Eric Stokes became the latest first-round pick to sign his rookie contract Wednesday. The Packers now have all but one member of their 2021 draft class signed.
Green Bay added Stokes with the 29th overall pick, continuing a heavy emphasis on the cornerback position in the draft. The Packers chose Jaire Alexander in the 2018 first round and have used first- or second-round picks on corners six times since 2015. Stokes will be expected to play a key role for the Packers as a rookie.
Scouts Inc. viewed the Georgia alum as a bit of a reach, ranking him 71st among this year’s prospects. The Packers were viewed by many — including the Ravens — to be eyeing Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman with their first-round pick, but Baltimore swooped in at No. 27 to select him. Stokes, however, was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2020 and a second-teamer in the powerhouse conference in 2019. He intercepted four passes last season and logged 18 throws defensed from 2018-19, seeing steady action in all three of his Bulldogs seasons. The 6-foot defender declared for the draft after his junior year.
The Packers have Alexander back, with the Louisville product positioned as a possible long-term No. 1 corner, and re-signed Kevin King this offseason. Stokes will join this mix. With this contract, only third-round wideout Amari Rodgers is unsigned from this year’s Packers draft haul.
Whatever the dollar value attached to the contract is, it’s way too much. $1 would be way too much for this horrible reach of a pick. Gutey should be fired this pick alone.
*Gutey should be fired for this pick alone.
Hyperbole serves nobody
Should have been fired for Love last year.
If Gutey would have done what any normal, clear thinking GM would have done, he would not have taken Love last year. He would have realized the massive holes that could/should have been filled with that pick and taken one of the players that were sitting right in front of him to fill those holes. It was obvious to everyone but him (and maybe a couple other idiots in the Packer front office) If he had done that, the Packers very well may have been in the Super Bowl last year. We probably wouldn’t be dealing with this Aaron Rodgers drama crap either. Way to go, Gutey!
la verdad –
I don’t know if I’d take it quite that far, but it sure does seem like another horrible pick by Gutey. Can’t blame the player because the GM is an idiot, though. It’s just yet another in long string of picks for a player where they could have waited at least one round…Gutey must just be braindead. One this is for certain however….the Packers brass thinks they are smarter than everyone else in the room. It’s been that way for years (Justin Harrell, anyone?), where the Packers make a pick and everyone says “WHO?” or “WHAT?” or “WHOA THAT’S A SURPRISE”. A room full of morons is what we have running the show in Green Bay. Thank god they got lucky with a couple quarterbacks or they would have sucked for the last 25 years just like they did the previous 20+. I love the Packers, but man they make it awfully hard to be supportive sometimes.
According to Next Gen Stats, Stokes ranks number 5 among all players in 2021 draft and number 1 among cornerbacks for potential to make a Pro Bowl. Clearly a wasted pick.
Can we wait to see how he does first.
Bigpapi136 –
It doesn’t matter in the sense that we could have gotten him in the second or maybe ever third round, and then seen how he did first
Nobody knows that for sure. Just because “experts” project that doesn’t necessarily make it so. If you like a guy, take him. Papi is right, let it play out. There will be plenty of time for all the critics to beat their chests telling anyone who will listen how right their current opinions were.
colonel flagg –
Perhaps you didn’t read the whole comment or didn’t notice, but I agreed with Papi about letting him play first. I hope he turns out to be a great player and worth the opportunity cost. All I said is that a large majority of the football world thought this guy was a late 2nd/early 3rd day pick and that our front office thought they were smarter than everyone else by drafting him in the first round. Their track record has not been good, to say the least, so I think it is fair to question some of their picks/methods.
Entitled Town.
CamFrost –
You’re very clever. That’s just hilarious.
Hey man, fan the way you want. I just couldn’t imagine being so negative about a team that has been a consistent winner for 20 years. People were mad when Green Bay took Kenny Clark over Myles Jack. Or when they traded down when Derwin James was on the board, but ended up drafting Alexander. The point is that we have no idea how these players will be. Just bc talking heads told you that stokes was a 2nd-3rd rounder doesn’t mean he should’ve been. Let it play out.
What happens if he turns into a great player? Relax, bud.
CamFrost –
It’s helpful if you mention who you are addressing, because the only commenter who suggested that player we worthless was the very first guy up at the top of the thread. Otherwise, your comment makes no sense. Anyone else has said wait and see or backed him
Well then I’d imagine it was for the original commenter, KCJ.
While I think he will be a good player, I still can’t get fully on-board with any of the moves Gutey has made. Hoping we don’t see another GM brought up from within the org. Here’s to another year with him as our GM…sigh
He wasn’t even the best CB on his college team.