Raiderstation

Sold My Soul wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2026 8:22 am CB Eric Stokes returns to Raiders on 3-year deal

Top 150 ranking: 45
Reported deal: 3 years, $30 million
Grade: A

A year after having to settle for a one-year deal with Las Vegas, Stokes gets rewarded by the Raiders to the tune of a three-year deal with $20 million in guaranteed money. Stokes will play for a new defensive coordinator this season as Patrick Graham departed for the Steelers, and run game coordinator Rob Leonard received a promotion to DC. But the 2021 first-round pick will still use his length and athleticism to his advantage. — Jones

Glad he’s remaining a Raider

I'm "Stoked" about this.

It's interesting that they added void years for Stokes, and not for any other player. It doesn't make much difference upfront because it's such a small signing bonus, but it makes the contract more attractive for a restructure this year or next because you can spread out the cap hit further without going back to the player for approval. It shows a real comfort level for Stokes as a player and person.

chucker wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 7:26 am It's interesting that they added void years for Stokes, and not for any other player. It doesn't make much difference upfront because it's such a small signing bonus, but it makes the contract more attractive for a restructure this year or next because you can spread out the cap hit further without going back to the player for approval. It shows a real comfort level for Stokes as a player and person.

What are void years? (ignorant, I know)

raider_kin wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 7:29 am What are void years? (ignorant, I know)

It's a 3 year contract with two void years. Void years are like dummy years that don't exist - you would have to agree with him on an extension for those years or the contract expires after 3 years. They are used so that the team can spread the cap hit of a signing bonus over a longer term than the effective length of the contract. Stokes' signing bonus will be spread over 5 years so there will be dead money after the third year - unless he has signed an extension before it expires.

It's a mechanism to help add more cap space in the near term, at the cost of future cap space. It's ok to use it some, but overdoing it can get teams into trouble. We aren't using it enough to be a risk.

raider_kin wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 7:29 am What are void years? (ignorant, I know)

Don’t feel bad, I had to read his explanation 3 times for it to make sense to me.

Viper wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 7:53 am Don’t feel bad, I had to read his explanation 3 times for it to make sense to me.

I'm a finance guy..... so my brain works different. I don't expect most people to be that interested in the cap details, and that's why I keep saying "don't worry about the cap". Ultimately the best way to manage the cap is to find good players (in the draft and in FA) and what you pay them is less important as long as they perform. It's about football, not some hocus pocus cap accounting.

Viper wrote: Fri Mar 13, 2026 7:53 am Don’t feel bad, I had to read his explanation 3 times for it to make sense to me.

I read it twice before it sunk in

I think its possible they adjusted the structure after Maxx' deal fell through