The Green Bay Packers had a rough day ahead of the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Aaron Rodgers rumors ran rampant and at one point the reports were coming out that the Packers were close to trading Rodgers to the Denver Broncos. Despite all of the rumors, the Packers did not end up trading Rodgers and ended up selecting Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes with the No. 29 overall pick in the draft.

Stokes is not the pick that many fans were expecting the Packers to make. Most believed they were target a wide receiver to help try to fix things with Rodgers. Obviously, that did not end up being the case.

While the Packers have still not made an aggressive move to appease Rodgers, they have to be very happy with their first-round selection. Stokes fills a major need for Green Bay, who saw Kevin King get torched by Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game last season. The Packers re-signed King to a one-year deal, but bringing in a young cornerback who can compete with him for playing time is important.

Standing in at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Eric Stokes has good size and extreme speed. It was even said that he looks at times like a track star, which is exactly what the Packers need. Adding more speed to their defense will be a major plus for Green Bay.

During the 2020 season with the Bulldogs, Stokes racked up 20 total tackles to go along with four interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, and four defended passes. He recorded 18 defended passes in the previous two seasons with Georgia.

With all of that being said, Eric Stokes was the perfect pick for the Packers and we'll take a brief look at why that is the case.

Looking at the cornerback position, the Packers absolutely needed to take one early in the draft. Even though the Rodgers drama has been a thing for awhile, most mock drafts had the Packers taking a cornerback. Green Bay has plenty of talent at wide receiver.

A group of Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, and Devin Funchess is a great group of players for Rodgers to work with. Robert Tonyan and Aaron Jones are both weapons in the passing game as well. Green Bay could still look to draft a wideout in the second or third round, but they certainly do not need to and it is not their biggest need to fill out the roster.

Green Bay had one of the NFL's most powerful offenses last season. The idea that Rodgers doesn't have enough help is played out and flat out wrong. However, on the defensive side of the football, they have a ton of needs that must be addressed.

With a cornerback now on the roster, the Packers still need to add help alongside Kenny Clark on the defensive line. They also need to bring in a linebacker if they find one that they like. Another potential need could be on the offensive line, especially following the loss of All-Pro center Corey Linsley.

It will be interesting to see what the Packers choose to do throughout the rest of the 2021 NFL Draft. They have some decisions to make, but if there has been one thing clear about how the franchise operates, it is that they will not make decisions to please one player. Green Bay will always operate around what is best for the future of the Packers.

Eric Stokes may not be a super popular pick in Green Bay, but he is absolutely the right pick. His speed and athleticism will help fill a major hole in the secondary and if the Packers develop him the right way, he could end up being a star in the future.

Expect to continue hearing rumors surrounding Aaron Rodgers and his future with the Packers, but the team should be very happy with their first-round pick.