It is not a secret that the Houston Texans defense has been very good through the first four games of the 2025 NFL season. They have yet to give up more than 21 points in a game this season.
Houston shutout the Tennessee Titans 26-0 in week four. The Texans defense could potentially be facing a Baltimore Ravens team on Sunday who is without quarterback Lamar Jackson. No matter who is under center for Baltimore this weekend, this defense will be hard to play against. With the way this defense is constructed, who is the best player on this defense? Is it cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. or is it someone else?
The Case for Derek Stingley Jr. Being the Best Player
Bucky Brooks of FOX Sports wrote about who is the most important player on each NFL team who is not a quarterback. He believes that the Texans star cornerback is the best player on the team. Brooks said about Stingley,
"The All-Pro’s sticky coverage on the perimeter allows pass rushers Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter extra time to hunt down quarterbacks. Stingley’s exceptional instincts and superb movement skills enable him to shadowbox wideouts at the line before routinely knocking away or snagging passes directed at a WR1. With few cover corners possessing the fourth-year pro’s coverage ability or ball skills, the Texans must view Stingley as the irreplaceable player on their ultra-talented roster."
Houston has already signed him to a long-term deal. He will be this franchise until after the 2029 NFL season ends. He has 10 total tackles, one interception, and four pass deflections this season. One of the reasons why this defense is so hard to score on is because of the way Stingley defends in the secondary.
Having a true number one cornerback is very hard to find in the NFL. Despite the talent they have on the defensive line, Stingley is a player that they can't afford to get injured.
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