Eric Stokes (cornerback)

Eric Jamane Stokes (born March 1, 1999) is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia and was selected by the Packers in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

For the 1990s defensive back, see Eric Stokes (American football executive).

Eric Stokes
refer to caption
Stokes with the Packers in 2021
No. 21 – Green Bay Packers
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1999-03-01) March 1, 1999
Covington, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:194 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Eastside (Covington, Georgia)
College:Georgia (2017–2020)
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 29
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-SEC (2020)
  • Second-team All-SEC (2019)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2023
Total tackles:81
Pass deflections:14
Interceptions:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Stokes attended Eastside High School in Covington, Georgia, where he played football and ran track.[1] He committed to play college football at the University of Georgia in 2017.[2]

College career

After redshirting his first year at Georgia in 2017, Stokes played in 13 of 14 games with three starts in 2018 and finished the season with 20 tackles.[3][4][5] As a sophomore in 2019, he started 13 of 14 games, recording 38 tackles and one sack.[6] He returned as a starter in 2020 where he recorded his first career interception, which he returned for a touchdown, in the opening game of the season. He finished the season with four interceptions and two touchdowns.

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 0+5⁄8 in
(1.84 m)		 194 lb
(88 kg)		 32+3⁄4 in
(0.83 m)		 9+1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		4.29 s1.50 s2.56 s4.36 s6.96 s38.5 in
(0.98 m)		10 ft 8 in
(3.25 m)		14 reps
All values from Pro Day[7][8][9]

Stokes was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round (29th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.[10] He signed his four-year rookie contract on June 2, 2021,[11] worth $11.93 million, including a $6.03 million signing bonus.[12]

Stokes was named the third outside cornerback on the depth chart to start the season. Following continued struggles and injuries by starter Kevin King through the first two weeks of the season, Stokes was named the starter opposite cornerback Jaire Alexander ahead of the Packers' Week 3 game against the San Francisco 49ers. The following week, he recorded his first NFL interception off a pass from Ben Roethlisberger during a 27–17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.[13] Starting from Week 5, and with exception of the Packers' Week 9 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Stokes started every game for the Packers.

Stokes entered the 2022 season as the starting cornerback for the Packers. His play declined as the Packers defense struggled in his sophomore season. During a Week 9 loss to the Detroit Lions, he exited the game with an ankle injury. Head coach Matt LaFleur later informed the press that Stokes would miss the rest of the season with his injury.[14]

Stokes began the 2023 season on the reserve/PUP list.[15] He was activated on October 21, 2023,[16] and placed back four days later.[17]

NFL career statistics

Regular season
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckIntYdsAvgLngTDPDFFFRYdsTD
2021GB 16145543120100.000140000
2022GB 99262150000.00000000
Career25238164170100.000140000
Source: pro-football-reference.com

Postseason
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckIntYdsAvgLngTDPDFFFRYdsTD
2021GB 114310000.00000000
Career114310000.00000000
Source: pro-football-reference.com

References
  1. Dennis, Ryne (August 28, 2019). "Eric Stokes has turned blazing speed into reliability at corner". Online Athens. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  2. Miller, Bob (February 1, 2017). "Covington, Georgia's Eric Stokes Commits to UGA". Bulldawg Illustrated. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  3. Weiszer, Marc (May 4, 2019). "Eric Stokes on fast track in UGA secondary". Online Athens. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  4. Stovall, Gabriel (September 29, 2018). "For Eric Stokes, his UGA waiting game is beginning to pay off". The Covington News. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  5. Paschall, David (November 14, 2018). "Eric Stokes could be nearing his first start for Georgia". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  6. Emerson, Seth (October 31, 2019). "The Ballad of 'Dirty Red': How Eric Stokes found a home at Georgia, and Georgia found its lockdown cornerback". The Athletic. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  7. "Eric Stokes Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". National Football League. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  8. "Eric Stokes, Georgia, CB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  9. "Eric Stokes 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  10. "2021 NFL Draft: Packers select Georgia CB Eric Stokes in first round, No. 29 overall". Packers.com. April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  11. "Packers sign CB Eric Stokes". Packers.com. June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  12. Boston, Freddie (June 3, 2021). "Packers: Details of first-round pick Eric Stokes' contract". Lombardi Ave. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  13. Riley, Connor (October 5, 2021). "Eric Stokes records his first career interception to highlight former Bulldogs in the NFL". DawgNation.com. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  14. "Packers sign CB Corey Ballentine to active roster". Packers.com. November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  15. "Packers announce roster moves". Packers.com. August 29, 2023.
  16. "Packers activate CB Eric Stokes off PUP". packers.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  17. "Packers place S Darnell Savage, CB Eric Stokes on injured reserve". Packers.com. October 25, 2023.
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