Packers' injury-prone former first-round pick could be a game-changer if he stays healthy

Jaire Alexander gets all the hype in the Green Bay Packers secondary, and there's good reason for that. Alexander is one of the top cornerbacks in the game, and when he's healthy, he's an All-Pro-level talent.

He's the headliner, without a doubt, and the Packers went out and added star safety Xavier McKinney in free agency, giving new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley a potent one-two punch at cornerback and safety.

Those two will get the hype on this defense, and that's not even mentioning Rashan Gary and rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who is brimming with potential. Let's not forget about former first-round pick Eric Stokes — who could be a game-changer for the Pack in 2021.

He's dealt with injuries throughout his career, having suffered a season-ending leg injury in 2022 and multiple hamstring ailments in 2023.

Absence hasn't made the heart grow fonder among the Packers fan base, but the lack of Stokes over the past two seasons doesn't take away the potential he brings to the table if he's healthy.

We saw that in his rookie season out of Georgia, when he led the team with 14 pass breakups and also notched an interception. That talent was also evident at training camp this past Wednesday. Stokes intercepted two passes and broke up another one.

Yes, it happened in practice, but it was a reminder of the fact that he was a first-round pick for a reason.

“I had a great little day, I’ll say that,” Stokes said , per Brandon Carwile of Packers Wire. “There were a lot of days I remember just being out there, I mean not even being out there, just being on the sideline looking at everyone else ball. So now, it feels great for me to do a little action and have fun.”

Stokes is having fun, but there's also more on the line for him this preseason. The Packers didn't pick up his fifth-year option. This could be "do or die."

“Just be out there and do not miss a game. That’s my biggest thing,” Stokes said of his goals for this season. “Just be out there, stay 100 percent healthy, and just let everything else flow. I know what I can do when I’m out there, and just being out there is the most important thing for me.”

If he can get back into game shape and provide the Packers a much-needed boost alongside Alexander, he could earn himself a new contract in Green Bay or elsewhere in 2025. If he remains injury-prone, though, there's a real possibility Stokes could find himself looking for a new job sooner rather than later.