Can the Packers Win With Their Current Group of Cornerbacks?

Jaire Alexander is now a member of the Baltimore Ravens. Eric Stokes joined the Oakland Raiders. Corey Ballentine signed on with the Indianapolis Colts. Three guys who have played substantial roles over the last several years are out the door. In the meantime, the Packers signed Nate Hobbs to an expensive contract and used a late-round draft pick on Micah Robinson. Carryovers from last year include Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Kamal Hadden, Kalen King, and Javon Bullard to some degree.  The cornerback room has changed quite a bit from last season to now. 

In recent years, the Packers have had All-Pros and/or first-round picks in their cornerback room. Today, the Packers don’t have corners on the roster who were higher than a fifth-round pick. No one has won any accolades as a defensive player. At least on paper, the Packers might be worse today at cornerback than they were a year ago. All of that considered, it’s fair to examine this question: Can the Packers win with their current group of cornerbacks?

Staying Healthy

It goes without saying, but the Packers’ cornerbacks need to stay healthy. It doesn’t matter who is on the roster as a cornerback if they cannot stay healthy. Alexander was a first-round pick and a two-time All-Pro cornerback. The problem is that he was never on the field the last couple of seasons. Alexander played four games in 2021, seven in 2023, and seven in 2024. He had an elite 2023 season, but history would show less than a 50% chance that he’s even on the field.

Eric Stokes, another first-round pick, spent much of his tenure with the Packers. He showed promise as a rookie, but injuries derailed his progression. Stokes only played in nine games in 2022 and three games in 2023. At the time, the Packers invested heavily in the cornerback position, but it did not pay off because the players they invested in were constantly hurt.

The Packers gave Hobbs a four-year contract for $48 million. They are relying on him to play a major role. While the two most oft-injured cornerbacks are no longer on the team, the main cornerback they added also has dealt with several injuries. Hobbs has missed 16 total games over the last three seasons. Expecting him to stay healthy for a full season might be far-fetched.

There’s no way to predict injuries in the NFL. Freak injuries happen all the time. Pinpointing who will stay healthy for the Packers next season is impossible, but it’s fair to have some concern. If the Packers are going to win with their current group of corners, they are going to have to stay healthy, or it won’t matter who is on the roster.

The Makeup of the Room

Assuming guys stay healthy, the Packers will head into training camp with ten cornerbacks on the roster. Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon, and Carrington Valentine have the most experience of the group. Kamal Hadden and Kalen King spent some time on the Packers’ practice squad throughout last season with occasional elevations to the active roster; neither played a significant role on defense last season. Micah Robinson, Jonathan Baldwin, Isaiah Dunn, Tyron Herring, and Gregory Junior are all new to the Packers, but none are coming to the Packers with much experience. 

While not technically listed as cornerbacks, the Packers also have a few safeties who can play some snaps inside corner. Xavier McKinney, the Packers’ All-Pro safety, can line up anywhere on the defense. Former second-round pick Javon Bullard and undrafted free agent rookie Kahzir Brown also have experience playing cornerback. That gives Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley 13 potential options to contribute at one of the cornerback positions. 

The Packers are likely looking at a starting trio of Hobbs, Nixon, and Valentine. Nixon and Valentine will man the outside corner spots, and Hobbs will play the nickel. Javon Bullard is likely the next man to come in on dime package situations. Based on last season, this group of starters is average at best. Below are some notable stats from PFF that may leave fans feeling uneasy. 

Hobbs is the man with the big contract. Nixon appointed himself as CB1. Unfortunately, neither graded out very well. Valentine graded out the best of all four, but he played the fewest number of snaps. For context, Jaire Alexander’s career average PFF grade is 77.1, and passer rating allowed is 83.4. Even with Alexander’s antics and inability to stay healthy, his average season is better than anything the Packers have on the roster. Bottom line: this current group leaves something to be desired.

Can The Packers Win With This Group?

The short answer is yes. While the group might not be “elite,” the group is capable and versatile. Many of them can line up both in the slot and outside on the perimeter, which offers a number of options for how to matchup with opposing offenses. Not to mention, Jeff Hafley has shown the ability to get the most out of his players. But if the Packers want to replicate the success from 2024 with this group of corners, two things need to happen: they need to stay healthy, and the pass rush needs to do its part. 

A good pass rush can mitigate a lot of issues on the back end. Many might remember what the Eagles did in Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles’ front four recorded 6 sacks, 6 hurries, 10 quarterback hits, and 18 pressures. This helped hold Patrick Mahomes to 257 yards passing, two interceptions, a fumble lost, and a 95.4 passer rating. The Eagles’ defense did most of the damage without blitzing at all. If the Packers can show the ability to rush the passer consistently, it would help out the defensive backs immensely.

This group of corners has its flaws and deficiencies. They aren’t the most talented or skilled group the Packers have ever had. But they also aren’t as bad as they might seem. This group is a long way from the days of having to match up LaDarius Gunter with Odell Beckham Jr. and Julio Jones. But this group won’t be successful if they are dealing with injuries and have to cover for an average of seven seconds. This group is good enough for the Packers to win, but they won’t be able to do it alone.