The Las Vegas Raiders are undergoing a major rebuild after yet another disappointing season. Las Vegas finished the 2025 season with a 3-14 record and fourth in the AFC West. This is also the fourth straight year the team has failed to make a playoff appearance.
While both the offense and defense struggled, the Raiders made one of the biggest moves of the offseason. Coming off a 10-sack season, the team has agreed to trade defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks.
After seven seasons, the five-time Pro Bowler will be on a different team for the first time in his career.
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While the Raiders' defense will be without Crosby going into the 2026 season, the team has retained a key defensive back. With an expiring contract, cornerback Eric Stokes was set to hit free agency on Wednesday.
However, on Monday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Las Vegas has signed cornerback Eric Stokes to a three-year, $30 million deal.
"The #Raiders and CB Eric Stokes have agreed to a 3-year, $30M deal, source said, keeping the former first-rounder in Las Vegas. He gets $20M guaranteed," Rapoport wrote.
A former first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers, Stokes signed with the Raiders before the 2025 season as a free agent. Starting 16 games, he was the 18th-highest graded cornerback by Pro Football Focus, earning an overall grade of 73.6.
He put together one of his best years, allowing 34 receptions, 329 yards, one touchdown and a 77.7 passer rating on 60 targets. At the time of the signing, the former Georgia Bulldog's annual salary of $10 million was tied for the 31st-highest of any cornerback.
With Crosby now in Baltimore, the Raiders' defense won't be able to rely on one of the NFL's top pass rushers. However, retaining Stokes, who is just 27 years old, gives Las Vegas one less player to worry about with free agency approaching.
