Mel Kiper’s latest mock gifts Commanders future defensive cornerstone

The first wave of free agency was exhausting. Not so much for Washington Commanders fans, but from a news perspective, it was unrelenting. If you set your phone aside for any period of time, chances are you missed a flurry of moves.

With the market starting to settle down, the 2022 NFL Draft has slowly started taking centerstage for certain fan bases. Given the Commanders are likely to spend their remaining cap space rounding out their roster as opposed to making splash signings, Washington fans could be lumped into that category.

Either way, draft night will be here before we know it and at this juncture the Commanders can go many different directions in Round 1. A quarterback seems unlikely given they just traded for Carson Wentz, but can you really rule it out in the event Kenny Pickett or Malik Willis are still available?

A wide receiver feels like the most likely pick given the team’s yet to add reinforcements through free agency, but ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper sees a cornerback in Washington’s future at No. 11 overall.

In his latest mock draft, which accounts for the latest free agent signings, Kiper projected LSU cornerback Derek Stingley to the Commanders.

Would LSU cornerback Derek Stingley be a smart pick for the Commanders in the first round?

Here’s what Kiper (subscription required) had to say about the pick.

"Circle April 6 on your calendar. That’s when scouts will get the chance to see Stingley on the field for the first time since he injured his foot in September. He had surgery on the Lisfranc injury and didn’t work out at the combine. It’s a crucial day for a corner once viewed as a potential No. 1 overall pick. As a true freshman in 2019, he was one of LSU’s best players on the way to its national title. Stingley has played in just 10 games over the past two seasons and has some inconsistent tape. I’m still betting on his upside, but he could drop if he doesn’t test well.Washington had major injury issues at corner last season, and it could upgrade its unit with Stingley. I also thought about a receiver to partner with Terry McLaurin for new quarterback Carson Wentz."

As Kiper noted, Stingley’s pro day on April 6 will likely make or break whether he’s viewed as a top-15 pick this year. Based on individual talent and potential, teams could justify drafting the LSU product within the first handful of picks.

However, Stingley played just 672 snaps over his last two seasons in Baton Rouge after logging a whopping 1,166 as a true freshman in 2019. Throw in the fact that a Lisfranc injury ended his final season after just three games, and the Commanders will need to do extensive testing on Stingley’s health before drafting him.

The last thing Washington needs is a Caleb Farley situation on their hands. For those unaware, Farley, taken No. 22 overall by the Titans last year, had back issues coming out of Virginia Tech and played just three games as a rookie due to a torn ACL.

With Benjamin St-Juste struggling with concussions as a rookie, would Stingley’s upside as a potential future lockdown corner be worth the gamble? That’s up to the front office to decide, but there’s no denying his talent.

In 2019, Stingley was a vital part of LSU’s National Championship run. Targeted a ridiculous 96 times in coverage, the young DB allowed a 37% completion rate and forced an incompletion on 19% of passes thrown his direction.

Additionally, Stingley finished first in the SEC in passes defended (15) and interceptions (six) and his 0.94 wins above replacement (WAR) ranked second among all defensive players, according to Pro Football Focus.

As expected, Stingley’s proficiency took a tumble over his next two seasons for the Tigers, but he was due for regression, didn’t play much due to injury and played on a defense that paled in comparison to 2019’s title-winning group.

Bottom line? Stingley can be a defensive cornerstone in the NFL and would be a fantastic pick for Washington in the first round.

The only question Ron Rivera and the front office have to ask themselves before April 27, though, is whether Stingley’s upside and potential would be worth passing on Chris Olave, Drake London, Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis Devin Lloyd and Treylon Burks, each of whom were drafted after No. 11 overall in Kiper’s mock.