Vikings Top Draft Target Is Ready for a Comeback
Mitchel Massman
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One of the top cornerbacks in the NFL Draft is preparing to work out at his Pro Day. Derek Stingley Jr., a potential target for the Vikings, has been cleared to perform at his Pro Day on Wednesday, as reported by Ian Rapoport.
Many experts have Derek Stingley Jr. as the Vikings’ top draft target. However, his workout is both good news and bad news for Vikings fans.
First off, his working out is an excellent sign. He should be ready to compete for a starting job in the NFL. Hopefully, that job will be for the Minnesota Vikings.
Derek Stingley Jr. is one of the most promising young cornerbacks in recent drafts. While Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner is the best cornerback this year, Stingley Jr. is a close second. In fact, if it wasn’t for an injury last season at LSU, Stingley could certainly have been the top cornerback this year.
During his freshman campaign in 2019, Stingley Jr. was one of the best corners in the nation. Many experts talked about how he could have been the #1 overall draft pick. Although, this was based solely on his freshman season, which was stellar. Check out some highlights:
His last two years at LSU were not as good as his freshman season. Nonetheless, he is still an excellent cornerback. With him set to work out on Wednesday, the scouts will be watching closely.
Derek Stingley Jr. to Shoot Up Draft Boards
Based on the reporting by Ian Rapoport, Derek Stingley Jr. is ready to show out on Wednesday. This will likely lead him to shoot up some draft boards. This is especially true if he comes out with the same tenacity he had in his freshman season.
Stingley Jr.’s ball skill and speed are top-notch. This is exactly what everyone wants to see in their starting cornerback. Some, including Patrick Peterson, have said that he is one of the best cornerbacks to come out of LSU.
That is really saying something. Patrick Peterson was drafted in 2011 by the Arizona Cardinals. He has since gone on to 8 pro bowls, was selected as an all-pro three times, and was chosen to be on the all-decade team of the 2010s.
If Stingley Jr. can perform well enough to achieve even half the accolades Peterson has stacked up, that is a great career. Although, I am always reluctant to compare collegiate athletes to professional athletes. Many star college athletes do not make the transition.
However, it is early April, which means we view everything through rose-colored glasses. While we wait to see how Stingley Jr. performs on Wednesday, we can daydream a bit. Perhaps one of the best cornerbacks in the draft will fall into the Vikings’ lap.
If that happens, Stingley Jr. can and will be mentored by one of the best cornerbacks in the game. We fans should be very excited at the possibilities, as long as he doesn’t shoot up everyone else’s draft boards, too.
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