The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers will each seek to improve on their 2023 seasons. The Steelers finished 10-7 and made the playoffs. However, a 31-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round brought an end to their season. Going into 2024, with Russell Wilson (and possibly Justin Fields?) at quarterback, their expectations have only grown.
The Packers fell just three points short of making the NFC Championship game after catching fire in the second half of the season. Going into 2024, making the playoffs seems like the “floor” for this squad. Could the Packers and Steelers be in business before the season even begins? The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers have been named in a massive trade.
According to Cody Williams of FanSided: This summer, the Packers decided not to exercise their fifth-year option on 2021 first-round pick Eric Stokes. When Stokes was drafted 29th overall out of Georgia, he came with a lot of excitement as a possible long-term partner for Jaire Alexander and looked the part as a rookie. Unfortunately, Stokes has failed to stay healthy over the last two seasons, playing only 587 snaps in total.
While Green Bay’s cornerback depth isn’t ideal, they do have an emerging late-round player in Carrington Valentine and appear optimistic about 2024 seventh-round pick Kalen King regaining form from earlier in his collegiate career alongside Alexander, Keisean Nixon, and Corey Ballentine. Thus, they may be interested in recouping some draft money in a trade for Stokes rather than risking losing him for nothing next offseason as a free agency.
So, how would the Steelers’ trade for Eric Stokes finally look? Here’s a hypothetical plan that should satisfy both the Packers and the Steelers. Pittsburgh Steelers acquire CB. Eric Stokes, a 2026 sixth-round pick. Green Bay Packers Receive: 2025. Fifth-Round Pick On an expiring contract, the Packers could never anticipate a king’s ransom in exchange for Stokes. At the same time, Green Bay is under no obligation to move Stokes, so sending a conditional seventh-round selection or something like would not guarantee a transaction.
Will the Packers consider moving on from yet another defensive back? The Packers released Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, and Rudy Ford this offseason. After signing Xavier McKinney and drafting three safety, the Packers effectively overhauled their secondary in one offseason. However, the cornerback position has largely been left alone. Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Carrington Valentine, and Keisean Nixon remain the Packers’ top four corners. It’s unlikely they’d switch from any of those four unless they had an immediate backup plan (as they did with Aaron Jones).
Stokes showed a lot of promise throughout his freshman year. If he can go on the field and stay healthy in 2024, he will have every chance to succeed. Jeff Hafley hopes to bring a fresh (and more physical) attitude to the defense. One that the cornerbacks might really benefit from.
