The Green Bay Packers are well-known for retaining their drafted talent, especially those drafted in the early rounds. This season, the team has two players playing on the fifth-year options of their rookie contracts: Rashan Gary and Darnell Savage. While Gary is expected to be extended at some point this season, the jury is still out on Savage. After two down seasons, he will need a bounce-back season to convince the Packers that he is worth a long-term investment.
Related: Green Bay Packers Coach Provides Dire Update on Eric Stokes’ Injury
The team also has a decision to make on injured starting cornerback Eric Stokes. The 2021 first round pick is entering the third year of his NFL career. Next season, the Packers will have to decided whether or not to pick up his fifth year option. That decision could depend on how he comes back from his awful foot injury that he suffered last season. That being said, Sports Illustrated writer Matt Verderame predicts that Green Bay will pick up Stokes’ option.
Should the Green Bay Packers Pick Up Eric Stokes’ 5th Year Option?
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Verderame wrote an article in which he predicted which fifth-year options will be picked up across the NFL. Of Eric Stokes, he wrote:
“Stokes had an excellent rookie season for the Packers, and he was on his way to another quality campaign last year before a season-ending ankle injury in November. Paired with Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas, Green Bay has terrific corners to build its defense around. It would be an upset if Stokes stays healthy in 2023 and doesn’t see his option picked up.”
In Stokes’ rookie season, he had 14 pass deflections, one interception, and 55 tackles. In addition, he allowed just 49.5% of passes thrown his way and a 71.1 passer rating when targeted. Before he got injured, Stokes was allowing 80% of passes thrown his way to be caught while quarterbacks had a 123.5 passer rating when targeting him. A sophomore slump to be sure, but the entire Packers’ defense underperformed last season. It was not just him.
As shown in his rookie season, Stokes has what it takes to be a high-quality NFL cornerback. If he can come back to form from his injury, picking up his fifth-year option should be a no-brainer.
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