As the offseason carries on, it is time for the third edition of this summer’s positional battle breakdown. The Packers will have some depth questions to answer regarding their cornerback group but after the release of Pro Bowl CB Jaire Alexander on Monday, the uncertainty around the group has dwindled. With Keisean Nixon leading the pack, the focus will be on Carrington Valentine, Nate Hobbs, Kalen King, Micah Robinson, and even Javon Bullard this preseason.
When the Packers cleaned out their lockers the day after their season ended in Philadelphia, Keisean Nixon told the media that we wanted to be the Packers #1 corner. Well, now that Green Bay has officially moved on from Jaire Alexander, that wish has come true. The Packers expect Nixon to fully embrace that role and hopefully, play at a high level. The addition of Nate Hobbs is a fun one to evaluate but the player with the most riding is third year CB Carrington Valentine.
Packers CB Carrington Valentine
Carrington Valentine showed plenty of flash and potential in his first two seasons. Valentine will certainly be relied upon at a major higher rate than years past. He was a serviceable back up, who played quite well, particularly during Jaire Alexander’s absences. Green Bay will give Valentine plenty of opportunities during minicamp and training camp to win the second outside corner job. He will compete against free agent acquisition Nate Hobbs.
Carrington Valentine did grade well according to PFF. In 2024, Valentine ranked 27th out of 222 eligible cornerbacks with a coverage grade of 74.4. Overall, Valentine ranked 46th with a PFF grade of 70.3. His skills are there but the ultimate question is can Valentine perform at high level on a consistent basis while playing more snaps than he has before at the NFL level. Expect to see a lot of Valentine in 2025. He will more than likely be the Packers CB2.
Packers CB Nate Hobbs
The Packers landed former Las Vegas Raider CB Nate Hobbs in free agency back in March on a 4 year/$48 million deal. Hobbs is 25 years old out of the University of Illinois. Similar to the Xavier McKinney signing last season, the Packers are getting a younger player who has played plenty of meaningful snaps in the NFL. Hobbs will bring a dose of versatility to the Packers cornerback room. He can play in the slot as well as on the outside.
During his time with the Raiders, Hobbs played a total 1,662 snaps in the slot and 741 snaps as an outside corner. Depending on how things unfold with Valentine and second year DB Javon Bullard, the Packers will most likely line Hobbs up at both positions in 2025. Green Bay Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley did not hesitate to throw deceiving looks at opposing offenses. Expect Hafley to take advantage of Hobbs’ versatility and mix and match him accordingly with Valentine or Bullard.
Packers CB Kalen King
The second year cornerback and former Penn State Nittany Lion Kalen King will look to make a splash during training camp this season. At one point during his college career, King was a projected first round pick. Due to some injuries and a dip in his play, King fell to the 7th Round where Green Bay selected him.
During his rookie season, King saw limited playing time and was often a healthy scratch. King did not record a stat in 2024 so predicting his level of contribution to the 2025 team is tough to do. At the moment, King is slated to be the Packers fourth CB. He will battle it out with rookie Micah Robinson and Kamel Hadden during training camp. With Bullard’s ability to play in the slot, which he will need to do at a much more competitive level, King, Robinson, and Hadden could be competing for two roster spots.
Packers CB Micah Robinson
The seventh round rookie cornerback out of Tulane University has a solid chance to make the roster this summer. Micah Robinson spent his final college season at Tulane. He was a transfer from Furman University. Robinson was praised by the Tulane coaching staff for having a “great feel for the game”. Similar to Safety Evan Williams, Robinson is regarded for having a strong football IQ. That characteristic certainly makes adjusting to the NFL a little easier. His speed is no joke either. Robinson ran a 4.42 40 yard dash.
During his one year at Tulane, Micah Robinson allowed a catch rate of 46.8%, according to PFF. The Packers are excited to add Robinson to their cornerback room. He seems to be a guy who loves to play football and is determined to find ways to improve his game. Robinson will get the opportunity to compete for the 5th, and most likely, final cornerback roster spot. If he can provide value on special teams, that will certainly help his case.
In Conclusion
The Packers seem confident in their cornerback group. However, the biggest question is the depth. If Nixon, Valentine, or Hobbs misses time during the season, Green Bay has serious questions marks in King, Robinson, and Hadden simply because all three are young, inexperienced players. It will be interesting to see if the Packers make a move to add another corner for the sake of increasing competition this offseason.
Losing Alexander is certainly a tough pill to swallow but Hafley did manage to put together a strong secondary during Alexander’s absence last season. Despite receiving constant criticism from the fans, Keisean Nixon had a solid 2024 season. Nate Hobbs is a player who can make an impact in coverage as well as around the line of scrimmage. The Packers believe they got a real, hard nosed football player in Hobbs. Finally, if Valentine can stay healthy and find a sense of consistency, he could become quite the matchup nightmare on the outside.
The post The Packers 2025 Positional Battles – The Cornerback Room first appeared on PackersTalk.com Blog Posts and Podcasts.