Jonathan Gannon Bobby Babich
Getty
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Jonathan Gannon and the Green Bay Packers are hiring Bobby Babich as defensive pass game coordinator.
The Green Bay Packers have a couple of position groups that need strengthened if they are going to make a run at a Super Bowl in 2026.
Arguably the biggest upgrade they need is at cornerback. In 2025 Packers cornerbacks totaled just two interceptions on the season. Nate Hobbs was supposed to help bolster the unit when he signed a four-year, $48 million contract with Green Bay last offseason, but injuries and poor performance made him a disappointment.
Cornerback is not only a need in 2026, but also for the future as Hobbs in the only one that is currently under contract for the 2027 season. A very good cornerback just hit the free agent market, as the Buffalo Bills have released Taron Johnson, per a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
Green Bay Packers Have Connection to Free Agent CB Taron Johnson
Taron Johnson
GettyCB Taron Johnson
Johnson played under new Packers secondary coach Brian Babich throughout his entire eight-year tenure in Buffalo. Babich coached the defensive backs, safeties, and linebackers for the Bills before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2024. He was let go as part of a regime change in Buffalo, leading him to sign with Green Bay earlier this offseason.
The elephant in the room is that Johnson mostly plays in the slot, and the Packers have a much bigger need for an outside cornerback. However, Johnson is among the best slot corners in the NFL, and his familiarity with Babich adds another intriguing layer. When you also factor in how thin Green Bay is at the position after the 2026 season, adding Johnson to the mix isn’t far-fetched.
Johnson was a fourth-round pick by Buffalo in 2018, and he developed into an All-Pro in 2023. In total throughout his career Johnson has recorded 572 total tackles, six interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 48 passes defensed, eight sacks, eight forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
Packers Need Upgrades in Every Level of Their Defense
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst
GettyGeneral manager Brian Gutekunst of the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay is expected to lose several heavy hitters within its defense to free agency, such as edge rusher Rashan Gary and linebacker Quay Walker. Both will leave behind a lot of production to be replaced. However, general manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine that he is comfortable with the team’s depth.
“Our 2026 (season) will be defined mostly by the guys who are already here, and what they do to get better and better our football team,” Gutekunst said. “I’m excited about that, because I really do like the group of guys we have in that locker room. There’s some guys that are really coming into the best years of their career. They’ve got a lot of experience under their belt now. We’re a seasoned team. I think right now what we have to do is we have to be able to get in those moments that we’ve struggled with the last two years and finish them off, and I’m excited about that.”
The return of star edge rusher Micah Parsons will help, but even he needs a little help. The Packers won’t likely be big spenders during free agency, but that doesn’t mean they make a couple of solid additions. They currently have eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and will need to hit on a few on the defensive side of the ball.