1st Round (29th Overall) CB Eric Stokes

Zero2Cool
Elite Member Topic Starter

4 years ago

Eric Stokes | Cornerback | Georgia | 6'0" - 194 lbs.

Pro day testing: 4.31 40-yard dash, 38.5” vertical jump, 10’8” broad jump, 6.96 three-cone, 4.36 shuttle, 14 bench press reps

Summary
Despite being a redshirt junior, Eric Stokes was one of the veterans on a young, talented Georgia defense where he was part one of a two-headed corner duo with fellow 2021 NFL Draft hopeful Tyson Campbell. A three-year contributor at Georgia, Stokes found all of his career interceptions in 2020 with four while taking two of them for touchdowns. Stokes burned up his pro day, exhibiting track speed and explosiveness in his testing. The problem is that one of the primary issues with Stokes when you pop on his tape is functional athleticism on the football field. Mechanical transitions and limited agility will hold Stokes back in off-man situations. Overall, Stokes should be a second-round pick who gets the opportunity as a No. 2 corner to play primarily in zone or press man coverage. Although, cornerback needy teams could reach in the back end of the first for a player like Stokes.

Strengths
[list]

Length is an asset to affect throwing windows in zone coverage

Ball production took a major leap in 2020

Zone spacing is very good; excels playing in “cloud” coverage where he can roam 7-10 yards off the line of scrimmage

Does well to force boundary receivers to the sideline in man coverage; gives himself the leverage to win in these situations

At his best when he can use his physicality to affect opposing receivers; it’s a key crutch to allowing him to mirror routes

Football IQ is one of his best attributes; he often reads the quarterback’s eyes and takes worthwhile gambles to make a play on the ball[/list]

Weaknesses
[list]

Technique can get sloppy; panic can set in when receiver forces the issue

Play speed doesn’t line up with pro day testing

Transitions can be a bit mechanical

Not agile in short areas; Alabama (2020) gave him fits

Can get grabby at the top of the route stem

Stiff lower half will limit his NFL potential

Explosive route runners are going to give him trouble at the next level

A much more comfortable player in zone than man coverage

Struggles mightily to stay in phase with off-man coverage

[*]Generally not an active participant in run support[/list]

Wanna join the discussion?! Login to your PACKERSHOME forum account or Register a new forum account

go.pack.go.
Veteran Member

4 years ago

I like the pick. We now have a very fast secondary with him, Savage, and Alexander. Anything to take Kevin King off the field more is a good thing. I don’t know much about him but I’m excited for the pick.

Mucky Tundra
Honored Member

4 years ago

Well I'm sold on the guy

“Nah. I like having the island. It’s pretty cool...not too many visitors”

"I’ve got it." -Aaron Rodgers

floydgator
Rookie

4 years ago

Here's the problem: Eric Stokes can't play football.

This is yet another ridiculously bad pick by GB. Elijah Moore was right there. He solved sooooo many issues. It was a no brainer. Regardless of position, he was the best player on the board and he fit a huge need. Any idiot could have made this pick. Best case scenario, the coaching staff can teach Eric Stokes to use his athleticism to actually be a competent corner. In year 3. When we are starting a stiff at QB. Even then, this dude won't tackle. He avoids contact like the plague.

Corner is a huge need. The solution fell into our laps there too. Greg newsome was available until pick 26. We could have moved up using nothing more than a 3rd round pick to get a guy WHO ACTUALLY CAN PLAY CORNER.

Elijah Moore - easy call
Jeremiah Owosu-Karamoah - fits a need, good at football, good value
Teven Jenkins - best OT on the board, fits need, good at football
Eric Stokes - no, seriously, stop laughing.

earthquake
Member

4 years ago

Originally Posted by: floydgator

"Eric Stokes can't play football."... I'm sure with this detailed, well reasoned analysis the Chicago Bears will be calling you any minute to offer a scouting position.

I'm pretty sure a player being picked 3 slots before your selection is, well, the opposite of what people mean mean when they say "fell into their lap". For instance, Aaron Rodgers "fell into the Packers lap" in 2005.

Of course it will be interesting to see whether Newsome or Stokes ends up being the better pro, given that they were taken 3 picks apart.

Now, back to reality where nobody knows if this will be a good pick for 2 or 3 years, here's some film study on the kid.

blank

KRK
Veteran Member

4 years ago

meh
Esp with Jenkins at OT there and arguably better picks at the position

In Luce tua Videmus Lucem KRK

nerdmann
Premier Member

4 years ago

Definitely an analytics pick, but dude wouldn't be ranked in the 2nd if he couldn't play.

There's a little stiffness, but there's also a ton of make up speed. Anyway, get him in touch with Tramon's yoga instructor. Work that stiffness out of his hips. BOOM.

As for tackling, I tjink he's ok. I'm not big on CBs coming up in run support all the time. Remember what happened to Sam Shields?

“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”

Zero2Cool
Elite Member Topic Starter

4 years ago

PFF GB Packers @PFF_Packers -Among draft eligible CBs, Eric Stokes had the highest man coverage grade during his career (89.3) at Georgia

wpr
Preferred Member

4 years ago

Super fast but can't tackle. Eh. Kind of typical for a lot of CBs.
Ok pick. Fits a desperate need. King will begin the season as the starter but Stokes will take over the gig before the playoffs. As the CB2 he should work out fine. He's better in zone than man but GB plays zone so not so much of an issue. Some of his weaknesses will be mitigated by coaching.
With his speed and (hopefully) elusiveness, might see him return punts.

wpr
Preferred Member

4 years ago

#10

PFF GB Packers @PFF_Packers -Among draft eligible CBs, Eric Stokes had the highest man coverage grade during his career (89.3) at Georgia

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool

Interesting. I've heard/read he's a zone coverage dude.

Important Information:

The PACKERSHOME uses cookies. By continuing to browse this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. More Details Close

Fan Shout

Zero2Cool (45m) : lol our email hasn't worked in months. 7 pages of unverified users

Zero2Cool (8h) : MySpace Screaming Lord Byron ... Brett Favre.

Zero2Cool (19-May) : Packers have signed first-round pick Matthew Golden, leaving second-round tackle Anthony Belton as their only unsigned draft pick

beast (19-May) : Supposedly he has to take his image, and name off of it... but otherwise could keep selling wine if he wanted to.

Zero2Cool (19-May) : he giving up his win business?

beast (19-May) : Speaking of Woodson, sounds like he'll be a minority owner (0.1%) of the Browns

Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Zero, regarding Woodson, that'd why I find the timing with Williams peculiar

dfosterf (15-May) : Ryan Hall y'all does a great job of tracking thesr

Zero2Cool (15-May) : Fear not!! I planned to do 33mi bike ride tomorrow morning, so ... yeah

Zero2Cool (15-May) : We got some dark clouds and nasty winds right bout now.

Zero2Cool (15-May) : Madison they had hail 4pm.

dfosterf (15-May) : Sure looks like these tornadoes are headed towards Green Bay

Zero2Cool (15-May) : Woodson of Charles fame was reluctant and then loved it. that didn't really come out until post career

Mucky Tundra (15-May) : IE "We bought into the Bears and they let us down, we have no choice to seek alternatives"

Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Or that Williams and his family are preparing an exit ramp if they don't like how things are going in a few years

Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Either Williams thought it would make him look good (reluctant but then embraces the city and franchise)

Mucky Tundra (15-May) : I can only assume that the Williams camp agreed to cooperate with that article tells me 2 things

dfosterf (15-May) : Ya. They are in a great mood

Zero2Cool (15-May) : I should visit again

dfosterf (15-May) : ChiCity Sports entering freakout mode due to Caleb and his dad not wanting him to go there

Zero2Cool (15-May) : "He's looking really good out there," Derrick Ansley said of Kalen King. Adds that he's been playing inside and out.

Zero2Cool (15-May) : Him saying he doesn't have one to give haha

Zero2Cool (15-May) : True, that was awesome. The whole F thing was great actually.

dfosterf (15-May) : I did like the Mark Murphy part, sorta

Zero2Cool (15-May) : Some comments on it saying it was great, amazing... I came away thinking... awkward.

dfosterf (15-May) : Packers schedule release video is "interesting" I guess.

Zero2Cool (15-May) : SOOO glad that tool still works. Saves from manually entering each game

Zero2Cool (15-May) : NFL Pick'em import was done last night.

Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Atlanta with 5 primetime games lol

Zero2Cool (15-May) : Week Five BYE?? NFL is hell.

wpr (14-May) : Vikings schedule leaked. Week 12 in GB. Week 18 in MN.

wpr (14-May) : CBS has GB @ NYG Week 11 Nov 16 and they will face MN in week 18 but don't say where. I think away

Zero2Cool (14-May) : W15: Packers at Broncos

Zero2Cool (14-May) : Ben Sirmans on MarShawn Lloyd: “Everything’s full go for him.”

Zero2Cool (14-May) : Luke Butkus says training camp will allow plenty of time to implement new center Elgton Jenkins

Zero2Cool (14-May) : wk 2 commanders at packers

Zero2Cool (14-May) : Ugh. Packers thanksgiving detroit ...boring

Zero2Cool (14-May) : Panthers at Green Bay in week 9, Nov 2nd

buckeyepackfan (14-May) : Week 1

buckeyepackfan (14-May) : Packers Host Detroit Week 1! ML finally gets a week home opener.

beast (13-May) : I was kind of hoping Douglas might come back to the Pack

beast (13-May) : My question is how much do we trust Jenkins? In bad weather, he seemed to struggle a bit with ball control snapping, though he started at OG

beast (13-May) : Well Jenkins probably knows he's not getting that 2026 salary number without a new contact... so just trying to get the new contact early

Zero2Cool (13-May) : CB Rasul Douglas is visiting the #Seahawks today, per source.

dfosterf (13-May) : He's a switch and baiter. Its the same as a bait and switcher except he agreed to the switch first lol

dfosterf (13-May) : 6.8 mil raise next year. Those are existing contract numbers

dfosterf (13-May) : 12.8 plus 4.8 pro rata signing bonus is 17.6 mil. Top center in the league at 18

Zero2Cool (13-May) : Elgton Jenkins wants to rework contract ahead of position change to center

Zero2Cool (13-May) : 🏈Monday, Nov. 10: Eagles at Packers

buckeyepackfan (12-May) : Packers @ Bears week 16(Saturday Game)

Please sign in to use Fan Shout

2025 Packers Schedule

Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM

LIONS

Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM

COMMANDERS

Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM

Browns

Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM

Cowboys

Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM

BENGALS

Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM

Cardinals

Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM

Steelers

Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM

PANTHERS

Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM

EAGLES

Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM

Giants

Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM

VIKINGS

Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM

Lions

Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM

BEARS

Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM

Broncos

Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM

Bears

Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM

RAVENS

Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM

Vikings