Grading the Raiders’ first free agency move: Re-signing CB Eric Stokes to kick off new era under Klint Kubiak

The Raiders’ new era is underway.

Justin Churchill — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer
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Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes free agency re-sign
Dec 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes (22) warms up before the game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The Las Vegas Raiders are off to a strong start in free agency, beginning the rebuild of this new era.

The Raiders have already made a significant move, re-signing cornerback Eric Stokes to a three-year, $30 million deal, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. This puts his AAV at about $10 million per year. His projected deal was $9 million per year, so the Raiders gave him $1 million more.

So, let’s grade the signing, shall we?

Grading the Raiders’ re-signing of CB Eric Stokes

Grade: A

This is an easy grade for so many reasons. One, it’s a cheap deal to a guy they love, who may be better than what he showed last season. And, they bring back someone who’s familiar with the new defensive coordinator, Rob Leonard.

Stokes was the Raiders’ best cornerback last season, though that says more about the weakness of their secondary. Still, Stokes may have had the best year of his career, forced to cover more ground and compensate for his teammates’ mistakes every play.

If the Raiders use their free agency money to add stronger players at key positions around Stokes, his performance could elevate even further, benefiting from a more talented supporting cast. Stokes is a player the organization wanted to bring back, as Spytek highlighted at the Combine. Now, Stokes will have the chance to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke.

Stokes finished 2025 with a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 73.5, the 21st-best coverage grade of 114 CBs graded. His overall grade of 73.6 ranked 18th in the NFL. Right now, Stokes is the CB1 for the Raiders, and, as we already stated, he has the potential to be better with a better team. However, more importantly, he’s providing leadership in what’s set to be a very young CB room after the 2026 NFL Draft, while also providing some continuity.

The Raiders can now address other issues with their money. The most important retention item may have just been knocked off the list.

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