Eric Stokes one of five players in prove-it season after Packers decline fifth-year option

Eric Stokes could well be facing his last season in Green Bay if he doesn't show significant progress and remain healthy in 2024.

Even for a supremely talented young roster, monumental decisions are never too far away. Players who show promise one year can disappoint the next, or injuries could sap them of the athleticism and consistency they once demonstrated.

After the Green Bay Packers declined to pick up the fifth-year option in Eric Stokes’ contract, the former first-round pick must now prove himself worthy of an extension during the 2024 season. To get the Russ Ball seal of approval, a player has to be good-to-great to earn a multiyear extension.

Here are five players who will have to perform at a high level this season or risk an uncertain future in Green Bay.

Eric Stokes

What started with such promise gave way to an injury-riddled two years. As a rookie, Stokes looked like the future of the Packers’ secondary, a lightning-fast cornerback with the size and strength to play press-man coverage. Then-DC Joe Barry’s affection for off-zone coverage never fit with Stokes, who was at his best when he got to disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage and run with them vertically.

That dissonance stood out at the start of 2022 before multiple lower-body injuries ended Stokes’ season. He looked unsure of his eyes in zone coverage and unwilling to fire his guns to come downhill. On the rare occasions when he played man, the athletic traits managed to shine through. However, those moments were too few and far between.

With the Packers declining his fifth-year option, Stokes only has the upcoming season to show he belongs in the starting lineup. After the draft, general manager Brian Gutekunst admitted they would have addressed the cornerback position earlier in their selection process had the board fallen their way. Instead, the team waited until the seventh round to add Penn State standout Kalen King.

King’s pedigree as one of the best corners in the country in 2022 before falling off a Granite Peak-sized cliff in 2023 puts even more pressure on Stokes. If King can recapture his old form, he possesses the kind of ability to push for a starting job in the Packers’ secondary. That’s before we include Carrington Valentine who more than acquitted himself last year as a rookie.