2021 NFL Draft: Was Eric Stokes the right pick for Packers at No. 29?

What the heck is going on in Green Bay? Earlier on Thursday, a shocking report broke about Aaron Rodgers wanting out of Green Bay but the Packers shot down any idea of a trade heading into the draft. So the Packers held onto that No. 29 overall pick and selected Eric Stokes from Georgia.

The pick wasn’t all that wild, but this is a guy that may have been around sometime in the second round and the Packers could have really used a receiver to maybe help convince Rodgers to stay (although that’s not the main issue), but Stokes was the selection here.

Stokes is no Patrick Surtain, Jaycee Horn, or Caleb Farley, but he had a solid three-year career with the Bulldogs, finishing up with a career-best four interceptions in 2020.

He also has solid size at 6-1, 185 pounds but he’s not going to help out the offense if Rodgers does decide to part ways for good.

Eric Stokes looks like a valuable depth piece

The Packers have one of the better cornerbacks in the league in Jaire Alexander as well as guys like Kevin King and Josh Jackson but they could use a guy who pushes those two for a starting spot and Stokes could be just that.

If Stokes lives up to what the Packers think he can be, he’ll be a solid CB2 to Alexander’s CB1, giving them one of the best defensive backfields in the NFC North.

Was this a good pick here, though? I think they should have scooped up a guy like Elijah Moore from Ole Miss or Rondale Moore from Purdue. I’ll give this pick a B grade.