At the end of the regular season, John Spytek admitted one of his biggest regrets from his first season as general manager was allowing an influx of talent inside the building to test free agency and showcase their talents elsewhere. At the NFL Combine, Spytek said he was working on completing a deal with Stokes, which has now coming to fruition.
"I thought he played well this year," Spytek said. "He was healthy, which has been something in the past that's kind of nipped him in the butt a little bit. But he played 16 of the games this year and super happy with him. He competed. He did what I knew he was capable of when I evaluated the player coming out."
The good faith Spytek and the Raiders organization had in Stokes was an obvious selling point in his desire to stay in Southern Nevada.
"Just being around the people, being around of course Spy \[Spytek\] is just great vibes," the cornerback said. "There's great people that I know for a fact I can trust. They gave me an opportunity last year to just show what I could do. And then pretty much after that, I just wanted to go ahead and make sure I'm going to stay here. I love it here."
"Another main reason why I wanted to come back here – with a guy like Rob Leonard, I know for a fact he could put in the work," Stokes said. Leonard was promoted from defensive line coach to defensive coordinator last month.
"He can do everything. He don't want to lose and a guy like that I'll fight for. ... I'll do a lot for \[him\] out there for because I know for a fact he's doing the same for me behind closed doors."
A new contract warranted a celebration with his personal "clique." Standing by the cornerback's side as he signed were his mother and two sisters.
"Without them, I wouldn't be the man I am today, the person I am today," he said. "Y'all wouldn't even know who I am if it weren't for them.
"This is a feeling I'll never forget. It's a feeling you chase for again and again and again. I can only imagine right after this, it's right back to work because I'm just ready to go ahead and get better."