Eric Stokes Runs Blazing Fast 40

Eric Stokes shocked the NFL world Friday with a blazing fast 40-yard dash at Brandon Marshall’s virtual Pro Day for players eligible for the draft. 

Stokes measured in at 6-foot-1, 196 pounds and ran a 4.25 40-yard dash. He also added an 11-0 broad jump along with a 41-inch vertical at the virtual combine.  

These measurables are something we at Dawgs Daily predicted on his NFL Draft Profile. 

Strengths

Speed. It’s an invaluable trait. It’s also why of all positions, the cornerback’s 40-yard dash is the most important. It’s what shows whether or not a corner has great recovery speed and whether or not they can play man coverage against NFL wide receivers. Stokes has speed in spades.

During his time at Georgia, Stokes has developed into an excellent man-to-man cover corner. Over the last three years, the last two as a full-time starter, wide receivers have failed to create space against Stokes. Even the one touchdown pass Stokes allowed this season was to Alabama’s Devonta Smith, and there was nothing Stokes could do about it

He’s physical and confident as a corner and those are two traits that are required on the next level.

Weaknesses

This might sound strange considering he led Georgia with four interceptions this season, but I question his ball skills at times. It’s not that he can’t disrupt the ball, and keep the wide receiver from making the catch; he’s excellent at that. My concern on the NFL level is that he fails to high-point the football with his hands.

The overwhelming majority of Stokes interceptions have been caught in his chest or stomach, not his hands. It’s not a major concern considering NFL teams value coverage skills over ball skills, but it’s something that could keep him from being the No. 1 corner off the board.

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