March 29, 2026, 5:15 p.m. CT

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2026 NFL draft.

During the 2025 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers selected Anthony Belton with the 54th overall pick. The North Carolina State offensive lineman weighed in at the combine at 335 pounds, making him the heaviest offensive lineman the Packers have drafted in 100 years. Okay, not 100 years, but Belton broke the offensive line weight threshold (321 pounds).

In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Packers drafted Jayden Reed with the 50th overall pick, despite weighing 187 pounds, which broke their weight thresholds (190ish) for wide receivers.

Brian Gutekunst has shown he’s willing to break the proverbial rules, and if he bends the rules again in the 2026 NFL Draft, a potential target could be Keith Abney II.

The Arizona State cornerback is undersized (5-9, 189 pounds and 30-inch arms). All three of those measurements fall under Green Bay’s typical thresholds for cornerbacks (5-10, 190 pounds, 31.5-inch arms). However, he does have an impressive wingspan (73) for a cornerback of his size. Let’s dive into why the Packers may overlook those ‘shortcomings’ to add the Arizona State cornerback on Day 2.

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A former three-star recruit out of Texas, Abney recorded one interception during his first season with the Sun Devils in 2023. In 2024, Abney recorded 52 tackles, three interceptions and nine pass deflections.

During his final season at Arizona State, Abney recorded 44 tackles, one sack, two interceptions and 12 pass deflections.

“He was easily one of the most important players in the secondary,” Hod Rabino, a beat writer for Devils Digest, said. He’s the caliber of cornerback that quarterbacks usually shied away from.”

Abney plays bigger than his frame. He’s a combative player at the line of scrimmage and at the catch point. The Arizona State cornerback has good click-and-close skills. He’s a fluid mover with excellent change-of-direction skills. He’s sticky and can stay attached to the receiver throughout the route. The former speed skating champion has the long speed to stay attached on a vertical plane.

This past season, he was targeted 72 times and gave up 32 receptions for 321 yards and zero touchdowns. Against Texas Tech, who has a pair of bigger wide receivers who will likely be Day 3 draft picks in April, Abney was targeted eight times and gave up four receptions for 24 yards. It was an impressive outing, with three Packers representatives in attendance.

“He’s far from being an athletic freak, and uses his high football IQ (he also attended the Honors College at Arizona State),” Rabino said. “Overall, he’s a player who certainly utilizes all of his advantages to the fullest.”

Abney has natural ball skills. Over the past two seasons, he recorded five interceptions and 21 pass deflections. A combination of his anticipation skills and football IQ put him in a position to consistently make plays on the ball.

“He does have a great nose for the ball and is someone who uses his intelligence to carefully dissect his opponents each and every week, being a film room junkie,” Rabino said. “Some corners may not have good anticipation skills, but can make that up with their speed and or their physicality, but Abney is the exact opposite.”

He only played 26 snaps in the slot during his time at Arizona State. If Abney were to kick inside, he has the short-area quickness, instincts, and toughness to handle the responsibility of being a full-time nickel back. 

Against the run, Abney is fearless in run support. He plays bigger than his frame and gets his man to the ground quickly to limit YAC. This past season he recorded 12 run stops and was tagged with just two missed tackles.

“His anticipation skills undoubtedly help him in run support as well,’ Rabino said. “Again, he’s not an imposing figure that would stop running backs in their tracks coming down the hill, so to speak, but his knowledge of the game can overcome any physical deficiencies in supporting the run defense.”

Fit with the Packers

The Packers need an infusion of playmaking ability in the cornerback room. Add in the fact that Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine are both entering contract years, and it’s widely expected that Gutekunst will add a cornerback or two in the upcoming draft.

While Abney doesn’t check all the boxes for the Packers, he does check the boxes with his stickiness in coverage, his ball production and his combative nature. He’d bring physicality and much-needed playmaking ability to Green Bay’s secondary.

“I know student of the game is a cliche that sometimes gets thrown around way too much, but that is still a description that fits Abney 100 percent,’ Rabino said. “There are plenty of cornerbacks who have the same frame, if not smaller than him, so that should not be a deterrent in drafting him. Overall, any team that would land him is getting an extremely cerebral player, who is solid in coverage, who is unlikely to make the same mistake twice, and with some patience can grow and be a solid cornerback for your team.”

If Abney were 5-8, 180 pounds, and had 29-inch arms, this article would not have been written. Since he’s right up against all the benchmarks, there is a chance the Packers have Abney on their board.