1st Round (29th Overall) CB Eric Stokes

Zero2Cool
Elite Member Topic Starter

3 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

3 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
Veteran Member

3 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

3 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

3 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

3 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

3 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

3 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

3 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

3 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 (5h) : 49ers might be down their QB, DL, TE and LT?

packerfanoutwest (19h) : Jaire Alexander says he has a torn PCL

Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : Even with the context it's ... what?

Mucky Tundra (20-Nov) : Matt LaFleur without context: “I don’t wanna pat you on the butt and you poop in my hand.”

beast (20-Nov) : We brought in a former Packers OL coach to help evaluate OL as a scout

beast (20-Nov) : Jets have been pretty good at picking DL

Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He landed good players thanks to high draft slot. He isn't good.

Zero2Cool (20-Nov) : He can shove his knowledge up his ass. He knows nothing.

beast (20-Nov) : More knowledge, just like bring in the Jets head coach

Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : What? Why? Huh?

beast (19-Nov) : I wonder if the Packers might to try to bring Douglas in through Milt Hendrickson/Ravens connections

Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : The Jets fired Joe Douglas, per sources

packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Jets are a mess......

Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Pretty sure Jets fired their scouting staff and just pluck former Packers.

Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Jets sign Anders Carlson to their 53.

Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : When you cycle the weeks, the total over remains for season. But you get your W/L for that selected week. Confusing.

packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the total and percentage are the same as the previous weeks

packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : the totals are accurate..nrvrtmind

Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : I don't follow what you are saying. The totals are not the same as last week.

packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : ok so then wht are the totals the same as last week?

Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : NFL Pick'em is auto updated when NFL Scores tab is clicked

Martha Careful (19-Nov) : The offense was OK. Let's not forget the Bear defense is very very good.

packerfanoutwest (19-Nov) : Who updates the leaderboard on NFLPickem?

beast (19-Nov) : Has the Packers offense been worse since the former Jets coach joined the Packers?

Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Offense gets his ass in gear, this could be good.

Zero2Cool (19-Nov) : Backup QB helped with three wins. Special Teams contributed to three wins.

bboystyle (18-Nov) : Lions played outside thats why. They scored 16 and 17 in the only 2 outside games this year

Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : The rest of the NFL is catching up to Packers ... kicking is an issue throughout league

packerfanoutwest (18-Nov) : Packers DL Kenny Clark: We knew 'we were going to block' Bears' game-winning field goal attempt

Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Lions seem to be throttling everyone, but only (only) got 24 lol maybe the rain is why

Zero2Cool (18-Nov) : Packers vs Lions game doesn't seem so bad.

beast (18-Nov) : Dennis Green "They are what we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!"

Martha Careful (17-Nov) : comment of the day Z2Cool "Bears better than we want to admit. Packers worse than we think. It's facts."

Mucky Tundra (17-Nov) : my worst case scenario: Bears fix their oline and get a coach like Johnson from the Lions and his scheme

Zero2Cool (17-Nov) : Bears get OL fixed amd we might have a problem

buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : Pretty sure they already have scouting reports on guys who aren't even starting for their college team. The future is now for me.

buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : I tend to let Gute and Co. Worry about the future.

beast (17-Nov) : That's great news and Packers need to keep upgrading their OL, DL and DBs this off-season, so missing one guy doesn't kill them

buckeyepackfan (17-Nov) : Jaire and Evans Williams are both ACTIVE! Good news.

Martha Careful (17-Nov) : The badgers really need to change the whole offensive scheme. No draws no screens plus the quarterback is marginal

Cheesey (17-Nov) : If the Badgers had a decent QB, they would have won. The guy can't hit a wide open receiver

Martha Careful (17-Nov) : chop block

Martha Careful (17-Nov) : there was a very questionable job Block call that upon viewing replay was very borderline

beast (17-Nov) : How so? (I didn't watch)

Zero2Cool (17-Nov) : Badgers got hosed vs Oregon

packerfanoutwest (16-Nov) : damn,he hasn't played since week 2

Mucky Tundra (15-Nov) : poor guy can't catch a break

wpr (15-Nov) : wow. That three different things for the kid.

Please sign in to use Fan Shout

2024 Packers Schedule

Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM

Eagles

29 - 34

Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM

COLTS

16 - 10

Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM

Titans

30 - 14

Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM

VIKINGS

29 - 31

Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM

Rams

24 - 19

Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM

CARDINALS

34 - 13

Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM

TEXANS

24 - 22

Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM

Jaguars

30 - 27

Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM

LIONS

14 - 24

Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM

Bears

20 - 19

Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM

49ERS

Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM

DOLPHINS

Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM

Lions

Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM

Seahawks

Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM

SAINTS

Sunday, Dec 29 @ 12:00 PM

Vikings

Saturday, Jan 4 @ 11:00 PM

BEARS