Packers have a glaring hole in the defensive back field |

Last season, the Packers had depth in the cornerback room and their defensive back field.

They had Jaire Alexander, Rasual Douglas and Keasion Nixon as their base corners.

With Erik Stokes coming back midseason, the Packers were pretty much set at cornerback.

That all changed midseason, when the Packers traded away Douglas to the Buffalo Bills.

That moved up then Rookie Carrington Valentine to starting cornerback, opposite Alexander.

It also prompted them to bring back Stokes from injured reserve, which may have been too soon for Stokes.

After one game back Stokes injured his hamstring and was sent back for another stint on IR.

Defensive back field held it together

Through the second half of the season, the Packers Cornerbacks were able to hold it together along.

With Alexander out multiple games, Valentine and follow rookie Corey Ballentine were able to hold it down for the Packers defense.

The duo was able to shut down the Lions and the Super Champion Chiefs in consecutive weeks.

Impressive for a patch work defensive back field.

But while they were able to hold their own, it was evident that the Packers need to find a starter opposite Alexander.

Valentine, was impressive enough to take over the starting role after Douglas left.

While the rookie from Kentucky didn’t have any interceptions, he showed a lot confidence, which resembled a younger Alexander.

He wasn’t afraid to play his style of game which is physical, in-your-face coverage.

New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, love to play man to man, bump and run coverage.

This is something Valentine is more than comfortable doing and fits his style of play.

Where as under former defensive coordinator Joe Barry, liked to play zone coverage.

Valentine was able to adjust to that play but it seemed like it wasn’t his style of play.

Perhaps a change in coordinators can help Valentine and possibly help him keep his starting role on defense.

Valentine will be one of the corners to keep a close eye on during training camp.

Lost in the conversation is corner Erik Stokes.

The 2021 first round draft pick, hasn’t been the same since his rookie season where he was impressive as the primary corner for the Packers.

Stokes struggled at the beginning of the 2022 season and was more of the nickel corner before he tore his ACL late in the season.

In 2023 Stokes had an injury filled season.

Stokes like Valentine excels in man to man coverage and is aggressive when it comes to his coverage.

Can he return to what he once was in 2021?

Possibly.

This is a key-offseason for Stokes, if he can properly heal and get healthy, Stokes might find his way into the starting line up.