It’s often said that an NFL Draft cannot be accurately evaluated until several years after its conclusion—that it’s impossible to get a proper gauge on any player’s perceived fit or any team’s class until we see how all situations ultimately play out.
It’s fun, especially during the NFL offseason, to look back on drafts of old and form a more contextual and, thus, informed final opinion of a particular class and its players. Re-drafts are a popular tool through which to evaluate past drafts, as it’s an approachable way to re-rank players while also giving fans around the league the opportunity to imagine what if things had gone just a bit differently?
Ian Valentino from The 33rd Team recently conducted a re-draft exercise for the 2022 NFL draft, where he had the Buffalo Bills selecting Derek Stingley Jr., a cornerback from LSU, instead of Kaiir Elam, whom they had originally chosen. Despite Stingley not fully meeting expectations as a versatile cover corner with elite ball skills, Valentino believes he has shown enough potential to be a viable starting option. Stingley was initially drafted third overall by the Houston Texans and while he hasn’t completely lived up to the high expectations placed on him, he was considered one of the top defensive players in college football following an impressive freshman season. Injuries limited his playing time in college, but Houston still believed in his talent and selected him early in the 2022 draft.
The ex-Tiger has shown potential in his two professional seasons but has been hampered by persistent hamstring injuries, limiting him to only 20 regular-season games. Despite his setbacks, he has managed to record 82 tackles, 18 pass deflections, and five interceptions. He particularly excelled under the guidance of new head coach DeMeco Ryans in 2023.
Elam, Buffalo’s former first-round pick, has had a challenging career, playing in just 16 regular season games. While he has displayed promise, his aggressive play style and tendency for costly penalties have hindered his progress with the coaching staff. On the bright side, the Bills found a reliable cornerback in the 2022 draft with Christian Benford from Villanova, who has started 19 games in the past two seasons and is expected to retain his starting role for Buffalo in the upcoming season.
