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Tag: Packers defensive strategy

  • Packers Coaches Keeping Cornerback Options Open Amid Jaire Alexander Uncertainty

    Packers Coaches Keeping Cornerback Options Open Amid Jaire Alexander Uncertainty

    The Green Bay Packers are in full preparation mode for 2025, but one question remains: What will happen with two-time All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander? Defensive passing-game coordinator Derrick Ansley and his staff are dealing with the uncertainty of Alexander’s future while exploring other options at the position.

    Daily Communication Between Ansley and Alexander

    Even though Alexander hasn’t been in offseason workouts, Derrick Ansley is still in touch with the star cornerback.

    “Every day. Every day we have contact,” Ansley said Thursday. “Every morning, I send him a positive quote. Sometimes it’s a scripture. Sometimes it’s just something somebody sends me, and I forward it to him. But we have contact every morning.”

    While this daily communication shows the player and coach have a good relationship, it doesn’t mean Alexander is coming back. General manager Brian Gutekunst has said that if Alexander isn’t part of the team going forward, the Packers want to get value for their investment, either through a trade or by moving resources elsewhere.

    For now, the Packers are preparing as if Alexander isn’t around, building depth and versatility in the secondary.

    Exploring Alternatives at Cornerback

    Packers defensive coaches Ansley, Jeff Hafley, and Ryan Downard are already thinking about life after Alexander. They’re convinced that, even without that two-time Pro Bowl player, they have the talent on the roster to adapt. And they have a plan.

    1. Putting Keisean Nixon in the CB1 role

    Nixon staked his claim as a starting-caliber cornerback last season. With 1,020 snaps (93.7%) under his belt in 2024, he’s shown he can handle top-tier wide receivers. That reliability and consistency give the coaching staff confidence in him.

    2. Making the most of Nate Hobbs’ versatility

    Hafley loves Hobbs’ ability to play both inside and out. “He’s competitive, tough, physical, and fast,” Hafley says. “He loves the game—and that comes across on the tape. He gives you that flexibility to move him around. I’m a big fan of that kind of player.” Hobbs’ four-year, $48 million deal shows just how committed the Packers are to building a dynamic secondary.

    3. Giving Carrington Valentine the space to grow

    Carrington Valentine, a seventh-round pick in 2023, has shown flashes of what he can do. Despite battling injuries, he played 547 snaps (50.3%) last season and started three playoff games. Ansley sees a lot of potential in Valentine. “He plays the game the right way,” Ansley says. “He’s smart, works hard, and means a lot to him. Now, he just needs to make those routine plays consistently. If he does, he can become a key piece of our defense.”

    4. Developing Young Talent

    The Packers are counting on contributions from several young players and rookies:

    • Kalen King: A 2024 7th round pick who was on the practice squad last year, King has impressed coaches with his athleticism and willingness to learn.
    • Micah Robinson: Has verified top end speed and ball skills, had a great college career at Tulane and Furman, including a pick-six last year.
    • Johnathan Baldwin: Listed as a corner but played mostly safety in college, adds another layer of versatility to the secondary.

    “These guys have skill sets and mental toughness,” Ansley said. “They want to learn and prove themselves.”

    Building Versatility Across the Secondary

    One of Ansley’s core philosophies is not to pigeonhole players into specific roles. Instead, they want to create interchangeable defenders who can play multiple positions.

    “When you talk about corner, obviously, you want a speed skill set. Inside, you’ve got to be physical enough to stop the run and agile enough to cover receivers,” Ansley said. “It’s hard to find guys who can do both. Thank God we have a couple of them.”

    This allows the Packers to use their personnel to their best advantage against division opponents like Detroit, Minnesota, and Chicago, who all have explosive offenses.

    Looking Ahead to 2025

    If Alexander leaves the Packers’ corner group will go through a transformation similar to what happened with the safety position last year. Adding first team All-Pro Xavier McKinney and drafting three safeties reshaped that unit, and similar moves could do the same for the corner room.

    But injuries happen, and relying on Nixon, Hobbs, and Valentine may not be enough. That’s why Ansley is really excited about his young guys.

    “We want to bring in as many DBs as we can and not limit them,” he said. “Their mental makeup matters most. Can they learn two jobs? Do they have the discipline and maturity to succeed?”

  • NFL Thinks the Packers Paid Nate Hobbs to Play Slot Corner

    NFL Thinks the Packers Paid Nate Hobbs to Play Slot Corner

    When the Green Bay Packers signed Nate Hobbs to a 4 year, $48 million deal this offseason, it didn’t take long for the ripple effects to be felt across the NFL. Just weeks later, two teams—the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears—signed their own slot defenders to big extensions that seemed to be directly referencing Hobbs’ deal.

    Jalen Pitre of the Texans signed a 3 year, $39 million extension ($13 million per year), while Kyler Gordon of the Bears signed a 3 year, $40 million deal ($13.33 million per year). These numbers are a big jump from Jourdan Lewis’ previous record setting $10 million per year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

    But here’s the question: was this sudden surge in slot cornerback salaries justified by market trends, or did teams just use Hobbs’ deal as the new benchmark?

    The Quarterback Comparison: A 30% Spike Overnight?

    For perspective, imagine if the quarterback market saw a similar spike. Dak Prescott is currently the highest paid quarterback at 60 million per year. If other QBs suddenly started signing deals at 78 million annually—a 30% increase—it would be crazy. That’s what happened in the slot cornerback market after Hobbs’ signing.

    Some will say that players like Pitre and Gordon are worth the extra money, but it’s hard to ignore the timing. Teams have apparently decided that Hobbs’ $12 million-per-year deal is the new standard for elite slot defenders. That means the Packers’ signing wasn’t just about getting a slot corner—it may have reset the entire market.

    What Does This Mean for the Packers?

    The Packers are in an interesting spot. Hobbs was signed as a slot cornerback, but recent reports say he can also play outside cornerback if needed. With Keisean Nixon, a disgruntled Jaire Alexander and Carrington Valentine as the current options, Hobbs is a “break-in-case-of-emergency” option at the boundary corners.

    But we know teams’ intentions don’t always align with reality. Last offseason, the Packers planned to give first-round pick Jordan Morgan a legit shot at left tackle before moving him to right guard full-time. Could that happen with Hobbs?

    Impact on Young Players Like Javon Bullard

    If Hobbs ends up playing mostly in the slot, that could hurt younger players like Javon Bullard. Bullard—the 2024 second-round pick out of Georgia—already lost the starting safety job to Evan Williams, a fourth-round pick from the same draft class.

    If Bullard isn’t given a chance to play nickel or contribute elsewhere, he risks being relegated to backup duties in his second year. That’s a problem for a team trying to build depth and develop young talent.

    The Bigger Picture: A Shift in Defensive Priorities

    That shift in priorities highlights just how important slot cornerbacks are in today’s NFL. As offenses use more three-wide receiver sets, having a reliable defender in the slot has become a must-have. Teams are willing to pay top dollar for players who can thrive there—even if that means stretching their budgets thin elsewhere.

    That versatility Hobbs brings to the table gives Green Bay flexibility—but also raises questions about where they really want to use him. If Alexander leaves via trade or free agency, will they lean on Hobbs as an outside cornerback? Or will they prioritize keeping him in the slot, where he did so well under Rich Bisaccia with the Raiders?