Rebuild? Regress?
Hardly. Try restock, reload and continue chasing greatness.
Green Bay traded away future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers in April, 2023, then fielded the NFL’s youngest roster a year ago.
Most believed the Packers — who missed the postseason in 2022 — would take another step back in 2023. Instead, Green Bay reached the playoffs, upset Dallas in the Wild Card round and had eventual NFC champion San Francisco on the ropes before fading in the divisional playoffs.
Now, with the overwhelming majority of that ascending roster back, a gifted quarterback in Jordan Love, and some key offseason additions, the Packers will return as one of the favorites to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LIX.
“My mindset is coming back 1% better so we can have the season that we want and that’s to be a championship team and go to the Super Bowl and hold the Lombardi,” defensive end Rashan Gary said. “That’s our goal and the main thing.”
Green Bay’s first training camp practice is July 22. Between now and then I will count down the ‘30 Most Important Packers’ heading into the 2024 campaign.
At No. 16 is cornerback Eric Stokes.
No. 16
Eric Stokes, CB
Last season
Stokes, Green Bay’s 2021 first round draft choice, continued to battle injuries in what’s become a star-crossed career. Stokes played in just three games due to foot and hamstring injuries and finished his second straight season on the injured reserve list due to his hamstring issues.
“I been through so much. It is what it is,” Stokes said. “It’s going to be another thing coming. You could have your adversities, you could have every little thing, but it’s how you going to deal with it the next day and all that stuff because I know for a fact I’m blessed.
“At the end of the day, I know so many people that want to be in this locker room, that wish to be here, all that stuff, so it’s always easy to keep my head up because I know at the end of the day, I’m always blessed.”
Career to date
The 6-foot-1, 194-pound Stokes ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.29 seconds coming out of Georgia and used that speed to make an immediate impact in Green Bay.
Stokes had the league’s lowest rate of separation on his targets (24.0%) as a rookie in 2021 according to Pro Football Focus. He also ranked 15th among corners that season in yards per target (5.9) and was exceptional in press coverage, allowing just seven receptions on 27 targets.
Stokes played in 16 games that year and finished with a team-high 14 passes defensed. That ranked 11th in the NFL and tied for No. 1 among rookies.
What stopped Stokes from having a huge 2021 season were his lousy hands. Stokes intercepted one pass, but dropped six others.
Stokes struggled during his nine-game stint in 2022, then he suffered a Lisfranc injury in his foot and a torn meniscus in his knee during a loss in Detroit on Nov. 6. Both injuries required surgery, which ended his season.
Now, after a second straight injury-plagued year in 2023, Stokes can’t wait to make up for lost time.
“I’ll always feel like I got something to prove, especially coming off two injuries, the two seasons I’ve had previous,” he said. “I feel like I got something to prove. I just can’t wait to come out Week 1 and show everybody.”
Outlook
Stokes was fully healthy this offseason for the first time in nearly two years and his play showed it. He was quick, active and on-point during OTA’s and mini-camp.
Now, Stokes will battle second-year corner Carrington Valentine for the right cornerback job.
“Very hungry,” Stokes said of how he’s approaching 2024. “This is a really great team and we’ve got some of the best people that I’ve been around. Hands down. But I’m just hungry to be back out there, hungry to be with my guys and with the team this year.
Comments
“I think he’s as good as I’ve ever seen him, both mentally and on the field. I want to temper the expectations with that, but I really mean that. He’s out there competing each and every day. He looks fully healthy. He’s doing a great job of challenging our wide receivers. He’s always in great faith. I think you see that personality is back. That’s tough on players when they’re going through an offseason not having opportunity to really build upon their bodies when you’re just focusing on rehabbing and getting healthy. He’s had a chance to really develop his body. He looks in great shape. I think the play says the same.” — Packers coach Matt LaFleur on Stokes
“I think Stokes is a guy, I’ve seen him play, I’ve seen the film, I’ve seen the speed and he’s been impressive so far.” — Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley on Stokes
“For me, I wouldn’t say it’s a crossroads. It’s just my story. Everybody has a story and it’s just the story that I’m in. It’s just the journey that I’m on. Ain’t no crossroads. It’s just me getting through my own thing. I just say this is my story and I’m embracing it. I’m embracing the full story. I ain’t going to feel sorry for myself. At the end of the day, I’m blessed. I’m one of the people in this locker room. So, shit, I’m definitely blessed just to have a story.” — Stokes on his somewhat star-crossed career
THE TOP 30
• No. 30 — RB AJ Dillon
• No. 29 — LB Isaiah McDuffie
• No. 28 — CB Carrington Valentine
• No. 27 — TE Tucker Kraft
• No. 26 — LB Edgerrin Cooper
• No. 25 — DE Lukas Van Ness
• No. 24 — Keisean Nixon
• No. 23 — WR Dontayvion Wicks
• No. 22 — OL Jordan Morgan
• No. 21 — DL T.J. Slaton
• No. 20 — OL Sean Rhyan
• No. 19 — DL Devonte Wyatt
• No. 18 — OL Rasheed Walker
• No. 17 — S Javon Bullard
