The Green Bay Packers are 9-4 and, despite their loss to the Detroit Lions by the score of 34-31 on Thursday, are in a good position to make the NFL Playoffs for the second season in a row. Despite their overall success, however, this season has been challenging for many players.
This has especially been true on the defensive side of the ball. The front seven do not get as much pressure on opposing quarterbacks as fans were led to believe they would before the season started. Additionally, the cornerback position has left a great deal to be desired after the position went relatively unaddressed during the offseason.
The Green Bay Packers May Cut Ties with Cornerback Eric Stokes
One of the players that has struggled the most in 2024 has been 2021 first round pick Eric Stokes. After missing a season and a half to injuries, Green Bay declined his fifth-year option for the 2024 NFL season began. In other words, Stokes in the final year of his rookie contract with no guarantee that he will be back next season.
And he has done little to indicate that the Packers would even want to bring him back. In nine games (three starts), Stokes has not broken up a single pass nor recorded a single interception.
Opposing quarterbacks have a 64.4% completion percentage and a 110.1 passer rating when targeting him.
Freddy Boston of Fansided believes that his poor production and history of injuries will force Green Bay to move on from their former first-round pick after the season is over:
“Per PFF, Stokes has allowed 301 yards and three touchdowns with a 108.8 passer rating in his coverage while recording no pass breakups or interceptions.
“Stokes’ awful PFF coverage grade of 53.3 ranks 154th among 209 cornerbacks. His overall defensive grade is even worse, ranking 159th.
“Cornerback is a glaring need for the Packers, and Stokes’ future is almost certainly not in Green Bay.”
Based on his numbers, it is easy to see why the Packers may want to pull the plug on the Stokes experiment. He had a phenomenal rookie season in which he defended 14 passes, had one interception, and allowed a miniscule 49.5% completion percentage when targeted.
But even before he first got hurt in 2022, he had failed to live up to the standard he set for himself. Stokes allowed an 80.0% completion percentage when targeted in his second year, and a 75.0% completion percentage in the three games he played last year.
It certainly is unfortunate, but it does indeed seem like Stokes’ future lies somewhere other than Green Bay.
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