By Paul Bretl: 7/25/2024
The battle for the starting cornerback role opposite of Jaire Alexander will be one of the more important and intriguing competitions to take place during Green Bay Packers training camp. If early signs are an indication of what’s to come, this is going to be a highly competitive competition as well.
Over the last two practices in particular, Carrington Valentine has had multiple pass breakups in coverage, while Eric Stokes came away with two interceptions and a pass breakup on a downfield throw to Christian Watson during Wednesday’s practice.
On the first interception, Stokes acknowledged that he should have been a bit tighter on Dontayvion Wicks who was running a slant, but he was positioned well to make a play on the tipped ball. On the second interception, Stokes said he knew there was inside help, and by reading the receiver and understanding the leverage, he was able to be aggressive and make a play on the ball.
“Man, it’s good to see, especially where he came from with his injuries and all that,” said Kenny Clark about Stokes’ day. “And he got a pick today — two picks. It’s good to see him getting back to himself.”
Throughout OTAs and minicamp, and now through the first three training camp practices, Stokes has been the starting cornerback over Valentine. However, that is certainly subject to change as we get further into practice and the pads come on. At the end of the day, Matt LaFleur wants to create a competitive environment and the best player is going to play.
“We’ll let ‘em compete,” said LaFleur during minicamp. “We’re going to play our best players, but like I said I think yesterday, I feel really, really confident with the group that we have.”
After an impressive rookie year in 2021, Stokes last few seasons have been derailed by injuries. In 2022, he suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in Week 9 and then played just 110 total defensive snaps in 2023, still recovering from his 2022 injury along with dealing with reoccurring hamstring injuries. Stokes is now in a prove-it year as he enters the final year of his rookie deal with the Packers declining to pick-up his fifth-year option for the 2025 season earlier this offseason.
Along with Christian Watson, Stokes also went down to UW-Madison during the offseason to get a better understanding of the injury issues he faced last season. Stokes’ emphasis during the offseason was on strengthening his calves and hamstring, and he altered his offseason routine to make sure that he’s fully healthy and able to stay on the football field.
“It was a whole lot of lil stuff that went into this offseason,” said Stokes. “A whole bunch of lil training, whole different lil things that I had to adjust and learn, but that’s what all this is about. It’s just a learning curve, so there’s a lot of lil things I had to take away from it and just learn from it pretty much. Out of actually train this offseason, it was a lot of lil things I’ve done in the past that wasn’t good or wasn’t up to par that it should be and then just being around, just looking at how other people move.”
Both LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst have commented on the excellent shape that Stokes is in this offseason.
“He looks just like Christian,” said Gutekunst on Monday, “he’s attacked this thing, you couldn’t ask more than what he’s done. He’s kept a great attitude. He looks great. Again, as we get into this part of our season where it’s probably the most stressful on these guys’ bodies and minds, I think he’s ready to attack that and we need him. I’m expecting a big year from him.”
With Valentine, the Packers challenged him to bulk up during the offseason, and it was a challenge that Valentine fully embraced. Valentine focused heavily over these past several months on his diet and hitting the weight room hard. During the first OTA practice that was open to the media, Valentine’s physical growth was noticeable, going from playing in the 180s last season to now hovering around the 200 pound mark.
“When I take on blocks, people feel lighter,” Valentine said. “I can be more aggressive. I naturally play aggressive anyway so it just went hand-in-hand with my game. It kind of worked out.”
Injuries to Stokes and the Packers trading away Rasul Douglas gave Valentine an opportunity during his rookie season to see significant playing time. He ended up playing 846 snaps, allowing a completion rate of 56 percent on 72 targets, with five pass breakups and a passer rating of 80.2 when targeted.
“He a dawg, honestly,” said Valentine when asked to describe himself. “That’s who I am. Hard-worker, I’m a competitor. I’m always going to strain. I’m always going talk a little, as well. Just my personality. I don’t really care who you are. I don’t care if you’re All-Pro, Hall of Famer. At the end of the day, you gotta beat me. That’s who I am.”
That momentum that Valentine was able to build throughout the course of his first NFL season has carried over and turned into a highly productive offseason.
“I think it’s been outstanding,” said LaFleur. “That’s a guy that stands out, quite frankly, in my mind, in terms of just we challenged him to put on some weight after the regular season. He came back and he definitely looks bigger and he is bigger and he’s stronger and the guy loves football. He loves to compete and I’m excited for him. I think he’s got a really bright future.”
New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will be tasked with getting bounce-back seasons out of Stokes and Jaire Alexander, along with helping Valentine reach a new level in his second season. In 2023, the Packers secondary ranked in the bottom-half of the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed and had the second-fewest interceptions with only seven.
At the end of the day, the players have to make plays, but Hafley’s more aggressive defensive approach, should suit the play-styles of the Packers’ cornerback room better and more frequently have them in positions to make plays on the football.
In the grand scheme of what is NFL training camp, there is still a long ways to go, and there is the very important caveat that the Packers are without Jordan Love at quarterback. The task for both Valentine and Stokes will be maintaining this level of play when he eventually returns.
While getting off to a good start is always a good thing, a few good days doesn’t make a training camp, just like one or two bad days won’t break it. Ultimately, winning the stating job is going to come down to consistency and getting incrementally better each day.
“It’s great,” said Stokes about the competition with Valentine. “I know for a fact that me and him are fighting for whatever the position it is. It just feels great. I know me and him are going to push each other no matter what. We’re all going to push each other in that room. Regardless, we want the best for each and everyone. If I’m not out there and he’s out there, I’m going to push him to be him. It is what it is. I know we all great in that back end, so it doesn’t matter who it is out there.”