Raiders free agency: Eric Stokes atop group of cornerbacks who fit

Las Vegas enters the offseason with the trenches atop its to-do list, yet ignoring the cornerback room would be a costly oversight for general manager John Spytek, head coach Klint Kubiak and new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard. Leonard’s 3-4 scheme only hums when edge rushers and sticky coverage work in tandem, and after watching Maxx Crosby serve as 2025’s lone double-digit sack threat, the Raiders understand that perimeter defenders must buy the front seven an extra beat to reach the quarterback.

The franchise has already invested mid-round draft capital in Decamerion Richardson (four1th round, 2024) and Darien Porter (third round, 2025), but the clearest proof-of-concept last season came from a low-risk flier: Eric Stokes. Signed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal after his rookie contract expired in Green Bay, the 27-year-old former first-round pick started all 16 games and logged 1,037 defensive snaps—98 percent of the Raiders’ total.

Stokes’ tape backed up the heavy usage. Targeted 60 times, he permitted only 34 receptions (56.7 percent) for 329 yards, one touchdown and a 77.7 opposing passer rating. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound corner added 53 tackles, three stops for loss and five pass breakups while missing just four tackles all year. With 4.31-speed and a willingness to hit, Stokes is projected to land a contract averaging $7 million annually, and the Raiders currently sit atop the list of logical suitors thanks to scheme fit, familiarity and scarcity of tall, physical perimeter defenders.

If Las Vegas hesitates, Seattle’s pipeline could provide alternatives. Josh Jobe, whom the previous regime studied closely, remains available, while fellow Seahawks Tariq Woolen and ex-Chief Jaylen Watson offer length and recovery speed. Each would challenge the incumbent young corners and raise the competitive floor of the room.

The slot presents a different puzzle. Veteran Darnay Holmes is an unrestricted free agent, and 2025 undrafted rookie Greedy Vance cycled through the nickel role alongside safety Jeremy Chinn. At 5-9 and 177 pounds, Vance profiles best inside, as could 2024 fourth-rounder Richardson, who arrived from Mississippi State with sure tackling skills. Still, a proven nickel is preferable. Miami’s Kader Kohou, sidelined in 2025 by a partially torn ACL, logged 180 tackles, 13 for loss, three interceptions and 28 pass deflections across three previous seasons; a prove-it, one-year deal in the $2-3 million range could entice both sides.

Exclusive-rights free agent Kyu Blu Kelly offers additional depth. The 2023 Ravens fifth-round pick started eight games for Las Vegas last season, recording 40 tackles, three interceptions and six pass breakups on 579 snaps. Because the Raiders need only tender a league-minimum offer, a reunion is essentially guaranteed for the 24-year-old.

Whether the answer is Stokes, a Seattle import, or a bargain slot, Spytek and Kubiak know the secondary cannot be an afterthought. Another draft pick or two plus selective veteran spending would round out a position group poised to decide how quickly Leonard’s defense evolves from paper to production.