The Las Vegas Raiders kicked off free agency Monday by signing cornerback Eric Stokes to a three-year, $30 million contract that includes $20 million guaranteed. Stokes, who spent the 2025 season with the Raiders on a one-year, $3.5 million prove-it deal, will remain in silver and black after starting 16 games and establishing himself as a consistent presence in the secondary.

“Raider Nation, I’m happy to be back,” Stokes said in a video released by the team. “I can’t wait to go ahead and spend another three years with you all.”

The deal was made official Monday because Stokes is a returning player, whereas most agreements reached on the first day of free agency cannot be signed until the new league year begins Wednesday. General manager John Spytek had signaled at the NFL combine that retaining Stokes was a top priority.

“We’ve had good dialogue with Eric about coming back and we’ll keep working it this week,” Spytek said in Indianapolis. “I thought he played well this year. He was healthy and he had a good 16 games this year. Super happy with him. He competed and did what I knew he was capable of doing. I’d love to keep him around.”

Stokes, a former first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers, joined the Raiders last offseason with a reputation as a talented player who struggled to stay on the field. He answered those concerns by playing in all but one game and providing stability on the boundary. The Raiders entered free agency with nearly $120 million in cap space, the most in the league, and have already begun reshaping the secondary. Late Sunday, they traded for cornerback Taron Johnson, pairing him with Stokes.

Stokes expressed additional excitement later Monday when the Raiders reached agreements with linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean, his former teammates at Georgia.