The Las Vegas Raiders weren’t able to close a deal before the start of free agency, but they were able to lock up a key free agent within minutes of the period starting. Cornerback Eric Stokes signed a one-year deal last offseason. He ended up being the team’s best cornerback.
Though the Raiders are going to have a different defensive scheme under new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, keeping Stokes was clearly a priority. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Las Vegas has struck a three-year deal with Stokes worth $30 million. $20 million of that will be guaranteed.
Former first-round pick back with Vegas. Reza Hesam of @AthletesFirst negotiated deal.
Stokes, a former first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers, struggled during his early years due to injury. He played in 16 games for the Raiders last season, only missing one.
He’s not a big-play machine and hasn’t gotten an interception since he was a rookie, but he was dependable for the Raiders in 2025. There weren’t many high-level cornerback options in free agency this offseason, so locking up Stokes was a priority.
He should be the Raiders’ No. 1 cornerback this season, and could eventually be a solid No. 2 if the team is able to find a young cornerback in the draft. For now, Stokes should be a staple in the team’s secondary.
CB an Early Priority for Raiders
It’s clear that the Raiders wanted to get their cornerback room settled at the start of free agency. In addition to the Stokes signing, the team also traded for Buffalo Bills cornerback Taron Johnson.
The last couple of seasons have been a struggle for Johnson, but he was an All-Pro player in 2023. Even if he’s on the decline, the Raiders only gave up a sixth-round pick to get him.
At his best, he’s one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the NFL. Nickels are becoming more and more important. The Raiders only need Johnson to be a capable starter for one season to make the trade worth it. Injuries have been an issue for Johnson in recent years. If he can come back healthy, there’s a chance he could be a sneaky good addition for the Raiders.
Are Raiders Done Adding at CB?
With the Stokes signing and Johnson trade, the Raiders might be done making bigger moves at cornerback. They still need to add more players to the position group, but it’s hard to imagine they’ll spend big money.
Stokes will start as one of the outside cornerbacks, and second-year player Darien Porter showed enough promise as a rookie to earn a potential starting job next year. Johnson will be with the starting nickel cornerback, so the Raiders might just need to worry about depth.
It would be a bad idea to use a draft pick or two on high upside cornerbacks who can develop behind some of the veterans. The Raiders don’t have an elite secondary, but they do have a chance to at least be solid. That’ll be important, as the pass rusher just took a massive hit with star defensive end Maxx Crosby getting traded to the Baltimore Ravens.
Raiders Strike $30 Million Deal With Veteran CB in First Move of Free Agency