The Las Vegas Raiders have not been shy about making moves in free agency. They traded a third-round pick for quarterback Geno Smith, which solves one of the biggest issues of the offseason. Maxx Crosby got paid and will be staying with the team for the foreseeable future. There are still plenty of holes on the roster, and sometimes, taking a chance on a player can pay huge dividends. The Raiders hope this is the case with their latest signing. Las Vegas has signed former first-round pick Eric Stokes to a one-year deal.
Las Vegas Raiders Sign Eric Stokes
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting it is a one-year, $4 million deal. Eric Stokes was the 29th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He had a promising rookie season as Stokes was thrust into a larger role when All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander went down with a shoulder injury. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his career, causing him to play in only 12 games in two years.
Last year, he was back to being fully healthy and played in all 17 games. However, he only started seven of them, getting beat out by many younger players. He did rack up 41 total tackles but did not record an interception, forced fumble, or defended pass. The Packers decided to move on, so the Las Vegas Raiders decided to give him a chance.
Smart Deal
These are the types of deals that can have a huge payoff. The potential is there for Eric Stokes. We’ve seen it before. He may need a little more time to get back up to NFL speed, or Jeff Hafley’s new defense didn’t work well for his skill set. Last year, the Eagles signed Zack Baun to a similar deal, and he was a first-team All-Pro this past year. It is unlikely Stokes will be that for the Las Vegas Raiders, but you never know in this league.
The Las Vegas Raiders have a tall task ahead of them in 2025. They are in a division that sent three teams to the playoffs last year. However, the moves they have made so far, including bringing in head coach Pete Carroll, have been solid. Can they be frisky in the AFC West in 2025?
