Cornerback is a need, but how big of a need do the Packers view it heading into NFL draft?

Paul Bretl | 3/21/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — On the outside, there continue to be questions about the state of the Packers’ cornerback position, even with the addition of free agent Nate Hobbs.

Where will Hobbs play–the slot or the boundary? If he moves to the boundary, how smooth will that transition be after being a nickel defender for the last two seasons? What about Jaire Alexander? Who will be the other starting boundary cornerback if Alexander doesn’t return? What about the inexperienced depth on the roster currently?

All valid questions. However, internally, the Packers don’t seem to have those same unknowns. Instead, the Packers appear to be quite bullish on Keisean Nixon and his ability to continue starting on the boundary.

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“I think he played really, really well,” GM Brian Gutekunst said at the NFL combine. “I think he really fit what Jeff (Hafley) was trying to do. First of all, he’s an outstanding competitor. I didn’t blink when we asked him to do that, but I just think his athleticism and his ability … with his eyes and his ability to tackle served us well out there. For me, he may not have the length that some of those guys on the outside have, but his awareness and ball skills make up for that.”

While we always have to be mindful of GM-speak, there is a noticeable difference at the NFL combine in how Gutekunst spoke about Nixon and the cornerback position as a whole versus the pass rush, which was evident by his words, has to improve.

After beginning the 2024 season as the Packers’ nickel cornerback, Nixon transitioned early on to the boundary, which helped fill a need there and also allowed Green Bay to get rookie safeties Javon Bullard and Evan Williams on the field together. Although this move from inside to out can be overlooked, it’s a difficult one to make.

“I had a couple guys in college that have been a nickel or a safety, or a dime and a safety,” said defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley late last season. “Never a guy that really went from cornerback inside to nickel. It’s a testament to Keisean’s ability to compete, because nickel is totally drastic, different from corner.”

On the year, Nixon allowed a completion rate of 66% on 86 targets and held opponents to just 9.3 yards per catch with six pass breakups and an interception. Among cornerbacks who played at least 375 coverage snaps, only seven had a lower yards per catch allowed than Nixon. He also ranked 32nd out of 127 eligible cornerbacks in snaps per reception when in man coverage, according to PFF.

The “awareness” and “ball skills” that Gutekunst mentioned when describing Nixon are important elements when it comes to playing cornerback in Jeff Hafley’s defensive scheme and are two elements that, from the sounds of it, the Packers will further prioritize in their evaluation process with draft prospects.

Along with the all-important coverage abilities, Nixon also proved to be a sound tackler and a capable run defender, which didn’t go unnoticed by the Packers’ coaches.

“I think what he’s done is, I think he’s taken his game up another level in terms of every year, he’s a guy that’s shown the ability and has gotten better and more consistent in his football in terms of him going out there and performing,” said Matt LaFleur late last season. “So Kei is a guy that we’ve got a lot of confidence in, and he’s shown the versatility to play not on the inside, but to go out on the outside. And not everybody can do that.”

In addition to Nixon’s play, the Packers were also encouraged later in the season by the growth of Carrington Valentine. Admittedly, quarterbacks were efficient against Valentine but didn’t produce much against him. Over the final three games, Valentine allowed just 9.0 yards per catch on 11 receptions. He also had a late-season stretch of coming away with two interceptions in three games.

“I think CV is a young player, and the more he plays, it seems like the better he’s getting,” LaFleur said late in the season. “And I think he’s addressed some of the things that we wanted him to work on throughout, not only last year, but into this year, and he’s done a nice job, and certainly he’s made some plays for us … I expect him to get better.”

Now, all of this isn’t to say that the Packers are content and won’t add to this room. Taking that approach last offseason, where the only somewhat significant addition came in the seventh round of the draft, and the depth of this unit then being tested during the year should be a learning opportunity.

Collectively, last season, the Packers’ cornerbacks did well at eliminating explosive pass plays. However, there wasn’t much ball production from that group, with Green Bay ranking 31st in pass deflections. In addition to that, while Nixon and Valentine both limited yards, they gave up a high percentage of completions, with Nixon at 66% and Valentine at 82%.

Adding competition at cornerback, for both playing time and when it comes to the depth of this group and competing for roster spots, should certainly be on the draft to-do list. However, just because it’s something that has to be done, doesn’t mean there is concern internally about having to do it. Think of your own to-do lists–not everything is a level 10 urgency, even though it might command your attention. Perhaps the Packers view the cornerback position that way.

One under-the-radar need for Packers heading into NFL draft that can open up passing game

Paul Bretl | 3/20/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — We know what the big positions of need are for the Packers as we leave free agency behind and turn our focus to the NFL draft, but could adding to the tight end position be one of those under-the-radar needs that we see GM Brian Gutekunst tackle in April?

On the surface, this probably doesn’t come across as a pressing need. Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave each still have two years left on their rookie deals, while Ben Sims is under contract for the 2025 season as well. The team did non-tender restricted free agent John FitzPatrick–who still could be re-signed as a now unrestricted free agent–and that creates a need for depth, but there is a strong foundation at this position already in place.

So where does the need here lie beyond just bringing in a training camp body for the long summer days?

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After we saw the Packers shift to a more run-centric offense with Josh Jacobs in the backfield in 2024, which included more runs from shotgun and more of the gap-blocking scheme instead of outside zone, another potential shift coming in 2025 could include Kraft being featured more heavily in the passing game to provide more stability, and some added big play potential through the air with his yards after the catch (YAC) ability.

As we know, the Packers’ passing game sputtered down the stretch last season. This included dropped passes, wrong routes being ran, and a struggle to generate explosive plays. Banking on the current group of receivers taking that needed step forward comes with risks, given how last season played out. That, of course, is the hope, but it’s an unknown right now as well.

However, the more certain bet at this time is that Kraft continues to ascend. So the Packers should lean into that, especially with Matt LaFleur believing that he has the ability to impact the Green Bay offense at a high level.

“100%,” said LaFleur after the season when asked if Kraft can have a George Kittle or Travis Kelce-like impact in the Packers’ offense, “and I think that’s on us to make sure we find him and feature him because he is, I mean, when he gets the ball in his hands, you feel him. So, if there’s an area that we gotta do a better job on, I would say featuring the tight end.”

Kraft had 70 targets and 55 receptions this season, so it’s not as if he was forgotten about in the passing game. He also led this Packers team in touchdowns this season. With that said, there were also nine games where he had three or fewer targets, and that’s a small role for such an impactful presence.

Despite ranking 17th among all tight ends in targets, Kraft was sixth in receiving yards this season with 733, in large part due to his ability to pick up YAC and generate chunk plays. Kraft’s 13.3 yards per catch was the third-highest mark among tight ends, and he led the position group in average YAC per reception.

“I’m just gonna come back and bring it again in 2025,” Kraft said at his locker after the season. “You guys are gonna see the same thing, same goals I want to set out. I want to be the best blocking tight end in the NFL while also being that guy. I want to be the guy in Year 3. I have goals and aspirations.”

Getting Kraft more involved doesn’t only include more targets. It also includes moving him around the formation, having him attack different levels of the field more often, and having him be a first or second read for Jordan Love more frequently.

But in order to accomplish all of this, there needs to be a more reliable blocking presence at the tight end position behind Kraft on the depth chart. Staying into chip or being a sixth offensive lineman, at times, obviously limits what the tight end can do from a route-running standpoint.

“For a lot of reasons,” said LaFleur when asked why Kraft wasn’t featured more in 2024. “It just depends, going back to who you’re playing. A lot of times, especially in known passing situations, we were trying to help certain spots, and typically, I would say it’s usually the tight ends and the backs who get a bunch of that responsibility. That’s part of the reason.”

The Packers have spoken highly about Musgrave’s ability to help out as a blocker. But where he’s at his best is in the passing game, specifically adding a field-stretching presence at the tight end position. Musgrave also has to show that he can stay healthy.

Sims, meanwhile, has often been tasked with filling that blocking-specific role, however, it’s not as if his spot on the roster isn’t upgradeable either. Although PFF’s grading system is far from the be-all-end-all in terms of evaluation, for what it’s worth, Sims ranked 59th out of 84 tight ends in run-blocking grade.

So this is where the opportunity potentially is for Gutekunst to add to the tight end position. Given the nature of LaFleur’s offense, the Packers are always going to value tight ends with a well-rounded skill set who can impact the game in a variety of ways, but the more traditional in-line blocking tight end is the specific role that Green Bay could look to fill.

This isn’t a need or a role that necessarily has to be addressed with an early-round selection by any means, but a mid to late-round pick on a Y-tight end could bolster competition for Sims and in finding an impact player to fill that blocking role, it can in turn, free up Kraft to do more in the passing game.

Packers give WR depth and return game a boost, signing Mecole Hardman

Paul Bretl | 3/18/2025

GREEN BAY — The Packers made the move that everyone has been waiting for–GM Brian Gutekunst has signed a free-agent wide receiver, although I’m going to guess the addition is coming later than most would have liked.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Packers are signing receiver Mecole Hardman to a one-year deal. At this time, contract details have not been reported.

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Hardman is a former second-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2019 NFL draft out of Georgia. Hardman has spent the majority of his career in Kansas City, outside of the first half of the 2023 season, when he was with the New York Jets, before being traded back to the Chiefs that same year.

Over the past two seasons, Hardman has played a smaller role in the Chiefs’ offense, totaling 32 receptions on 43 targets at 8.4 yards per catch. He did miss some time this past season due to injury.

His best season came in 2021 when Hardman caught 67 passes for 814 yards with three scores. During his time with the Chiefs, Hardman has plenty of big-game experience, and includes catching the game-winning touchdown in the 2023 Super Bowl.

“I’ve played with Mecole for a long time. He’s always ready for the moment, and he’s someone that continues to practice hard and get better,” said Patrick Mahomes of Hardman. “And obviously, that receiver rotation, we were bouncing around a lot of guys all year long, and those guys just continue to work. Just like the last Super Bowl, you never know who it’s gonna be, but it’s about everybody being ready for the moment and he was he was ready for that moment in a couple big plays.”

Hardman, who can play both from the slot and the boundary, possessed 4.33 speed coming out of Georgia–an element this Packers’ offense needs with Christian Watson sidelined. However, even during his productive 2021 season, only 13 of Hardman’s targets came 20 yards downfield.

Instead, he got the ball frequently within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage or behind it on designed touches where his speed and YAC ability could take over, which includes 39 career carries. So, this addition may not solve the Packers’ need for a vertical presence in the offense.

This addition to the receiver room provides added depth and boosts the competition for snaps within it. However, this signing isn’t the cure-all when it comes to finding more consistency and explosive plays in the passing game. As I described recently, this is one of those additions that increases the competition, and the hope is that, in turn, it increases the urgency at the position and elevates the play of that unit.

Internal development at wide receiver is still going to have to be the catalyst when it comes to getting more steady play from this unit.

“You’d like to have somebody move into that space,” Gutekunst said of having a No. 1 receiver, “but, at the same time, I’d like multiple guys to be able to move into that space. What I’m looking for is guys that, when they’re called upon, can perform at a high level. I think we have a lot of guys that have done that.”

While Hardman had a relatively small role on offense for the Chiefs recently, his greatest impact came has a return man, where he was a second-team All-Pro in 2019.

More recently, during the 2024 season, Hardman had five kick return attempts and averaged 26.4 yards per return. He also had 20 punt return attempts, averaging 10.2 yards per return. For some context, Hardman ranked 37th in yards per kick return league-wide and 17th in yards per punt attempt out of 45 eligible return men.

“He’s a dynamic player,” Chiefs’ special teams coordinator Dave Toub said of Hardman in 2023. “He’s the fastest player. He’ll be the fastest player on our team now, as soon as he got here. So it’s that breakaway speed ability.”

At the NFL combine, Gutekunst said that he wanted multiple options at kick returner, which Hardman now provides. We don’t know what the future holds at the return position for Keisean Nixon, who after the season, said he wanted to focus solely on playing cornerback or even Jayden Reed, who had his ups and downs on punt duties.

Not surprisingly, given how the Packers operate and how Gutekunst goes about constructing the roster, this is a signing that gives them options. Hardman creates added competition at receiver and depth at the position while also providing the Packers with another option on the kick and punt return units.

This is also a signing that in no way should impact how the Packers go about addressing the receiver position in the NFL draft.

Is another shift coming to Packers’ offense that searches for a consistent passing game?

Paul Bretl | 3/18/2025

GREEN BAY — Is there another shift coming to the Green Bay Packers’ offense this season? Given how free agency has played out, that could be telling us that’s the case.

We already saw a shift take place last season with the Packers’ greater reliance on the running game with Josh Jacobs in the backfield. And not only did we see the run game frequently be the catalyst for success on offense, but how the Packers ran the ball changed as well. Rather than being a heavy outside zone running team, which has been a staple of the offense under Matt LaFleur, we instead saw more shotgun runs and a gap scheme blocking because it fit Jacobs’ skill set well.

“I think coaching is, yeah, you have a philosophy of what you want to do and a foundation of what you want to do, but you’d better not be so stubborn that you just – this is what we’re going to do – if your pieces don’t necessarily match. I think that’s good coaching – putting your players in the best position possible,” LaFleur said after the season.

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The addition of Aaron Banks and the big money spent along the offensive line tells us that the Packers are going to continue leaning into the run game and on Jacobs. This, in turn, can help open up opportunities through the passing game by staying ahead of the sticks and in manageable down-and-distances, where the entire playbook is open to LaFleur, along with setting up play-action as well.

Banks has been at his best during his career as a run-blocker, and as steady as the Packers’ run game was last season with Jacobs, if there is an area of opportunity for that unit, it’s in generating more explosive running plays.

As the Packers search for more consistency in the passing game, the run game can continue to play a key role in fostering that needed element. However, there’s only so much a strong run game can provide and, ultimately, the pass-catchers are the ones who have to elevate the passing game.

As I detailed recently, addressing the receiver position via free agency or trade was never going to be a likely path for the Packers from a roster-building standpoint. Adding competition through the draft, which hopefully raises the level of urgency among the receiver room, and therefore the level of play, is how this unit is going to have to improve.

Now, of course, that is certainly not a foolproof plan when it comes to getting more consistent play in the passing game. Banking on internal development is what the Packers planned on taking place last season, but instead, we saw regression at the receiver position.

So this leads me back to where we started and what this year’s offensive shift could be for the Packers, which is seeing a lot more of Tucker Kraft in the passing game. Getting Kraft involved more is something that LaFleur already acknowledged needs to happen in 2025.

“100%,” said LaFleur on Tuesday when asked if Kraft can have a George Kittle or Travis Kelce-like impact in the Packers’ offense, “and I think that’s on us to make sure we find him and feature him because he is, I mean, when he gets the ball in his hands, you feel him. So, if there’s an area that we gotta do a better job on, I would say featuring the tight end.”

Kraft had 70 targets and 55 receptions this past season, so it’s not as if he was forgotten about in the passing game. He also led this Packers team in touchdowns as well. With that said, there were also nine games where he had three or fewer targets, and that’s a small role for such an impactful presence, especially one who LaFleur believes can have a Kittle or Kelce-like impact on this Packers team. Among all tight ends in 2024, Kraft ranked 17th in targets.

Featuring Kraft more within the offense isn’t only about giving him more targets, but that also includes moving him around the formation more to give the defense different looks and to help create mismatches pre-snap. It also means having him attack different levels of the field, rather than mostly being targeted around the line of scrimmage, along with being the first or second read for Jordan Love more often.

Two areas where the passing game has to improve this upcoming season are in generating more explosive plays and finding more consistency, which not only means fewer dropped passes but more refined route running and attention to detail. Both of which–big plays and consistency–are two elements Kraft has provided this offense.

“I talked about playing with violence and finishing and just being an (expletive)-hole out there,” said Kraft after the season. “I think you turn the film on, you’re gonna see ‘85’ all over the field, just doing that. I’m just gonna come back and bring it again in 2025. You guys are gonna see the same thing, same goals I want to set out. I want to be the best blocking tight end in the NFL while also being that guy. I want to be the guy in Year 3. I have goals and aspirations.”

Of note when it comes to getting Kraft more involved in the passing game, part of that equation is the Packers needing to have a reliable blocking presence at the tight end behind him on the depth chart to handle those responsibilities.

Naturally, this offseason, the focus has been on the receiver position and how the Packers get more out of that unit in 2025 after the passing game sputtered down the stretch last season. And without a doubt, improved play has to happen here. Unfortunately, that’s not a given either, particularly when relying on a so-so draft class at the receiver position to provide that competition and spark to help elevate the play of this group.

So when it comes to getting more out of the passing game this season, I don’t know that Plan A is the receivers taking a big step forward. Obviously, that’s the hope–but hope isn’t a plan either. I think, potentially, Plan A is a heavy dose of Jacobs and Kraft with the offense built around those two, and if the receivers make those needed strides, we will see this unit morph as the season progresses.

After first wave of NFL free agency, what’s next for Packers’ WR and DL positions?

Paul Bretl | 3/17/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The first wave of NFL free agency has passed, with the free agent market mostly picked apart at this point. The Packers would sign cornerback Nate Hobbs and guard Aaron Banks, but what about the wide receiver and defensive line positions?

Along with cornerback, from the outside perspective anyway, wide receiver and the defensive line were the two other biggest perceived needs that the Packers had. Although, by GM Brian Gutekunst’s actions, internally, the offensive line was on that list as well.

But here we sit, one week after the NFL’s legal tampering period opened and with many of the top available players now signed, the receiver and defensive line positions are still unaddressed for the Packers. So what’s next at those position groups?

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Right, wrong, or indifferent, the wide receiver market never truly shaped up as one that was conducive for Gutekunst to make a splash, given his roster-building philosophy.

As Gutekunst described after the season, when it comes to making a big trade, it’s not only draft capital that is being sent away, but the team is also losing out on young, ascending players who come with relatively inexpensive rookie deals. In return, the team is getting an established presence, but with that comes a hefty contract that now must fit into the long-term salary cap plans, which could require some maneuvering and potentially impact roster building down the road.

“You’d better be right,” said Gutekunst when asked about trading a high draft pick for a player. “When you trade a high pick for a veteran player, you’re trading a young, really good contract for a player who’s proven but is probably expensive.

“So you’re giving up a pick and salary-cap space. So I think you’ve got to weigh that. And if it’s the right player, if you feel like he can be a dynamic player who can change your football team, I think you’ve got to consider that, because there’s not many of those guys out there. But I think you have to also understand what you’re giving up.”

When it comes to the free agent market, while there is a lot of production out there at the receiver position, it’s also a lot of players who are nearing or beyond 30 years old. Which, again, right, wrong, or indifferent, doesn’t appear to be a path that Gutekunst wants to explore, particularly when it comes to handing out a decent-sized deal in order to land that player.

Realistically, no true WR1 was going to swoop in and lift the Packers’ wide receiver room for the reasons mentioned. Instead, it was always going to have to be competition that was the catalyst for improved play and fostered the urgency Gutekunst hoped to see, which in theory, could then elevate the play of that entire room.

Going down this path certainly doesn’t guarantee success, but it appears to be the best option that the Packers have at this time, given how Gutekunst wants to build out the roster, and so the draft was always the most likely avenue when it came to adding to the receiver position.

“You’d like to have somebody move into that space,” Gutekunst said of having a No. 1 receiver, “but, at the same time, I’d like multiple guys to be able to move into that space. What I’m looking for is guys that, when they’re called upon, can perform at a high level. I think we have a lot of guys that have done that.”

The same could be said for the defensive line unit. This is a position that the Packers have already invested fairly heavily into from a salary cap perspective. Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark are both top-four on the team in salary cap hits this season, not to mention a decision about Devonte Wyatt’s future has to be made soon as well.

That important factor, to some degree, probably had some impact on Gutekunst’s willingness to spend on the defensive line in free agency. This is also an incredibly deep defensive line draft class. So when it comes to adding to the roster at this position, if the choice is between a veteran with a hefty cap hit or a high-upside draft pick on a rookie deal, we all know what Gutekunst would prefer.

“I think you’re always looking with pass rushers, you can never have enough,” Gutekunst said after the season. “And I thought there were times this year we did that we were able to rush with four. I think every team in the league, that’s how you’d prefer to do it. Drill rush with four and affect the quarterback. There was periods of time where we didn’t do that well enough. I think everybody understands that that affects your football team.”

An added wrinkle to this decision-making process when it comes to how to go about adding to this unit is that I don’t think adding a middle-tier veteran would accomplish what the Packers need, which is a significantly improved pass rush.

Green Bay already has a strong foundation along the defensive front, but what they need is more high-impact play–not depth. So, adding another rotational defender to the mix may not accomplish that ultimate goal. Improve play from those on the roster and/or a top-tier pass rusher added to this team, which perhaps the draft can offer, is going to be the ultimate remedy.

As Gutekunst said at the NFL Combine, if the Packers are going to accomplish their goals this season, then the pass rush has to be more consistent, and finding that elusive element–consistency–was mostly likely to always come via the draft and internally through improved play.

“I think the biggest thing and we talked a little about it earlier is just the fact we need to affect the quarterback with four,” Gutekunst said. “How we do that kind of remains to be seen. We had good moments last year, but it just needs to be more consistent. It needs to be able to control the game when we need to control the game and finish games off.”

Whatever Packers need, on or off the field, CB Nate Hobbs is ready to deliver

Paul Bretl | 3/14/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — As new Green Bay Packers’ cornerback Nate Hobbs said on Friday when speaking with reporters, it’s only mid-March, there is plenty of time to figure out where he’s going to be lining up and what his role in Jeff Hafley’s defense will be.

But with that said, whatever the Packers need from Hobbs, he’s ready to step on the field and handle those responsibilities.

“Obviously, there’s no secret, I’m a versatile player,” Hobbs said on Friday at Lambeau Field. “I play inside, outside. I’ve played inside and outside in the past, but it’s March — I don’t know, what is it, March 14th, 13th? We’ll get to that. I’m willing to do whatever the team needs me to do. I’m a dog, so I’m gonna step wherever I step. If I step at nickel, if I step at corner. If they need me to play safety, god damnit, I’ll play safety.”

Over the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, Hobbs has been the team’s primary nickel cornerback. However, he has experience on the boundary as well, playing over 700 career NFL snaps lined up outside, 500 of which came during the 2022 season. Going back to his days at Illinois, Hobbs spent most of his college career on the boundary, playing over 2,100 snaps there over four seasons.

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Although the Raiders tasked Hobbs with playing the nickel, he has the measurables that we often see GM Brian Gutekunst covet at the boundary cornerback position. Hobbs has size and length, listed at 6-1 – 195 pounds and is a good athlete, posting a Relative Athletic Score of 9.61 coming out of Illinois.

“Like I said, March 13th, 14th, whatever it is,” said Hobbs, “we’ll get to that. I’ll do whatever my team needs me to do. If I gotta play corner the whole year, that’s what I do. I’m a corner. If I gotta go inside, that’s what I’m gonna do, but I’m looking forward to whatever I gotta do.”

Hobbs is coming off of his best statistical season in the NFL in 2024. He would rank 10th out of 42 eligible slot cornerbacks in yards per snap allowed. He was also 16th in snaps per reception allowed, and Hobbs had the 11th best coverage EPA (expected points added) among all defensive backs who saw 40 or more targets.

Along with size and length at the cornerback position, Gutekunst would also mention at the NFL combine the importance of vision and awareness when playing cornerback in Jeff Hafley’s system. Those are two elements Hobbs displayed last season, as evidenced by the numbers above and the lack of production from opposing offenses.

However, if you ask Hobbs, while he’s continued to progress throughout his NFL career, there is still a lot more that is out there for him.

“I know by nature, I’m a very competitive person,” Hobbs said. “When I get out there, I’m a super competitor. I think kinda to make it to this level and to be an impact player, you have to be a super competitor, but when you are a super competitor and you’ve been bestowed with opportunity like this that I’ve had, that comes with responsibility.

“I think this is an opportunity for me to grow as a man, a leader, a player, father, a friend, just the man period. So I think I gotta take that next step into my manlihood and it’s being a true leader.”

That competitive nature that Hobbs possesses is something he vows to always hold on to and is rooted in the underdog mentality that he has. Hobbs had a late start to his football career, not playing until his junior year of high school. He was then underrecruited before landing at Illinois, and wasn’t even sure if he was going to get drafted when that time came.

Even with the success Hobbs had on the field last year and the new four-year, $48 million deal he’s signed with the Packers, he’s still an underdog in his mind, because there is still a lot more that’s out there for him to accomplish.

“I’m gonna be an underdog if I was getting paid $100 million because I don’t see any articles or anything out of me being the top corner,” Hobbs said. “In my heart of hearts, I’m an underdog, and I’m never going to forget that. And I could be the top corner, whatever the case is.

“Still an underdog, because I had to scratch and claw and fight to get here, and nothing was given to me, everything was tooken. I say, there’s two ways to get respect. You either earn it or you take it. I like taking it. I’m going to be an underdog till I die. That’s just me.”

In his short time in Green Bay, Hobbs has already met with coach Matt LaFleur and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafely. Hobbs’ conversation with Hafely, in particular, ended up going into great depth as the two spoke for three hours, with the two connecting and finding that they had a fair amount in common.

“Coach Matt, he’s amazing,” said Hobbs. “I can already tell he’s an amazing man and a motivated and a relentless coach. Players coach. I think both of those guys are players coaches. I think for you to go, in today’s league, for you to go far, I think you have to be a players coach, and that’s what they are.”

For now, during this quiet time during the NFL offseason, Hobbs is going to continue training and connecting with his new position coaches and teammates, along with continuing to build his relationship with LaFleur and Hafley.

One thing that Hobbs’ new teammates will come to learn about him is that both on and off the field, he cares deeply. Hobbs recalled a game last season against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he exited the game with a hand injury and was given the choice to either sit out the remainder of the game or get a cast on. At that exact moment, he heard the Chiefs’ crowd erupt in a roar, and at that point for Hobbs there wasn’t any decision to be made–he was going back out there because his teammates needed him.

“They going to learn once we get acquainted, and I know you and I care about you, I’m willing to do anything for you,” Hobbs said. “I’m willing to take the shirt off my back for you. I’m willing to pick you up when you down. I’m willing to–just outside of the field be a real friend. Be a real brother. I think that’s the most important thing outside of football. But on the football field they going to learn I’m bringing it everyday. I’m bringing it all out there. They not going to have to worry about me doing my job and I’m going to bring people with me.”

Josh Myers to Jets on prove-it deal, Packers spend big to upgrade OL

Paul Bretl | 3/13/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Now former Packers’ center Josh Myers is signing with the New York Jets on a one-year prove-it deal. Green Bay, meanwhile, signed guard Aaron Banks to a four-year contract worth $77 million. The question at hand right now is not only whether the Packers’ offensive line improved with these moves, but did it improve by roughly $74 million?

Myers is signing a one-year, $3.5 million contract to join the Jets. While using the total contract values between Myers and Banks isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison because Banks may not get all that money, for some added context, Banks is getting a $27 million signing bonus. He also has the opportunity to earn $9.5 million during each of the 2026 and 2027 seasons just as roster bonuses as well.

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Internally, the Packers have spoken incredibly highly of Myers and what he brought to this team. Matt LaFleur last season would say that Myers was the one “driving the ship up front” and called him a “heart and soul” type of player on the team. GM Brian Gutekunst also called Myers’ 2024 season the best of his career.

“I can’t say enough good things about Josh Myers, not only as a player but as a leader,” said Gutekunst after the season. “He really does embody kind of a Green Bay Packer and what we’re looking for and how they’re wired. Again, I thought he had a really good year, fought through some things. . . “I look back at that one, and I’m really glad we’ve had him for the last four years.”

However, the NFL market felt differently. A one-year, $3.5 million deal is one, as described above, where the player has to prove himself and showcase why he deserves a more lucrative and longer-term deal.

While Myers brings a lot of the intangible qualities to the table that teams desire, from leadership to rapport with Jordan Love to pre-snap communication, the results once the ball was snapped weren’t there consistently enough, and his recent contract reflects that.

This past season, one that Gutekunst thought was Myers’ best, out of 41 eligible centers, he ranked 36th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric. He also surrendered the third-most pressures. In run-blocking grade, Myers ranked 38th. Those metrics are just one evaluation tool and aren’t the be-all-end-all, but they do provide some context around Myers’ play compared to his counterparts.

Obviously, the Packers believe that by signing Banks to be the team’s left guard and presumably moving Elgton Jenkins to center, that the offensive line play is going to improve over if they had kept the status quo. But again, will it improve as significantly as the contract discrepancy between Myers and Banks illustrates it should?

Although Myers had his ups and downs, it’s not like the Packers’ offensive line play was bad last year. During the regular season, no quarterback was blitzed more often than Love, according to PFF’s metrics. However, in terms of how often he was pressured, Love ranked 23rd in that category. Overall, the Packers’ offensive line finished seventh in ESPN’s pass block win rate metric.

Then, in the run game, Josh Jacobs was one of the most productive backs in football, and the Packers’ offense leaned heavily on that element to lead them to victory in a number of games.

“I thought our offensive line, particularly in pass pro, played really, really well all year for the most part, with the exception of a couple games,” Gutekunst said. “But I think all those guys had really solid years and improved.”

However, having said that, there is very much room for growth. Banks has been at his best in the run game during his career, and while, as just mentioned, the Green Bay run game was productive last year, where they can improve is in generating explosive, chunk runs on the ground.

According to PFF’s metrics, Jacobs ranked 32nd in breakaway rate last season, which measures how often a player produces a run of 15-plus yards, and roughly 75% of his total rushing yards came after contact. For some context, Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley were in the 50-55% range.

The addition of Banks also bolsters the Packers’ depth and flexibility. Now, Jordan Morgan can continue to compete at right guard with Sean Rhyan or he could potentially see snaps at left tackle to push Rasheed Walker. Either way, one of Morgan, Ryhan, or Walker will be coming off the bench next season.

“Versatility is everything, right,” said Gutekunst. “And we really do have a versatile group. So we’re going to try to get the best five out there. We didn’t see him (Morgan) as much at tackle, which is obviously what he played in college, and what we vote he was drafted as, just because at the time, going into the season, and the opportunities were going to we’re going to lie inside.

“So I think this offseason, just depending on kind of how everything you know takes place, through free agency, the draft and those things will kind of probably go into it the exact same way. Wherever we think he’s going to best fit is where he’s going to see his snaps.”

Only time will ultimately answer the question posed at the start of this article. But these two moves signify that improvement along the offensive line was a must in Gutekunst’s eyes. More explosive runs are needed, and the depth of this group was exposed in the playoffs, but will the juice be worth the squeeze? Paying big at one position means going light elsewhere.

“Those big guys are hard to find, so that’s never something we’re not going to address,” said Gutekunst after the season. “Like we’ve been pretty consistent in our time here. We very much believe that, with the exception of quarterback, winning in the trenches is how we need to get it done.”

Competition will have to be catalyst for improved play at WR for Packers

Paul Bretl | 3/12/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — A catalyst behind improved play from the Packers’ wide receiver position in 2025 is going to have to be competition.

With Davante Adams in LA, DK Metcalf now in Pittsburgh, and Tee Higgins seemingly staying in Cincinnati, when it comes to adding a true No. 1 wide receiver target to the Packers’ offense, those options are now off the table. And even looking ahead to this year’s draft, I’m not sure that top-flight player exists in this year’s class–or at least not where the Packers are picking.

So how are the Packers going to get improved play out of the receiver position this season, other than just hoping and banking on internal development happening on its own?

Competition. The same element that helped foster the rapid growth we saw throughout the roster during the second half of the 2023 season.

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After the 2024 season, GM Brian Gutekunst mentioned that it’s time the Packers started competing for championships and a key factor in accomplishing that is a greater sense of urgency throughout the roster. When Gutekunst said that, he was referring to the entire team, but it does also seem to particularly apply to the receiver position–a group with plenty of talent, but also a unit that failed to take a step forward last season.

“We’ve got a bunch of good guys in that locker room, we’ve got a bunch of talented guys in that locker room, and I think it’s time we started competing for championships,” Gutekunst said after the season. “I think they’re ready. Like I said, I think they are wired right. I think that group is the kind of guys that can do that. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to go do it.

“We fell short in some areas this year, like they always are every year, a little frustrating. But at the same time, I didn’t think the blinked. So I’m excited about the group, but the sense of urgency, not getting complacent, some of these guys have now proven themselves to be NFL football players and have attained that, but what’s out there for us as a team that we’re willing to commit to and sacrifice for. If I’m looking at one thing, that would be it.”

A disjointed passing game was too much to overcome down the stretch last season, and while no one player or position group is at fault–it’s on everyone–dropped passes and a lack of detailed route running were a part of the problem, and those were issues that the Packers had to navigate for much of the season.

In the Packers’ playoff loss to Philadelphia specifically, Matt LaFleur noted that two of the interceptions thrown by Jordan Love were on plays where the receivers weren’t positioned correctly. On the interception by Darius Slay, the receiver needed to do a better job of stacking the defender to help create a more open throwing window. On the interception over the middle by linebacker Zach Baun, the receiver was supposed to break in at 20 yards from the line of scrimmage but instead did so at 15 yards, throwing off the entire play design.

Adding more talent to the wide receiver room, even if it isn’t a true No. 1 target, can help elevate that sense of urgency. Whether it be a veteran signing, an early-round draft pick, or both, all of a sudden, playing time is in jeopardy and even roster spots for some players, which can very quickly change the complexion of the room and the day-to-day processes as players fight to establish themselves within the receiver hierarchy.

“I think we’re certainly looking for these guys that we have currently to take a step into that role where they are more consistent on the down-down basis,” Gutekunst said after the season. “Certainly, if there’s somebody outside of our building, whether it’s the draft, free agency, that makes some sense for us, we’ll certainly look to do that, but we’re also looking for these guys to continue to grow and hopefully grow into that space.”

What’s left of the free-agent market at receiver are several productive but veteran players, including Amari Cooper, Tyler Lockett, and Keenan Allen, to name a few. Some early-round options at wide receiver in the draft include Tetairoa McMillan and Matthew Golden–both of whom could be gone before the Packers are on the clock–along with Emeka Egbuka, Jaydin Higgins, and Elic Ayomanor.

This adding competition plan to raise the level of play of the receiver room is far from a fool-proof plan. The sure thing would have been finding a way to add one of those top three receiver options mentioned at the start of all this. However, outside of keeping the status quo, this is the Packers’ best option at this time when it comes to elevating the receiver room.

Gutekunst acknowledged that having a top target would be beneficial. However, he believes there are a few players already on the roster who are capable of filling that role. But after this group of receivers failed to take a step forward in 2024, it would appear that some outside help is going to be needed to facilitate someone potentially moving into that coveted role.

“You’d like to have somebody move into that space,” Gutekunst said of having a No. 1 receiver, “but, at the same time, I’d like multiple guys to be able to move into that space. What I’m looking for is guys that, when they’re called upon, can perform at a high level. I think we have a lot of guys that have done that.”

Free agent Nate Hobbs adds versatility and needed stability at cornerback for Packers

Paul Bretl | 3/10/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — In addition to bolstering the offensive line with Aaron Banks, the Packers also signed cornerback Nate Hobbs to a four-year deal worth $48 million, including $16 million guaranteed, according to Tom Pelissero.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Hobbs about joining the Packers via Josina Anderson. “It has not sunk in yet. I’m still dumbfounded by the opportunity, and I am ready to get to work. Being with the #Raiders in that division and facing those quarterbacks, I feel like I’m ready for anything (in the NFC North) and I am going in with a lot of confidence. It prepared me for this.”

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Hobbs was a fifth-round selection by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2021 NFL draft. Over the last two years, in particular, Hobbs has primarily lined up in the slot, although he does have starting boundary cornerback experience, which includes playing 500 snaps there during the 2022 season.

In the run game, an important element to playing the nickel position, Hobbs has routinely graded out as one of PFF’s better cornerbacks in that respect. In coverage this past season, Hobbs had his best season statistically, allowing a completion rate of just 67% from the slot at 9.0 yards per catch with an interception and three pass breakups.

Out of 42 eligible slot defenders last season, Hobbs ranked 10th in yards per snap allowed. He also had the 11th best coverage EPA (expected points added) among all defensive backs who saw 40 or more targets in 2024.

“A slot corner with the ability to play outside,” wrote ESPN’s Matt Bowen. “Hobbs has the quickness and tackling ability needed to play inside the numbers. In four seasons, he has 3 interceptions, 13 pass breakups and 14 tackles for loss. He can be an upgrade for a team in search of a nickel defender in sub packages.”

Although Hobbs has been a nickel defender the past two seasons, Ryan Wood reported that the Packers will play Hobbs on the boundary. In addition to his past experience, he has a good size, listed at 6-1, and he’s a terrific athlete, posting an elite Relative Athletic Score of 9.61 during the pre-draft process.

Given the current state of the Packers’ cornerback room, which features a bevy of unknowns, Hobbs playing outside would make the most sense. However, I will guess that his versatility will be utilized within Jeff Hafley’s scheme, and where Hobbs lines up will be dictated by who the opponent is.

“I do think with what Jeff’s trying to do,” said Brian Gutekunst of the cornerback position at the NFL combine, “there’s a lot more vision and awareness and instincts out there than maybe we’ve played with in the past.

Whether it be through free agency or, perhaps more likely now, the draft, the Packers are not done adding to the cornerback position. But the addition of Hobbs does give them some needed stability on the boundary, with Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine as the two other options.

“I thought when we moved Keisean to the outside and he consistently played there, I thought he played really, really well,” Gutekunst said after the season. “Not only in coverage but as a tackler as well and run game. And I think when CV went out there, I think when both those guys were playing on the outside consistently, we just got more stable.”

Packers signing OL Aaron Banks, gain flexibility up front

Paul Bretl | 3/10/2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers’ first free agency splash came along the offensive line, with the team reportedly signing guard Aaron Banks to a four-year deal worth $77 million, according to Ian Rapoport.

Banks was a second-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL draft out of Notre Dame. Over his career, he’s appeared in 53 games and made 43 starts, all of which have come in the last three seasons.

By PFF’s metrics, Banks is at his best in the run game, which, even with Josh Jacobs’ success last season, is an area where the Packers can improve, specifically when it comes to generating explosive gains on the ground. In pass protection last season, Banks gave up only one sack and four quarterback hits over 471 pass-blocking snaps. He would rank 37th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric out of 80 eligible guards.

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“At 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds,” ESPN’s Matt Bowen wrote, “the 2021 second-round pick is built for a gap run scheme, and he has the strength to anchor against interior bull rushers.”

As we discussed earlier in the offseason, the recipe for the Packers adding to the offensive line always existed this offseason- although perhaps we didn’t think it would come in the form of a big free-agent signing. But the reason the need existed was, in part, because the depth of this group was exposed against Philadelphia in the playoffs, and in this season specifically, the Packers will have to overcome losing starting center Josh Myers.

“Those big guys are hard to find, so that’s never something we’re not going to address,” said Brian Gutekunst after the season. “Like we’ve been pretty consistent in our time here. We very much believe that, with the exception of quarterback, winning in the trenches is how we need to get it done.”

Banks has spent his entire career playing left guard, and with the payday he received in Green Bay, that’s where he’s going to stay. Yet, even so, the addition gives the Packers added flexibility along the offensive line.

Now, finding a center outside the organization doesn’t have to be a priority, and hoping that Jacob Monk takes a step forward isn’t a risk the Packers have to take. Instead, they can move Elgton Jenkins over to the center spot, where he played in college and has almost 400 snaps at with the Packers in his career.

With an added interior presence, the Packers now have the option to have second-year lineman Jordan Morgan either compete with Sean Rhyan at right guard again or perhaps compete with Rasheed Walker at left tackle. While Morgan spent all last season at guard before ending up on injured reserve, he was a left tackle in college.

“Versatility is everything, right,” said Gutekunst. “And we really do have a versatile group. So we’re going to try to get the best five out there. We didn’t see him (Morgan) as much at tackle, which is obviously what he played in college, and what we vote he was drafted as, just because at the time, going into the season, and the opportunities were going to we’re going to lie inside.

“So I think this offseason, just depending on kind of how everything you know takes place, through free agency, the draft and those things will kind of probably go into it the exact same way. Wherever we think he’s going to best fit is where he’s going to see his snaps.”

Offensive line play often flies under the radar, but consistently finding success on offense starts in the trenches–just look at the Eagles. Giving the quarterback time to go through his reads and to operate within the timing and the rhythm of the play is a must, not to mention that a strong running game keeps an offense out of predictable passing situations.

The 2025 Packers now have more options when it comes to building out that unit. The play of the offensive line last season wasn’t poor by any means, but as mentioned, there are areas of improvement, not to mention that a starter had to be replaced.

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