With the 30th pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers select Eric Stokes, cornerback, Georgia.
Analysis: If you want a scheme-diverse CB with extensive experience in the SEC going up against some of the best receivers in college football, then Stokes is the kind of player you want on your board. I might be higher on him than consensus, but I think his background, press coverage experience and his long speed make him a very solid option early in the draft.
Grade: A. The Packers needed cornerbacks to help the secondary behind the peerless Jaire Alexander, and in my latest mock, I almost sent Stokes to the Jets at 23 because of his athleticism, press ability, and coverage consistency. Physically, he presents a perfect paradigm for what the Packers have wanted at the position. And hey, at least the Packers didn’t draft another cornerback in the first round…