April 7, 2025
LAS VEGAS – Eric Stokes is flipping the script with a new jersey and a pointed jab. The former Green Bay Packers cornerback has landed with the Las Vegas Raiders on a one-year, $4 million deal, leaving behind a rocky four-year stint in Titletown.
Stokes didn’t mince words about his old squad. “Those last few years in Green Bay taught me to focus on what I can control,” he said via the Raiders’ website. “It felt like I was stuck in a system that didn’t believe in me anymore.”
Drafted No. 29 overall in 2021 from Georgia, Stokes burst onto the scene as a rookie, racking up 55 tackles, 1 interception, and 14 pass deflections in 16 games (Packers.com). Packers fans saw a future star to pair with Jaire Alexander.
But injuries derailed the dream. From 2022 to 2024, he played just 34 of 68 possible games, battling foot, knee, and hamstring issues. His 2024 stat line—41 tackles, no picks or deflections in 17 games—marked a steep fall from grace.
The Packers moved on, declining his fifth-year option and letting him hit free agency (ESPN, 11/3/2025). Las Vegas pounced, slotting him into a secondary with Jack Jones and Jakorian Bennett, desperate for a jolt after a 6-11 season.
Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell reached out post-signing, a move Stokes called “real.” “It wasn’t about the past—just building something new,” he said. The focus is forward, not on the Green Bay chapter he’s closing.
Under DC Patrick Graham, Stokes sees a perfect fit. “This defense thrives on speed and aggression—I’m built for it,” he said. At 25, with a blazing 4.31 40-yard dash (NFL Combine 2018), he’s banking on a revival in the desert.
Stokes tipped his cap to teammate Maxx Crosby’s relentless drive. “That’s the energy I’m feeding off,” he said. With Green Bay leaning on Nate Hobbs and Rasul Douglas, his shot at the Packers signals a Raider ready to prove he’s still got it.
