If it feels like you read around this time last year<\/a> that the Green Bay Packers\u2019 most glaring need entering the draft might be at cornerback, well, you\u2019re not imagining that.<\/p>\nThe Packers were thin at cornerback last year, and they still are.<\/p>\n
Having selected only three cornerbacks in the past four drafts, and with all three of them \u2014 Carrington Valentine (2023), Kalen King (2024) and Micah Robinson (2025) \u2014 having been taken in the seventh round, the position has not been replenished by draft picks.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
If the 2026 season was starting today \u2014 as opposed to the team\u2019s offseason program, which was set to officially kick off on Monday \u2014 the Packers would presumably start veteran Keisean Nixon at one cornerback spot and Valentine at the other, with free-agent signee Benjamin St-Juste the next man up.<\/p>\n
While we don\u2019t know what new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who was hired on Jan. 28 but has not spoken with reporters yet, plans to do in the secondary, he has a history of playing three safeties simultaneously in sub packages, and the triad of Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams and Javon Bullard make safety the deepest position on the defensive depth chart.<\/p>\n
Bullard played mostly in the slot as the fifth defensive back in the nickel defense under previous defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, an approach at least partly influenced by last year\u2019s free-agent pick-up at cornerback, Nate Hobbs, not being able to stay healthy.<\/p>\n
But that doesn\u2019t mean the Packers have completely devalued the cornerback spot, and last year served as a cautionary tale of the dangers of being short on cover guys. They wound up promoting a pair of corners (Shermar Bartholomew, Jaylin Simpson) for the regular-season finale at Minnesota just to have enough cornerbacks to get through what was essentially a meaningless game.<\/p>\n
Still, if they don\u2019t make significant investments in the position in the draft \u2014 even with just eight picks at the moment, and no first-rounder to work with \u2014 it would be surprising.<\/p>\n
Last offseason, the Packers moved on from four cornerbacks who\u2019d been on their roster during the 2024 season \u2014 three who left via free agency (2021 first-round pick Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell) and a fourth who was released in June after general manager Brian Gutekunst couldn\u2019t find any trade takers for him (2018 first-round pick and two-time All-Pro Jaire Alexander).<\/p>\n
Fast forward to this week\u2019s 2026 NFL Draft, and all that\u2019s really happened at the position is that they\u2019ve swapped out last year\u2019s free-agent pickup at cornerback (Hobbs) in favor of another (St-Juste).<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was that third corner and whenever he got his opportunity to really play, I thought he played a very, very high level,\u201d Gutekunst said of the 6-foot-3, 200-pound St-Juste, who played last season for the Los Angeles Chargers after starting his career in Washington.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe liked him a lot coming out of the draft. His size and length on the outside is something we didn\u2019t have a lot of, something we wanted to get. He was kind of a target for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked at the annual NFL scouting combine in February if he felt cornerback was a position where he needed to add a starter, Gutekunst replied, \u201cI think we have guys in-house that can do that but we want competition for those guys. I certainly would like to bring in those caliber of players that are going to push those guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
If Gutekunst believes Nixon and Valentine \u2014 both of whom are heading into the final year of their existing contracts \u2014 will be the team\u2019s opening-day starters, with a push from St-Juste, there\u2019s another possible wrinkle to consider: That Nixon could feel underpaid as the team\u2019s No. 1 cornerback and might consider withholding his services to try to get an extension.<\/p>\n
Nixon is in the last year of a three-year, $18 million deal he signed when he was still a special-teams player and part-time player on defense. He\u2019s set to earn a $4.3 million base salary and has game-by-game roster bonuses worth $29,411.77 per game, or $500,000 if he plays all 17.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can play with anybody, no matter who matches up out there. I can cover everybody,\u201d Nixon replied after the season when asked what he\u2019d proven. \u201cI had a whole gauntlet of receivers all year. I definitely held my own. Packed the stat sheet the last two years, playing inside, outside, being versatile. I definitely showed what I can do, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
What that might mean for him contractually, Gutekunst wouldn\u2019t say.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn’t talk publicly about that, but they all ask for raises, not just players,\u201d Gutekunst said. \u201cI thought he played very well for us and he’s a guy we like having on our team. He brings a competitive edge to us, but all those contract things we’ll keep in house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Packers depth chart<\/p>\n
25\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Keisean Nixon\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5-10\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 200\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 28\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 South Carolina<\/p>\n
24\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Carrington Valentine\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 189\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 24\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kentucky<\/p>\n
21\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Benjamin St-Juste\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 200\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 28\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Minnesota<\/p>\n
36\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kamal Hadden\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 192\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 25\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tennessee<\/p>\n
34\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Shemar Bartholomew\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 200\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 25\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Georgia Southern<\/p>\n
38\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jaylin Simpson \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 180\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 25\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Auburn<\/p>\n
Best in class | Mansoor Delane, LSU.<\/p>\n
If Delane had it his way, he wouldn\u2019t be the top-rated cornerback in the 2026 NFL Draft. He\u2019d be the No. 1 linebacker.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot, 189-pound Delane likes to tackle, likes to be physical, and likes to surprise opposing receivers with his in-your-face approach.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt my position, I always take pride in [how] I’m going to bring the fight to you,\u201d Delane said at the NFL scouting combine in February. \u201cThe receiver lines up, and you’re going to do what I want you to do. I dictate my game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delane played his first three college seasons at Virginia Tech before playing one year at LSU, and while he played in 44 total games during his college career, he only had eight interceptions\u2014with four of them coming as a junior at Va. Tech in 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to take the ball away more, and that’s a big area of improvement for me,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to be a game-changer..\u201d<\/p>\n
Next men up | Jermod McCoy, Tennessee; Chris Johnson, San Diego State; Avieon Terrell, Clemson; Colton Hood, Tennessee; D\u2019Angelo Ponds, Indiana.<\/p>\n
Pick to click | Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-1, 193-pound Demmings came to Green Bay as one of the Packers\u2019 30 allotted pre-draft visitors, and while he\u2019s likely to be selected on Day 3 of the draft, he does feel like a good fit for the way the Packers view corners.<\/p>\n
A zero-star recruit coming out of high school, Demmings had just one Division I scholarship offer \u2014 from Stephen F. Austin. He turned down NIL offers to stay there and finished his career there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to leave a legacy, man,\u201d he told the Dallas Morning-News.<\/p>\n
After finishing his career with nine interceptions (including four last season) and 35 pass break-ups (nine last year), Demmings also took top-30 visits to the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis what we been training for for the last two, three months,\u201d Demmings said after his on-campus pro day. \u201cPressure makes diamonds, so that\u2019s what we had a chance to do \u2014 shine like a diamond.\u201d<\/p>\n
History lesson | Despite that old adage that you can never have too many cornerbacks, the Packers\u2019 history of draft investment at the position is uneven.<\/p>\n
Although Gutekunst used first-round picks on the position twice\u2014in 2018 on Alexander and in 2021 on Stokes \u2014 he\u2019s only picked those three seventh-rounders in the last four drafts.<\/p>\n
The only other cornerbacks selected during Gutekunst\u2019s previous eight drafts were Iowa\u2019s Josh Jackson (second round, 2018); Toledo\u2019s Ka\u2019dar Hollman (sixth round, 2019); and Appalachian State\u2019s Shemar Jean-Charles (fifth round, 2021);<\/p>\n
That track record makes him more like his immediate predecessor and mentor, Ted Thompson, than Pro Football Hall of Fame GM Ron Wolf.<\/p>\n
Although Wolf erred in 1992 when he took Florida State\u2019s Terrell Buckley over former University of Wisconsin star Troy Vincent, that was the start of the modern-era Packers using high picks on corners.<\/p>\n
Wolf took corners in the first round in 1995 (Arizona State\u2019s Craig Newsome) and 1999 (Clemson\u2019s Antuan Edwards). He followed Edwards with corners in the second (Vanderbilt\u2019s Fred Vinson) and third (Memphis\u2019 Mike McKenzie) rounds, and he also took corners early in the 1996 (Nebraska\u2019s Tyrone Williams in the third round) and 1997 (William & Mary\u2019s Darren Sharper in the second round) drafts.<\/p>\n
Thompson\u2019s lone first-round cornerback was a bust \u2014 Arizona State\u2019s Damarious Randall in 2015 \u2014 and when he traded back out of the first round in 2017, he took Washington\u2019s Kevin King with the first pick of the second round (No. 33 overall). Trading back meant the Packers missed out on UW\u2019s T.J. Watt, who went to Pittsburgh at No. 29 and very well could end up in Canton, Ohio and a Pro Football Hall of Famer.<\/p>\n
Thompson also took Auburn\u2019s Pat Lee (second round, 2008); New Mexico State\u2019s Davon House (fourth round, 2011); Vanderbilt\u2019s Casey Hayward (second round, 2012) and Miami of Ohio\u2019s Quinten Rollins (second round, 2015).<\/p>\n
But the Packers\u2019 best cover men during Thompson\u2019s tenure came either in free agency (Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson) or as undrafted free agent pickups (Tramon Williams and Sam Shields).<\/p>\n
PACKERS 2026 NFL DRAFT PREVIEW SCHEDULE<\/p>\n
Sunday, April 12 \u2014 QUARTERBACKS<\/p>\n
Monday, April 13 \u2014 RUNNING BACKS<\/p>\n
Tuesday, April 14 \u2014 WIDE RECEIVERS<\/p>\n
Wednesday, April 15 \u2014 TIGHT ENDS<\/p>\n
Thursday, April 16 \u2014 OFFENSIVE LINEMEN<\/p>\n
Friday, April 17 \u2014 DEFENSIVE LINEMEN<\/p>\n
Saturday, April 18 \u2014 EDGE RUSHERS<\/p>\n
Sunday, April 19 \u2014 LINEBACKERS<\/p>\n
Monday, April 20 \u2014 CORNERBACKS<\/p>\n
Tuesday, April 21 \u2014 SAFETIES<\/p>\n
Wednesday, April 22 \u2014 SPECIALISTS<\/p>\n
Thursday, April 23 \u2014 DRAFT DAY PREVIEW<\/p>\n
\u200bCOPYRIGHT 2026 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"GREEN BAY \u2014 Here we are again.\u00a0 If it feels like you read around this time last year…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":870396,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[2945,482,7,345,5390,9762,9761,14346,5392,122,6,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-870395","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl-draft","8":"tag-brian-gutekunst","9":"tag-eric-stokes","10":"tag-football","11":"tag-green-bay-packers","12":"tag-jaire-alexander","13":"tag-kamal-hadden","14":"tag-keisean-nixon","15":"tag-mansoor-delane","16":"tag-nate-hobbs","17":"tag-national-football-league","18":"tag-nfl","19":"tag-nfl-draft"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116434729761267988","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=870395"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870395\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/870396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=870395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=870395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=870395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}