The first-rounder vs. the seventh-rounder – just like it’s supposed to be, right? Starters can come from anywhere, as we’ve seen from many of the Green Bay Packers’ recent draft picks. With Green Bay’s 2024 training camp officially underway, several position battles are heating up across the roster.
Some high-profile battles include Sean Rhyan and 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan right guard; between last year’s backup quarterback, Sean Clifford, and 2024 seventh-round pick Michael Pratt; and the three-headed royal rumble between James Turner, Greg Joseph, and Anders Carlson. However, the most intriguing and arguably tight competition will be for the starting outside cornerback job across from Jaire Alexander. Former first-round pick Eric Stokes and last year’s Cinderella story Carrington Valentine will face off to see who will become Green Bay’s CB2, and there will be fireworks.
Entering the offseason program and throughout the first week of camp, Stokes has been running mostly with the first-team defense at the other starting corner spot. However, we should not easily dismiss Valentine as a possible starter. Both are making strong cases in their quest for the gig.
Eric Stokes
Stokes entered camp as the presumptive favorite to win the job due to his draft status as a former first-round pick in 2021. He also had starting experience across his first three seasons in the league. He stepped up as a starter in his rookie season, taking over the de facto No. 1 corner spot once Jaire Alexander suffered a shoulder injury in Week 4.
Stokes was outstanding in 2021, playing in 16 games with 14 starts as a rookie. He recorded a team-high 14 passes defensed, tied for No. 11 in the NFL, and tied for No. 1 among NFL rookies in 2021. In 2021, Stokes ranked No. 4 in the league in lowest completion percentage (49.5) when targeted for all NFL defensive backs targeted over 45 times. His stock was shooting straight up, and Green Bay seemed to have their two starting corners set for the foreseeable future.
Unfortunately, injuries piled up, and Stokes ended up starting only nine games in 2022. Stokes suffered two season-ending injuries in Detroit, a Lisfranc injury and a torn meniscus in his knee. Neither is ideal for a corner whose main superpower is his speed.
Injuries continued to derail Stokes’ season last year. Due to hamstring issues, he only suited up for three contests. Stokes’ injury concerns were so bad that the team prompted him and teammate Christian Watson to UW Madison to get to the root cause of his issues.
After research showed his foot was not strong enough to support his body weight, Stokes’ offseason focus has been on strengthening his foot and the areas around it to help him stay on the field. With the strength-and-conditioning plan to help him stay healthy and a defensive scheme change allowing him to play more to his proclivity as a press-man corner, Green Bay seems to be banking on him returning to his 2021 form.
Carrington Valentine
The 2023 seventh-round draft choice out of the University of Kentucky will not just hand the job over to Stokes. Considering where the Packers drafted him and his place on the depth chart to open last season, there might not have been a more impressive rookie on the defensive side of the ball in all of football in 2023.
Valentine entered camp last season behind Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, and Stokes. However, due to Stokes’ aforementioned injuries, Douglas’ midseason trade to Buffalo, and Alexander’s up-and-down play when he was in the lineup, Valentine arguably was their most reliable corner all season.
Valentine played in all 17 games as a rookie. He made 12 starts, recorded 42 tackles (32 solo), had nine passes defensed, and one fumble recovery. He led the team in passes defensed and was ranked No. 7 in the NFL among rookies. He also started both postseason contests, recording 12 tackles (nine solo). He was able to hold up well when tested in high-profile games down the stretch and contributed to shutting down big-time receivers such as Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb when the Packers needed him most.
After playing all of 2023 at 180 lbs., Valentine added 20 lbs. of muscle to facilitate his blocking. “When I take on blocks, people feel lighter,” he said.” I can be more aggressive. I naturally play aggressive anyway, so it just went hand-in-hand with my game. It kind of worked out.”
That should help him play more physical football in this new defensive scheme. It will also help him play up tight against receivers and better defend the run, which was an area where he struggled during his otherwise impressive rookie year.
Prediction
Before camp started, I anticipated the battle between Stokes and Valentine to be a little closer than it has been through the first week-plus, with them possibly alternating series with the first-team defense. Instead, we have seen Stokes take virtually all the first-team reps over Valentine.
However, we are not even at the first preseason game yet, and a lot can change over the next six weeks leading up to the Week 1 matchup in Brazil against the Philadelphia Eagles. Green Bay is clearly leaning toward Stokes’ first-round pedigree and experience over the potential of a second-year jump from Valentine. However, as we’ve seen throughout history, injuries tend to have their say and even the playing field in such situations. While I expect Stokes to win the job out of camp if he can stay healthy, I also expect Valentine to have plenty of opportunities to make his mark on the 2024 Green Bay Packers season.
