Packers: Details of first-round pick Eric Stokes’ contract

Earlier this week, ESPN’s Field Yates reported that the Green Bay Packers had signed first-round pick Eric Stokes.

And we now know some more details about Stokes’ contract.

According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the four-year deal is worth $11.93 million with a total guarantee of $11.83 million and a signing bonus of $6.03 million.

As Stokes is a first-round pick, the Packers will also have the choice to exercise his fifth-year option. Should the team decide to do so in the future, Stokes will be under contract until at least the end of the 2025 season.

If he can become a talented starting cornerback in the NFL, this will be a very affordable deal for the Packers over the next four seasons, just like we’ve seen with All-Pro Jaire Alexander in recent years.

It also means Stokes will have relatively low cap hits throughout the duration of this contract.

According to Spotrac, Stokes’ cap hit for the 2021 season will be just $2.17 million. That’s a small cap hit for a player who could compete for a starting job at cornerback early on, but that’s how it works with rookie contracts.

In 2022, his cap hit will rise slightly to $2.71 million. In 2023, it again rises slightly to $3.25 million, and then again to $3.79 million in the fourth and final year of his deal.

It’s too early to tell exactly how big of a role Stokes will play in Joe Barry’s defense in his rookie season, but there was one encouraging note from ESPN’s Rob Demovsky from OTAs this week. Demovsky noted that he “covered like a blanket” during practice.

Now, it’s worth noting that many of the Packers’ top wide receivers haven’t been practicing, but it’s still a positive sign nonetheless.

Stokes will be a player to watch throughout the summer as he competes with Kevin King for a starting spot.