Packer 2021 Draft Discussion- Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia; Round 2 Josh Myers, C, Ohio State; 3: Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson

[homer]

Guy is a good dude

 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Good pick in a need position, but a bit of a middle finger to AR12. At least makes the Denver trade unlikely

 

Rodgers should be happy they draft defense. He threw 50 touchdowns. A year 1 WR getting 300 yards isn't the missing piece.

[PeaveyFury]

Stokes is a good looking player. It just seems that he could have been there quite a bit later.

 

This mock from CBS today had him one pick behind us to Buffalo, so I don't think 'quite a bit later' is accurate:

 

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/two-round-2021-nfl-mock-draft-patriots-trade-up-for-mac-jones-broncos-cant-pass-on-justin-fields/

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

CB was obviously a need, and Stokes is quite possibly the most athletic one in the draft. Really fun potential pairing with Alexander. Can't coach speed, and he put up a 4.25 40. Great size, too, at 6'1, 190.

[HiAndTight]

King will be on the field a ton next season. With this kind of speed, assuming it's not Ahmad Carroll, this guy can move around the field. He'll probably be in the slot a lot and King will remain outside. Two starting corners is kind of semantics. It's not that common you only have 2 on the field and if you do, it's entirely possible one is Kevin King to start the year.

 

 

Or Sullivan, but of course, you pretty much have 3 starting CB's and 1 starting MLB'er in today's NFL.

 

 

This pick kinda reminds me of Alexander. People liked the numbers and he was exciting, but with all the misses, you're a bit leery.

[lcbj68c]

I'm two seconds from being done with this football team. Over the CB from Florida State? I just...Sigh.

 

 

Whaa?

 

Can you explain why you like "the CB from Florida State" more than the CB from the SEC who actually covered the 4 WR'ers who went in the 1st round?

 

And why this would make you done with this team?

 

Now I understand not liking the Jordan Love pick. Fine. But in THIS case, they drafted the position you wanted, but not the guy who's got the more familiar name?

 

I'm just FSU alum. Familiar name not relevant. Again, didn't have a first round grade from anybody. Move up in the 2nd and take them both? Just tired of these overreaches year in and year out for interior DL and secondary help, while the LBs and other positions of importance get shat upon. Not being able to keep AR happy, it's just embarrassing and exhausting....might take a 10 year break from football. #Kneejerk

[PeaveyFury]

King will be on the field a ton next season. With this kind of speed, assuming it's not Ahmad Carroll, this guy can move around the field. He'll probably be in the slot a lot and King will remain outside. Two starting corners is kind of semantics. It's not that common you only have 2 on the field and if you do, it's entirely possible one is Kevin King to start the year.

 

I'm really hoping they make King the 3rd CB, but putting him on the outside when he comes in and Stokes covering the slot. Having the boundary plays to Kings limited strengths, and that eliminates him from some of the run defense duties that he's not great at.

[Fear The Chorizo]

https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/04/23/eric-stokes-potential-nfl-draft-steal-hiding-plain-sight

 

And a bit of a counter-article from the same publication that focuses on a particular negative:

https://www.si.com/college/georgia/news/2021-nfl-draft-eric-stokes-georgia-football

 

We shall see what develops, but the CB position was definitely needing an upgrade.

 

So that article pretty much means they drafted a Jaire clone in terms of coverage ability/style, but he's 3 inches taller? Jaire probably had good ball skills in his scouting report, but his MO is the ability to blanket a receiver in coverage to prevent a QB from even wanting to throw the ball in his direction - appears Stokes' game is very similar in that regard, and you definitely can't knock him for lack of competition on who he's had to cover in college.

[pacopete4]

Yep. I had this pick nailed in my mock draft.

[pacopete4]

I'm two seconds from being done with this football team. Over the CB from Florida State? I just...Sigh.

 

 

Whaa?

 

Can you explain why you like "the CB from Florida State" more than the CB from the SEC who actually covered the 4 WR'ers who went in the 1st round?

 

And why this would make you done with this team?

 

Now I understand not liking the Jordan Love pick. Fine. But in THIS case, they drafted the position you wanted, but not the guy who's got the more familiar name?

 

I'm just FSU alum. Familiar name not relevant. Again, didn't have a first round grade from anybody. Move up in the 2nd and take them both? Just tired of these overreaches year in and year out for interior DL and secondary help, while the LBs and other positions of importance get shat upon. Not being able to keep AR happy, it's just embarrassing and exhausting....might take a 10 year break from football. #Kneejerk

 

You might just need a snickers bar.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I'm two seconds from being done with this football team. Over the CB from Florida State? I just...Sigh.

 

 

Whaa?

 

Can you explain why you like "the CB from Florida State" more than the CB from the SEC who actually covered the 4 WR'ers who went in the 1st round?

 

And why this would make you done with this team?

 

Now I understand not liking the Jordan Love pick. Fine. But in THIS case, they drafted the position you wanted, but not the guy who's got the more familiar name?

 

I'm just FSU alum. Familiar name not relevant. Again, didn't have a first round grade from anybody. Move up in the 2nd and take them both? Just tired of these overreaches year in and year out for interior DL and secondary help, while the LBs and other positions of importance get shat upon. Not being able to keep AR happy, it's just embarrassing and exhausting....might take a 10 year break from football. #Kneejerk

 

I liked Samuel as well, but Stokes and Samuel were pretty much neck and neck ratings-wise by most draftniks. Stokes is probably a better athlete. Definitely faster and more prototypical size. Samuel may be a bit more polished. Either one would have an understandable and acceptable pick at that spot.

[HiAndTight]

Guy is a good dude

 

 

 

I hope so. I'd just say Travis Rudolph proves this isn't always the case, but I choose to be optimistic here.

[homer]

I like evidence-based picks:

 

[wallus]

Once Newsome was gone, I was fine with this.

[PeaveyFury]

The 'had a 2nd round grade' stuff means almost nothing to me. The actual difference between a late first and and early second in a deep draft like this? In a team's eyes, an extra contract year in a lot of cases. Maybe the Packers liked him enough to want the 5th-year option like they have with Jaire. Good CBs are expensive if you get it right...

[lcbj68c]

 

I'm just FSU alum. Familiar name not relevant. Again, didn't have a first round grade from anybody. Move up in the 2nd and take them both? Just tired of these overreaches year in and year out for interior DL and secondary help, while the LBs and other positions of importance get shat upon. Not being able to keep AR happy, it's just embarrassing and exhausting....might take a 10 year break from football. #Kneejerk

 

You might just need a snickers bar.

 

#Accurate

[LouisEly]

CB was obviously a need, and Stokes is quite possibly the most athletic one in the draft. Really fun potential pairing with Alexander. Can't coach speed, and he put up a 4.25 40. Great size, too, at 6'1, 190.

2nd team All SEC - the other 2nd team All SEC corner was Jaycee Horn, the #8 overall pick.

[Fear The Chorizo]

To me this pick also quashes some of those lingering "Rodgers to Denver" rumors with Surtain coming back

[PeaveyFury]

Also worth noting that Buffalo, who picked right behind them, had a serious CB need as well. I’m betting they took him there because they thought Buffalo would if they didn’t.

[Fear The Chorizo]

There are a ton of highly graded players on the 'Best Remaining' list that could readily entice a trade into early round 2 tomorrow. Jax would be an interesting team to target in a deal, maybe not the first 2nd round pick, but pick #45 (13 in round 2)

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Defense ... in particular perimeter defense ... was the reason they didn't make the Super Bowl last year. They improved there tonight. Stokes is a player who will play a lot, and likely start. It pushes King to #3 CB, and Sullivan to your dime CB. This team is better after tonight.

 

That wasn't necessarily true after night 1 of the 2020 draft. So to me, it's really hard to find fault with the Stokes pick. Somewhat of a need pick, but there really wasn't a surefire dropper that was a "best player available" lock. Stokes wasn't a reach, but he really wasn't a faller either. He went pretty much exactly where he was slated to go.

[HiAndTight]

The 'had a 2nd round grade' stuff means almost nothing to me. The actual difference between a late first and and early second in a deep draft like this? In a team's eyes, an extra contract year in a lot of cases. Maybe the Packers liked him enough to want the 5th-year option like they have with Jaire. Good CBs are expensive if you get it right...

 

 

Pro-Football Focus had a chart assigning a value to where a player was picked. +12 meant that player was projected or graded 12 spots higher than you'd gotten him.

 

The Packers had two + in the first two rounds of Gutey's drafts. Love and Gary. Gary was +5 and Love was +12. Alexander, Savage, Jenkins...they were all reaches.

 

So the two more questioned picks the Packers have made have been the best 'values' while Alexander was considered a reach.

 

6'1 corners who play in the SEC, run 4.25 40's and are physical vs the run, I'll trust Gutey to correctly scout him and evaluate him any day.

[HiAndTight]

Defense ... in particular perimeter defense ... was the reason they didn't make the Super Bowl last year. They improved there tonight. Stokes is a player who will play a lot, and likely start. It pushes King to #3 CB, and Sullivan to your dime CB. This team is better after tonight.

 

That wasn't necessarily true after night 1 of the 2020 draft. So to me, it's really hard to find fault with the Stokes pick. Somewhat of a need pick, but there really wasn't a surefire dropper that was a "best player available" lock. Stokes wasn't a reach, but he really wasn't a faller either. He went pretty much exactly where he was slated to go.

 

 

Yeah...you're not wrong. I'd maybe argue it was half the reason, the other half being that they couldn't protect Rodgers, but if they were better in either area(and just a LITTLE better) they'd have played in the SB.

 

It was a need pick, but he's also a guy with massive upside, a guy who fits perfectly with the Packers scheme(assuming they don't get stupid and decide to play a bunch of zone).

 

I've said this in the past. With the race exception of 2020 when they picked a QB in the first round, a particular position you don't like, the draft should really only bring optimism as a fan. We don't know enough to guess which CB will end up being better than the other, we're mostly just reading the opinions of others and then forming our own favorites.

 

Not to mention, of the few 'faults' I have with Gutey, they do not lie with his ability to evaluate talent. He's been pretty damn good thus far. He's made this team bigger, more athletic, faster.

[homer]

a lot of well respected foot all guys bringing up the fact that the Packers did not get Rodgers more help. they had the #1 offense in the league for pete's sake.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Not to mention, of the few 'faults' I have with Gutey, they do not lie with his ability to evaluate talent. He's been pretty damn good thus far. He's made this team bigger, more athletic, faster.

 

Bingo...its the biggest differentiator in his drafts compared to TT's - athleticism, notably speed, seems to be a bigger priority across the board with picks away from the lines.