By: Paul Bretl 7/19/2024
With Green Bay Packers training camp on the horizon, I’ll be doing a position-by-position preview. Next up is the cornerback position.
If you missed any of the previous position previews, you can find them below:
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Tight ends
Wide receivers
Offensive line
Defensive tackle
Defensive end
Linebacker
Roster: Jaire Alexander, Corey Ballentine, Zyon Gilbert, Germon Green, Kalen King, Keisean Nixon, Robert Rochell, Eric Stokes, Carrington Valentine
Matt LaFleur “really confident” in cornerback depth: From the outside looking in, the cornerback position for the Green Bay Packers could be one with some question marks coming into the upcoming season. However, internally, that isn’t how the Packers view things. In fact, Matt LaFleur really likes the depth of this unit.
“We’re going to play our best players,” said LaFleur during minicamp, “but like I said I think yesterday, I feel really, really confident with the group that we have and there’s going to be some unforeseen things that happen but luckily we’ve got a lot of depth, in particular at that position.”
This confidence in the cornerback position isn’t new, either. GM Brian Gutekunst’s approach to the draft, not taking a cornerback until the seventh round even when there was the opportunity to do so early on, told us that the Packers were bullish about this group.
The way that the offseason has unfolded has only added to that confidence. Jaire Alexander has parlayed his strong finish to the 2023 season into a highly productive offseason, where he’s been present throughout the offseason programs, providing leadership off the field and competitive fire on it.
In addition to that, Eric Stokes is healthy, Carrington Valentine appears poised for a jump in his second NFL season and bulked up during the offseason. The Packers really like Keisean Nixon’s fit in Jeff Hafley’s defense at the nickel, and Corey Ballentine is a backup option who showcased last season that he can be relied upon when needed.
Packers’ cornerbacks have to make more plays on the ball in 2024: Last season, the Packers’ defense ranked in the bottom half of the league in yards per pass attempt allowed and recorded the second-fewest interceptions with just seven.
While at the end of the day, it’s up to the players to make plays, it’s also the responsibility of the coaching staff to put the players in positions to do so. An important contributing factor to what hopefully becomes improved play this season will be Hafley’s defense.
The heavier use of press-man coverage suits the skill sets of this Packers’ cornerback room quite well, while Hafley’s vision-based approach for the back end should result in more opportunities to make plays on the football.
A number of Hafley’s former players and now many of his current ones on the Packers have praised him for his ability as a teacher to simplify the game plan, allowing the defenders to react rather than overthinking, and putting them in positions to be successful, where their individual strengths can shine, which should results in more opportunities for the Packers’ cornerbacks to make plays on the football.
“I love Jeff,” said Carrington Valentine. “He pushes us. He tells us the whys, the ins and outs. We’re just not going out there lining up. We’re understanding of why we’re doing stuff and I’m learning a lot.”
Jaire Alexander “super motivated” coming into new year: After a 2023 season where Jaire Alexander dealt with injuries along with a team-imposed suspension, he is attacking 2024 a bit differently. This doesn’t mean the offseason was a complete reboot for Alexander in terms of how he goes about things, but changes were made.
“It’s a little bit of both,” said Alexander. “I feel like I have so much more to put out there and display consistently, and I’m just ready to attack that.”
Injuries limited Alexander to only nine games last season, including the playoffs. He was also suspended for the Packers Week 17 game against Minnesota for going on the field the week prior during the coin toss when he wasn’t one of the elected captains.
Matt LaFleur discussed how difficult the decision to suspend Alexander was, but added that it provided a good learning opportunity for both sides. And upon Alexander’s return in Week 18, his play improved as well.
In the six games prior to the suspension, Alexander allowed 24 completions on 31 targets at almost 13.0 yards per catch with five pass breakups. However, in the three games following the suspension, two of which were playoff games, Alexander held pass-catchers to four receptions on eight targets at 6.8 yards per catch with an interception and a pass breakup.
“Man, I’m super motivated,” said Alexander about coming off last season. “I feel like every offseason is always a fresh start to do better and get better. That’s why I’m here.”
One of those changes that were made this offseason was Alexander choosing to participate in voluntary OTAs. Both Matt LaFleur and passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley have commented on how present Alexander has been, the leadership he has displayed, and the energy he’s brought to the building.
“I think that, like I said, just going into Year 7,” said Alexander, “at this point, I’m trying not to make it as much about myself and just do what’s best for the team.”
As new defenisve coordinator attempts to turn this Packers defense around, a big part of that will be helping Alexander return to his All-Pro caliber level of play. As just described, Hafley’s vision-based, more man-heavy defensive approach should help put Alexander and the other Packers’ cornerbacks in better positions to make plays on the football. Hafley has also been praised by former players – including Richard Sherman – for his ability as a teacher and to build game-plans that allow the defenders to play fast and physical, another aspect that can contribute to improved play from this unit as a whole.
“I like Jeff,” said Alexander. “He’s been great since Day 1. Preaches aggression, getting after everything. He’s a cool guy.
“You see it across the board,” Alexander added, “we’ve got a bunch of athletes on the field who like to make plays and can make plays. I think this is going to work really well.”
Fully healthy, Eric Stokes with something to prove: If the offseason is an indication of what’s in store, then a bounce-back season could be on the horizon.
“I think he’s as good as I’ve ever seen him,” said Matt LaFleur after Wednesday’s practice. “Both mentally and on the field. I want to temper the expectations with that, but I really mean that. He’s out there competing each and every day. He looks fully healthy. He’s doing a great job of challenging our wide receivers. He’s always in great faith.
“I think you see that personality is back. That’s tough on players when they’re going through an offseason not having opportunity to really build upon their bodies when you’re just focusing on rehabbing and getting healthy. He’s had a chance to really develop his body. He looks in great shape. I think the play says the same.”
Over the last two years, Stokes has played only 587 defensive snaps. His 2022 season was limited to just nine games after he suffered a season-ending foot injury. Then, in 2023, he played just 110 defensive snaps as he recovered from the foot injury early on while also dealing with various hamstring injuries throughout the year.
Along with wide receiver Christian Watson, the Packers sent Stokes to UW-Madison as well, to get to the root of his soft tissue issues. To summarize, with Stokes’ foot not at full strength, that put a heavier workload on his calf and hamstring, which contributed to the soft tissue injuries. So this offseason, the focus for Stokes has been on strengthening his foot and the areas around it.
“Yeah, so when we went down to Madison,” said Stokes at his locker, “just showed me everything to where like everything was equaling up for my foot to where like my foot wasn’t as strong as it needed to be, so that’s why it put more pressure on my hamstring, my calf and all that stuff, so it just showed me a lot of different little things and then I went back home, back where I train at in Atlanta.
“Basically we just trained hard and so like every day we doing calf raises, we doing hamstrings and stuff, we just attacking my legs and all that stuff day in and day out and now I come back, I feel even better. I feel like I’m faster than I was before, so it’s a lot of great new things.”
Stokes has an infectious aura about him. He’s easy to gravitate towards with his happy-go-lucky mindset and a laugh that can be heard throughout the locker room.
However, in dealing with the initial foot injury and then the setbacks that followed over the last season and a half, Stokes’ positivity was put to the test.
“Oh, it definitely took me time,” said Stokes on maintaining his positivity. “Definitely took me time. I would 110% agree with that. It took me time because of course from the start, I was mad. I was frustrated, everything just going wrong … but at the end of the day, it’s a bigger picture with everything. Like I know it was a lesson I had to go through for every little thing that I went through. Now it’s time to show.”
Of course, step No. 1 for Stokes is staying healthy and available. But after a stellar rookie season, prior to his Week 9 injury in 2022, he did find himself in a sophomore slump, which contributes to some of the unknowns around what to expect when he returns.
Through eight-plus games that season, Stokes allowed 21 completions on 25 targets at 13.1 yards per catch with no pass breakups or interceptions.
Part of the equation in getting Stokes back to his 2021 form will include Jeff Hafley as the defensive coordinator. Stokes mentioned that there are a lot of similarities between what Hafley is asking him to do and what he was asked to do while at Georgia, which includes more press man coverage.
“I’ll always feel like I got something to prove,” added Stokes, “especially coming off two injuries, the two seasons I’ve had previous. I feel like I got something to prove. I just can’t wait to come out Week 1 and show everybody.”
Valentine bulks up, ready for cornerback competition: As a seventh-round rookie in 2023, injuries forced the Packers to rely heavily on Valentine, who rose to the occasion. Valentine played 846 snaps, allowing a completion rate of 56 percent on 72 targets, with five pass breakups and a passer rating of 80.2 when targeted.
That momentum that Valentine was able to build over the course of his first season has been carried over into the offseason, where all signs point to him make that Year 2 leap that many successful NFL players make.
“I think it’s been outstanding,” said LaFleur. “That’s a guy that stands out, quite frankly, in my mind, in terms of just we challenged him to put on some weight after the regular season. He came back and he definitely looks bigger and he is bigger and he’s stronger and the guy loves football. He loves to compete and I’m excited for him. I think he’s got a really bright future.”
The Packers challenged Valentine to bulk up during the offseason, and it was a challenge that Valentine fully embraced. Valentine focused heavily over these past several months on his diet and hitting the weight room hard. During the first OTA practice that was open to the media, Valentine’s physical growth was noticeable, going from playing in the 180s last season to now hovering around the 200 pound mark.
“When I take on blocks, people feel lighter,” Valentine said. “I can be more aggressive. I naturally play aggressive anyway so it just went hand-in-hand with my game. It kind of worked out.”
Valentine will be competing this summer with Stokes for the starting cornerback role opposite of Alexander. In the early going of offseason programs it has been Stokes getting those starting reps ahead of Valentine, but as we all know, a lot can change once training camp arrives and the pads come on. As LaFleur said, they’re going to let those two compete and the best player is going to play.
“I mean, I’m ready for it,” said Valentine. “I’ve never been handed anything in my life. I didn’t want it handed to me now. I’m just going to keep going, keep grinding and wherever the chips may lie.”
Packers like Nixon’s fit in Hafley’s defense: With Nixon’s size, his willingness to help out in the run game, and his comfortability in man coverage, LaFleur likes his fit in Jeff Hafley’s defense as the nickel cornerback.
“He’s a big guy for the position; he’s 200 pounds or whatever,” LaFleur said. “His willingness to fit in the run fits, whether it’s an A-gap or B-gap, stick his nose in there and then also his ability to play man coverage.
“Certainly, there’s going to be some elements to our scheme that are going to be different. He’s going to have to learn the new scheme. He’s played in this style of system before with the Raiders when Gus Bradley was there. So, he’s familiar with some of the things that are going to be asked (of) him. But that was a big get for us to get him back, in my opinion.”
After never playing more than 290 snaps in a single season, Nixon was the Packers’ staring slot cornerback in 2023, playing nearly 1,000 defensive snaps. Among all cornerbacks, he ranked 11th in PFF’s run stop rate metric, illustrating that willingness to help in the run game LaFleur described.
In coverage, however, Nixon will have to improve, allowing a completion rate of 78 percent, although he did hold pass-catchers to under 10.0 yards per catch. Nixon would force one interception and five pass breakups as well. Out of the 27 eligible defensive backs, Nixon ranked 19th in yards surrendered per coverage snap, 20th in snaps per target, along with surrendering the second-most total yards from the slot, according to PFF.
With the additions of Javon Bullard and Evan Williams at safety, Nixon could have some added competition when it comes to playing time. An emphasis for GM Brian Gutekunst this offseason when addressing safety was finding players who were “interchangeable,” and able to play both safety roles and line up in the nickel. Bullard was a primary slot defender for Georgia in 2022, while the Packers believe Williams has the movement skills to fill that role as well.
Don’t forget about Ballentine on your roster predictions: I wouldn’t classify Ballentine as a roster lock, but I do believe he is somewhat close to that category. When not starting on defense last season, Ballentine has been a key special teams contributor for the Packers. This spring, he was often working out in the slot, providing the Packers with a backup nickel option at cornerback, something they otherwise wouldn’t have with a room full of boundary options. In coverage last season, Ballentine allowed a completion rate of 59 percent on 54 targets and just over 12 yards per catch. He also had one interception and four pass breakups with a passer rating of 80.2.
“I like to play a little mind game, in a sense,” said Ballentine of his play-style. “I don’t like to put all my eggs in on basket. So sometimes I play aggressive. Sometimes I play a little more passive depending on the situation. I try to be very aware of the situation, the sticks, the call, I still want to play within the call.
“So I don’t want to freelance it and do my own thing all the time. But I try to be conscious of everything when I see something pre-snap and I alert it and can break on it and play fast and play free and not think about it, then that’s when I feel like I play best.”
Special teams contributions will be key to determining any final roster spots: Between Alexander, Nixon, Stokes, and Valentine, we know that four roster spots are accounted for. That number goes to five if we include Ballentine. Typically, it’ll be just five or six cornerbacks that the Packers roster on their initial 53-man, which means just one or two spots are available.
Along with linebacker, tight end, and safety, cornerback can be one of those core special teams positions. Of course, there is a prerequisite defensively that has to be met, but special teams play will be a key factor for Robert Rochell and Kalen King when it comes to making the team. Rochell was a key special teams player during the second half of last season, seeing regular snaps across four different phases.
King was the Packers’ seventh-round pick this past April, and as a draft pick with upside, that does give him an advantage when it comes to making the team. But being taken at that stage of the draft doesn’t guarantee him a roster spot either.
King was an All-American in 2022 after putting together a very impressive season at Penn State. In fact, this time a year ago, many thought that he could be a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Instead, King took a step back this season, allowing a completion rate of 61 percent and forcing only one pass breakup. He would also run a 4.6-second 40-yard dash.
When asked, Gutekunst didn’t have any specific reason as to why his play fell off. King is an experienced player and is still just 21 years old. Given those factors, along with his play at Penn State in 2022, this pick is a swing at hitting on King’s potential.
“I mean, I feel like the way I approach the game is always the same,” said King about his play in 2023. “I put in the work and I know what I’m capable of. Just because I got picked towards the end of the seventh round this year doesn’t mean that’s the player I am. That’s just where I was slotted to be. Going to go into the NFL, my career really starts now.
“Anything before this point, I feel like doesn’t matter anymore. With me having this opportunity with the Green Bay Packers, I feel like nothing happened last year. Everything is happening exactly how it’s supposed to. To answer your question, I feel like everything happens for a reason and I feel like I’m in the right place now.”
Zyon Gilbert and Germon Green: The Packers signed Gilbert to the practice squad in late October last season. Gilbert went undrafted in 2022 out of Florida Atlantic. He spent that first season with the New York Giants, playing 73 defensive snaps, most of which came as a nickel defender. Gilbert would also play 27 special teams snaps as well.
Green was signed back in April after going undrafted in 2023 out of Michigan. He would spend time on the Giants practice squad last season. In 2022 with Michigan, Green allowed a completion rate of 53 percent at 13.3 yards per catch with three pass breakups. He also played 247 special teams snaps in his college career.