(SportsRadio 610) - When Lovie Smith met Derek Stingley Jr. on a pre-draft visit in April, the Texans head coach and a longtime defensive coordinator had a good feeling about the top cornerback prospect.
The Texans prioritized improving their defense in the draft, Smith said recently on The Cris Collinsworth Podcast. There were defensive linemen the Texans' staff liked toward the top of the draft, and Smith is known for preferring to get pressure with four rushers, rather than blitzing.
But Smith mentioned how rare it is to find a young cornerback with Stingley's combination of size, athleticism and ball skills.
That's why they drafted Stingley with the No. 3 overall pick.
"When you just look at the way the league is going now at the cornerback position, how many elite cornerbacks are out there?" Smith asked Collinsworth. "When you can get one at a young age, you’re going somewhere."
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Stingley and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, who was selected by the New York Jets with the very next pick, both visited the Texans before the draft.
Smith said he was also high on Gardner and his toughness, but thought Stingley was the best fit for Houston.
"I’m a trait guy," Smith said. "Derek can jump as high as anybody. He’s as fast as anyone. He’s a 6-feet corner that will tackle. And when you meet him, he’s confident. ...
"When I met Derek, it just kind of felt right and I saw him being a part of our team. And when you have the third pick, it’s a good chance whatever we want, we’re going to get a chance to do. And that’s how it happened."
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Stingley is still recovering from a torn ligament in his left foot, known as a Lisfranc injury, suffered last season while still playing at LSU. He had surgery to repair the torn ligament Sept. 26.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio told Payne & Pendergast last week as organized team activities began that Stingley still has work to do before he's ready for training camp.
Stingley was observed last Tuesday participating in individual drills, and sparingly in some of the team drills as the Texans work through their individual plan for the top rookie.
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