Eric Stokes was a promising player coming off a strong rookie season in 2021. But just like almost everyone else on the Green Bay Packers, the cornerback took a major step back in 2022. Even before serious knee and ankle injuries, Stokes’ performance had already fallen off.
After allowing a 77.0 passer rating when targeted in his rookie season, Stokes gave up a 124.3 passer rating last year. That’s basically the difference between Davis Mills’ passer rating last year to peak 2011 Aaron Rodgers. According to Player Profiler, his coverage rating went from +18.4 to -10.2. His PFF grade went from 65.5 to 53.7. The Packers still believe he can be an important piece because growth in the NFL is not necessarily linear. The first step for him is to be 100% healthy.
Recently, during offseason activities, Stokes said he needed surgery in November and couldn’t walk on his own until January. He is already running, but there’s no defined timetable for a return to game action.
“We don’t know yet,” Stokes said. “That’s the real big question.”
The second question is if and when Stokes is cleared to return, is he a starter? Right now, it doesn’t look like it. Last year, there were high expectations for the cornerback trio of Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, and Stokes. But the three defenders hadn’t played together — the Packers signed Douglas after Alexander’s injury in 2021. However, things were never right for them.
The initial idea was to put Alexander and Stokes as outside corners and Douglas in the slot. But Douglas didn’t perform at a high level inside, and Stokes also declined in performance.
After Stokes’ injury, they moved Douglas to the outside again, and he performed better. So the expectation for 2023 is that Alexander and Douglas will start. Initially, Keisean Nixon will play in the slot in addition to his role as a kickoff returner. Last year, Nixon was decent in this role. They also tried Darnell Savage there, but this is not an option anymore. Savage will be a full-time safety once again.
If Douglas isn’t an option to play in the slot anymore, the path for him and Stokes together on the field is less clear. The most obvious one would be Stokes playing inside. But that doesn’t seem likely, because the recovery speed is Stokes’ best attribute, and that would be lost in such a quick environment. The other option is circumstantial. When other teams have their best receiver in the slot, Alexander can move inside, while Stokes and Douglas play as boundary corners. But the youngest of the trio seems to be comfortable with competition.
“My biggest thing is I’m going to keep my same attitude no matter what,” Stokes mentioned. “Guys know me. I’m goofy. I’m going to joke. I’m going to smile. That’s me. I’m not fixing to change. I’m not going to do any of that. Even through my downfall, I wasn’t going to show anybody.”
Hopefully for the Packers there is a clear path for improvement and changes.
Communication in the secondary was a big issue in 2022. That’s one of the reasons why Green Bay let defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Jerry Gray go when he got an offer to be the Atlanta Falcons’ assistant head coach.
To replace Gray, the Packers divided his roles. Former safeties coach Ryan Downard was promoted to defensive backs coach and will also be responsible for cornerbacks. There is also the biggest addition to the Packers’ coaching staff this offseason: Greg Williams, the Arizona Cardinals cornerbacks coach for four seasons, who they hired to be the passing-game coordinator. He’s been in the NFL since 2009 and has experience working for the San Diego Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, and Denver Broncos. Changes don’t always work, but different voices may be important for a young player to get back on track.
Eric Stokes is still a big part of Green Bay’s plans. He is under contract through 2024, and the Packers have to decide if they will pick up his guaranteed fifth-year option for 2025 or not after this season. However, his next big steps are to get healthy and recover his status as a full-time starter for the team that drafted him in the first round two years ago.
