When the Green Bay Packers drafted cornerback Eric Stokes in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, they expected the former Georgia star to challenge for a starting position by the second half of his rookie year. The original plan was that Stokes would likely be in the nickel or dime packages early and as he learned the defense, adjusted to the NFL game and improved his technique, he would eventually take over for Kevin King as the second cornerback opposite Pro Bowler Jaire Alexander.
Fast forward to the six week mark of Stokes’ rookie season and those plans changed.