Packers cornerback competitors look to build on key offseasons

GREEN BAY – They are both young and hungry and far from being finished products.

In the battle for the cornerback position opposite Jaire Alexander, the Packers have a contender who started 14 games as a rookie in 2021 and led the team (and all NFL rookies this year) with 14 passes defensed. Eric Stokes is in good physical shape after a season and a half of injury problems.

They have another prospect who started 12 games as a rookie in 2023 and led the team (7th among rookies) with nine passes defensed. Carrington Valentine is also in good physical shape after reshaping his body in the offseason.

“I know he and I will push each other no matter what,” Stokes said.

If that's the case, Valentine will likely see some spectacular plays when the Packers return to the practice field on Friday after a day off, because Stokes, who is currently getting a larger share of reps with the No. 1 defense, had a good day on Wednesday.

What was somewhat lost in this performance, however, was Valentine's nice pass breakup over the middle at the start of practice and Dontayvion Wicks' tight coverage of a deep corner route that resulted in an incomplete pass.

The strong work from both corners made for an important and productive offseason in different ways.

Stokes, who suffered from hamstring problems due to a long and arduous rehab from a serious foot injury that sidelined the second half of his 2022 season, visited specialists at the University of Wisconsin to find a better path forward.

He also challenged himself in his summer workouts before training camp, shifting his running time from the morning to the hottest part of the afternoon, mimicking the training plans of his college coach at Georgia, Kirby Smart. Complemented by hot yoga and what Stokes calls “hot cycling” – 15 minutes on an exercise bike in a 130-degree sauna – he feels like he's physically ready for anything.

Most importantly, the former first-round pick is excited to continue what he started in the OTAs, which is being on the field every day after an extended absence in '22 and '23.

“I remember a lot of days just standing on the sidelines watching the others play ball,” Stokes said. “Now it feels great for me to have a little bit of action.”

During his somewhat unexpectedly strenuous rookie season, Valentine realized he didn't have the size to play his preferred style, so he threw himself into the weight room and started a new diet to change that, gaining nearly 20 pounds.

“I was light. I went to the bench at 183 pounds and took on bigger receivers,” Valentine said. “I've always been a physical player, but now I feel like with the extra weight I can get the aggressiveness that I really want to play with.”

“I weigh 202 pounds now. But I didn't want to be as heavy as 202 pounds. I wanted to still be able to run, still feel like I did at 183 pounds, just with more physical power and strength.”

Consider it mission accomplished, as Valentine's chest and arms have become noticeably more muscular. It's worth remembering that he was an early draft prospect out of Kentucky, going as far as the seventh round, perhaps in part due to his lack of size. He won't turn 23 until after Week 1 of the regular season, so the physical maturity isn't entirely surprising.

As he watched his good friend and position mate become the star of practice on Wednesday, Valentine admitted, “It's motivating. It gives you strength.”

He is convinced that his turn will soon come, and the fight has only just begun.

“We're going to go out there and compete,” Valentine said. “No matter what role I play, no matter what happens, I'm going to be myself.”

“I love Eric more than anything. We are really close. Whatever happens, happens. I am a competitor. We make each other better and that is the point of football.”