospect on the Pro Football Focus' draft board. The 20-year-old was named the top recruit of his class (2019), and in three seasons at LSU, he racked up 73 tackles (56 solo) with two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and six interceptions. Stingley has a rare and gifted blend of speed and ball skills, and he allowed a 41.1 completion percentage for his career.
The entire NFL Draft conversation between Wilson and Gelb can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow The Zach Gelb Show on Twitter @ZachGelb and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.