Packers' perfect Eric Stokes replacement just fell into Matt LaFleur's lap

Maybe the Green Bay Packers' cornerback situation isn't doomed after all.

For a moment there, things looked pretty bleak. Jaire Alexander was getting an MRI on his knee, and the idea of running out Eric Stokes and Keisean Nixon was starting to turn into a grim reality. Neither have been particularly good this season, with Stokes being an especially large liability through the first eight weeks of the season.

Fortunately, it sounds like Alexander and the Packers dodged a bullet with his lower body injury – tests on his knee showed no significant concerns, according to ESPN's Packers reporter Rob Demovsky.

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But Tuesday brought even better (or at least equally exciting) news: the Carolina Panthers are blowing it up. If they didn't make that clear after benching Bryce Young, like, two games into the season, they made their intentions obvious on Tuesday by trading star wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens.

With just one week until the NFL's Trade Deadline, it certainly feels like the Panthers aren't done moving players, which is awfully convenient considering they have a Top-20 (ish) cornerback who probably doesn't want to be there anymore. May I introduce the perfect Eric Stokes replacement: Jaycee Horn.

Panthers star corner Jaycee Horn is exactly who the Packers need right now

Since getting drafted by the Panthers eighth overall in the 2021 Draft, Horn's been one of – if not the – best cornerback on Carolina's roster. This year, Pro Football Focus has him ranked 27th out of 110 eligible corners (Stokes is ranked 103rd).

This season, Horn's been targeted 35 times yet only allowed 15 receptions for 192 yards; his reception percentage (42.9%) is the second-lowest of all cornerbacks who've played at least 200 snaps. Among that group, his NFL Passer Rating against ranks 21st, his YAC ranks fifth, and his Missed Tackle Percentage ranks 10th.

He's probably not quite one of the truly elite cornerbacks in football right now, but he's awfully close. He's also still on his rookie contract and won't be an unrestricted free agent until 2026, so it wouldn't be just an expensive half-year rental.

The problem, of course, is that he can't seem to stay healthy. While he's played in – and started – all eight games this season, he's never played more than 13 in his career, and has only played in 30 games through four seasons so far.

Still, the rewards greatly outweigh the risks, and the Packers' secondary would immediately look like one of the best in football with Horn across from Alexander. The Panthers clearly aren't interested in winning any of the trades they agree to, so the opportunity is there. Now's your moment, Brian Gutekunst – if you're reading this, stop now and go call the Panthers. The final sentence of this blog can wait.

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