The Green Bay Packers entered the 2025 NFL season with a lot of questions at cornerback. Over the offseason, the team parted ways with two former first round picks. GM Brian Gutekunst decided to release Jaire Alexander after the player and the team could not agree on a restructured contract. They also opted not to re-sign Eric Stokes who had struggled with injuries and never matched the strong play he displayed during his rookie season.
Gutekunst did address the position in free agency, signing Nate Hobbs to a four-year deal worth $48 million. Hobbs predominantly played in the slot during his time with the Raiders but did also play some snaps on the boundary. The Packers projected that he could be successful on the boundary if they needed him to play there.
It was surprising that the Packers did not select a cornerback in the 2025 NFL Draft until the seventh round. Even before training camp started and before Alexander’s ultimate status was known, there were questions about both top-end talent and depth at the position. Still, Gutekunst opted not to use a high pick to fortify the cornerback room.
The concerns grew bigger during training camp when Hobbs suffered a knee injury. He opted for surgery, hoping he could be ready to return in time for the season opener against the Lions. Unfortunately, the recovery took a bit longer than expected. Hobbs missed the Week 1 contest and played limited snaps in Week 2. When he was injured or limited, third-year man Carrington Valentine replaced Hobbs as the boundary corner opposite Keisean Nixon.
Since his return, Hobbs has struggled. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 68.2 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Hobbs according to pro-football-reference.com and have a quarterback rating of 121.4. Pro Football Focus grades Hobbs’ run defense as very good, but in pass coverage, he has been below average at best. Hobbs has been credited with breaking up just one pass all season.
Hobbs really struggled last week against the Cardinals. Jacoby Brissett picked on Hobbs and found success against him throughout the game. Hobbs also made a poor attempt at a tackle near the goal line on the second touchdown catch by tight end Trey McBride.
To be fair, Nixon also struggled against the Cardinals. Still, Nixon has played better over the course of the season. His grade in coverage from PFF is significantly higher than Hobbs’. He has also broken up 10 passes including five in one game back in Week 2 against the Commanders.
The Packers don’t have a lot of depth at the cornerback position. After Valentine, the next player on the depth chart is Bo Melton, who had just made the transition from wide receiver to cornerback over the offseason. While Melton picked up his new position quickly and had a good training camp, he has yet to take a defensive snap during the regular season.
Clearly, the Packers would be in trouble if injuries hit the cornerback room as they lack proven depth.
The coaching staff has to determine whether Hobbs’ struggles are largely due to his knee injury, or if he just isn’t suited to playing boundary corner. They could opt to move Hobbs back to the slot where he’s been most effective in the past, but Javon Bullard has blossomed this season and has been doing a very good job in the slot. If they move Bullard from slot to traditional safety, that will come at the expense of Evan Williams, who has played well there despite having an off game last week in Arizona.
When the Packers pass rush doesn’t get home, the Green Bay secondary has been vulnerable to the pass. Hobbs has truly struggled and Nixon, while playing fairly well, is better suited to being the CB 2, rather than the team’s top cover corner. The Packers still need to fortify the cornerback position, especially later in the season when they face a tougher schedule.
If Hobbs continues to struggle, they could replace him with Valentine or at least rotate Valentine into the lineup for several series at a time. The front office may also have to determine whether Hobbs should return in 2026. The way his contract was structured, they could move on from Hobbs next offseason without too high a penalty. However, the Packers lack a first-round pick in both 2026 and 2027 after the Micah Parsons trade, so they won’t be able to address this position in the opening round of the draft barring a trade.
For now, the coaching staff is saying all the right things about Hobbs and hopes his play will improve. But this remains a concern as we near the midpoint of the 2025 season and it’s something the team can’t ignore for too much longer.