Former Packers CB Eric Stokes could be a good risk/reward signing for Cowboys
Eric Stokes is a name to consider.
The Dallas Cowboys secondary took a significant hit when news broke Monday, the first day of legal tampering for free agency, that the Jacksonville Jaguars made Jourdan Lewis the highest-paid nickel cornerback in the NFL.
It’s a whopping 3-year/$30M deal for CB Jourdan Lewis and the Jacksonville Jaguars for him to become the highest-paid nickel in the NFL.
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) March 10, 2025
Well deserved for a player that quietly played his best football last season.
Cowboys on the hunt for a new nickel.
Lewis was somebody the Cowboys were rumored to want to re-sign, but the price they more than likely had in mind compared to the three-year, $30 million deal he received from the Jaguars was probably significantly different. So, after eight seasons together Dallas will have to say goodbye to their former 2017 third-round draft pick.
Sadly, this further depletes the Cowboys cornerback position that was already thin to begin with. With Trevon Diggs’ timetable to return from his season-ending knee injury last year still up in the air, DaRon Bland is the only dependable starting option right now. Jourdan Lewis' departure now moves CB up the priority list this offseason.
Cornerback now becomes a position the Cowboys could attack in both free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. And given DaRon Bland's versatility to play on the outside and in the slot, Dallas doesn't necessarily need to find another nickel CB to replace Jourdan Lewis. That gives them options as to which corners they may or may not want to target.
While the Cowboys could use the 12th overall pick in the first-round to upgrade the position, adding another veteran player with starting experience would probably be a good idea as well. Knowing they aren't likely to spend a lot of money on a free agent CB, instead choosing to shop from the "bargain bin". This is where Eric Stokes comes into play.
Eric Stokes is a former first-round draft pick (29th overall) by the Green Bay Packers in 2021. As a rookie started 14 games and had 14 passes defensed, showing glimpses of brilliance in his first year in the league. After that, injuries pretty much derailed his development in his second and third seasons and relegated him to a backup role in 2024.
At 6'1", 194-pounds and at just 26 years old, he has the physical makeup and tools the Cowboys have looked for in their outside CBs the past several years. He's also someone Matt Eberflus should be somewhat familiar with considering he was a division rival during his time as head coach for the Chicago Bears.
We've seen the Cowboys take chances on former highly-drafted players that for whatever reason didn't live up to their draft status. Maybe Stokes will be the next and all he needs is a change of scenery to overcome his past injury history. After all, Malik Hooker was in the same boat before arriving in Dallas and he's worked out pretty well.
All in all, signing Stokes seems like a good risk/reward addition the Dallas Cowboys should make. His injury history will make him an affordable option, something that will appeal to the Cowboys. That means the risk is minimal, but the reward could be adding another starting caliber player to the secondary. It's a win-win.
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