Packers have a tough decision to make regarding former first-round pick

What was a helpful tool for NFL teams became a much more interesting and difficult decision. When the NFL created the rookie-scale contract with the 2011 CBA, teams had a fifth-year option for first-round picks. It was a non-guaranteed option to be exercised after the third season, but the team could just cut the player without repercussions if things went bad in year 4. That's not the case anymore.

Since the 2020 CBA, the fifth-year option is fully guaranteed, making the decision much less automatic. And that's what is in the Green Bay Packers' leadership minds. By May, the team has to make a decision regarding cornerback Eric Stokes, but it's difficult to guarantee him so much money considering what has happened over the last two seasons.

Value

There are four different tiers for fifth-year option value per position, based on player achievements during his first three seasons in the league. The first one is the basic, when the player didn't reach playing time thresholds. That's Stokes' case. And the basic value for cornerbacks will be $11.294 million in 2025.

There are also bigger fifth-year option salaries based on playing time, and if the player made one or multiple Pro Bowls.

Exercising or not the fifth-year option doesn't change Stokes' status for 2024. He will be under contract making $2.286 million, counting $3.794 million against the salary cap. The fifth-year decision is made now, but it's actually for 2025.

Previous cases

Since the 2020 CBA, it has been more difficult to pull off the trigger on fifth-year options, but the Packers have done so for the most part. They did exercise the option on obvious players, Jaire Alexander and Rashan Gary, before giving them long-term extensions.

Quarterback Jordan Love generated a tough situation, because he almost didn't play in his first three years in the league. But Green Bay found a creative solution, giving Love a one-year extension that was more flexible than the fully-guaranteed option.

The most controversial decision was with safety Darnell Savage, the second Packers first-round pick in 2019. They decided to exercise the option, guaranteeing a $7.9 million salary in 2023. Savage would probably have played for much less if he had hit the open market or made a standard extension.

What to do?

Savage is actually an important cautionary tale regarding the decision on Eric Stokes. The cornerback had a solid rookie season, but has alternated bad play and injuries over the last two seasons. Maybe he gets better under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, but it's impossible to know that for sure at this point.

So, the best (and most likely) path is that the Packers refuse Stokes' fifth-year option, instead of compromising $11.294 million in 2025.

If Stokes plays badly, the team will have the flexibility to move on. If he plays well again like he did in 2021, the Packers will still have the option to keep him under a new deal — maybe even a long-term contract.

The Packers don't need to give up on Stokes just yet, but picking up a fully-guaranteed option is an unnecessary step after two tough seasons for the promising defensive back.