The New York Giants will be seeking to improve their defense on all three levels this offseason. One position they will be focusing on is cornerback.
Aaron Schatz of ESPN believes they can find a bargain in free agency with Eric Stokes, who is coming off an impressive season with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Cornerbacks are a tough choice in free agency because they are so inconsistent from season to season. Stokes was one of the worst cornerbacks in the league in 2024, but he transformed into one of the league’s best in 2025 with 53 total tackles and five passes defensed.
It’s safe to say that we don’t know what version of Stokes we’ll see in 2026. But this is a clear position of need for the Giants, who ranked 17th in yards allowed per completion last season (10.9). They can take a chance that Stokes is closer to his 2025 play.
Stokes, 26, was the 29th overall selection in the 2021 NFL draft out of Georgia by the Green Bay Packers. He had an up-and-down four years with them, and they declined his fifth-year option, leading him to sign a one-year deal with the Raiders last March. He made a splash in Las Vegas in 2025.
Pro Football Focus ranked Stokes 18th out of 114 eligible cornerbacks last year with a 73.6 grade. The Giants have to decide what they are going to do with Cor’Dale Flott, who is also headed for free agency, first, before they begin to consider outside help.
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This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants named ideal landing spot for CB Eric Stokes