The Green Bay Packers impressed the NFL in their first year without future Hall Of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers under young rising star Jordan Love. While developing a young core via the NFL draft the Packers ushered in a new era of success.
With draftees impressing over the past three years, like the receiving core (Watson, Doubs, Reed) and defenders like Quay Walker and Carrington Vallentine, the Packers are ensured that they will have talent on the team for years to come. Unfortunately, not every draft pick has come to fruition, like their 2021 first-round pick out of Georgia Eric Stokes.
Stokes’s issue for the Green Bay Packers has not been his play on the field, as he has proven some success against talented wide receivers, instead, the issue has been staying on the field.
Green Bay Packers Cornerback Eric Stokes’ History With Injuries
Eric Stokes struggled to be on the field in the last two years of his career. After ending his season a game short in his rookie year, playing 16 of 17 games before an MCL injury, Stokes has only been available for 28 of the Green Bay Packers’ 51 games in the regular season, and only 12 of the last 34. From MCL to ankle to hamstring, Stokes’ body has not been able to stay healthy through the grueling NFL season year after year.
In 2023. Stokes only managed to find work in three games. In the two games he started, he struggled, allowing eight receptions in ten targets. This is unsurprising considering Eric Stokes could not play football for over a year due to his previous injury in week nine of 2022 ( torn meniscus + Lisfranc). His injuries have not only affected his gameday availability but arguably more importantly, his offseason availability.
With his body not in good enough shape to fine-tune his craft, his development entering his fourth year is more than a step behind what it could have potentially been. With him likely being available for training camp in late July, Stokes will have to play catch up to meet the expectations placed on a first-round draft pick.
Eric Stokes’ Potential And How He Can Become A Weapon For The Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers secondary struggled in 2023 under former defensive coordinator Joe Barry, particularly with ball production(second to last in total interceptions). Although it appears the Packers organization believes this to be a scheming issue and has trust in their current core. This became apparent with the hiring of Jeff Hafley and not taking a cornerback until the final round of the 2024 draft.
Though, with just one truly proven outside corner, superstar Jaire Alexander, and two corners who showed promise in 2023 (Valentine and Ballentine), the Green Bay Packers could use reliability and talent on the outside. After Stokes’ impressive rookie campaign in 2021, there is potential that that talent could come from him in 2024.
In 2021 Stokes was the subject of a lot of targets, and he responded extremely well. In 96 targets Stokes ranked fourth in completion percentage (51.0),23rd in passer rating (78.8), and executed 14 pass deflections with one interception. His efforts put him in conversation as an All-Rookie player and put him on the map as a young promising cornerback.
If Stokes could return to his rookie form or better in 2024, he would secure his place as a starting outside cornerback with quickness. The Green Bay Packers are forcing the conclusion to happen in 2024, as they declined his 2025 fifth-year option making this potentially his final year as a Green Bay Packer. It is reasonable considering that the fifth year would be a 12.5 million dollar year. If Stokes can stay healthy and play at a level he has shown flashes of, the Packers will likely re-sign Stokes to the tune of 9-10 million dollars a year for multiple years, as well as legitimize the future of their defense.
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