The Green Bay Packers declined the fifth-year option on cornerback Eric Stokes, who will now be unrestricted free agent when his contract officially expires in March.

Stokes, a 2021 first-round pick, had his professional career derailed by injuries but is coming off a full season in 2024.

Will the Packers bring him back or decide to move on?

Here are some reasons for and against re-signing Stokes, and what we would do if we were the Packers this offseason:

Reasons for

— After two injury plagued seasons, Stokes played in all 17 games without an injury during the 2024 season. Like Christian Watson, Stokes consulted with UW-Madison during the offseason to help fix soft-tissue injuries in his hamstrings. Maybe his injury issues are a thing of the past.

— Stokes is a 2021 first-round pick who was excellent during his rookie season. The Packers might believe he’s capable of getting back to those levels as soon as the 2025 season.

— Stokes enjoyed a nice stretch of play in coverage late in the season. He allowed only six catches for 22 yards while playing over half of the defense’s total snaps during the four-game stretch between Weeks 13-16.

— Will Stokes have a strong market in free agency? Most likely not. A few major injuries and a so-so 2024 season will scare off many teams. It’s possible he’ll be forced to sign a cheap, one-year deal for 2025.

— The Packers might lose Jaire Alexander and both Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell are free agents. A big turnover at cornerback is possible if Stokes or one of the other free agents aren’t retained.

Reasons against

— Stokes missed eight games in 2022 and 14 games in 2023. The injury risk — despite a healthy 2024 season — is still very real. He dealt with a significant leg injury in 2022.

— Stokes hasn’t broken up a pass since his rookie season. He’s played in 29 straight games without getting his hands on the football. Jeff Hafley’s defense wants eyes on the football and players without takeaway instincts, and Stokes is really lacking as a playmaker.

— Throw in the fact that Stokes hasn’t forced a fumble, recovered a fumble or recorded a sack in his career, and has only one career tackle for loss, and it’s clear big-play ability is not a part of Stokes’ game.

— Stokes gave up three touchdown passes in 2024. Over the last three seasons, Stokes has allowed seven touchdown passes without an interception, with a passer rating of over 120.0 into his coverage.

— Stokes had elite speed coming out of Georgia, but he lacks elite change-of-direction ability, and the injuries have likely sapped some of his explosive ability.

— The Packers do not view him as a preferred player at cornerback. In the season finale, Stokes played just five snaps. In the playoff loss in Philadelphia, he was on the field for just a single snap.

— While his market might not be strong, it only takes one team to push his price well above what the Packers would consider. Stokes is a former first-round pick, and teams are often willing to give second chances to first-rounders.

What I would do

The Packers appear ready to move on. With everyone (save for Jaire Alexander) healthy, the Packers preferred to play Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine on the outside and Javon Bullard in the slot to end last season. Maybe the Packers would consider bringing back Stokes to compete on the perimeter, especially after he got through the 2024 season without an injury. But why? A split looks best for both sides. The Packers need to start building depth at cornerback through the draft, and Stokes could use a new start elsewhere. Potentially losing Alexander and Stokes in the same offseason wouldn’t be ideal at cornerback, but the losses should push the Packers to invest at this premium position.