(Photo: Sean M. Haffey, Getty)
We are officially less than one month away from the NFL Draft, which means it's time for me to start highlighting my favorite players the Packers could actually draft.
The Packers entered this offseason with their biggest needs at cornerback, defensive tackle, and offensive line. Even with free agency behind us, those needs haven't really changed.
They added Javon Hargrave, Benjamin St. Juste, and Zaire Franklin while also resigning Sean Rhyan, but I don't believe any of those moves should change their draft plans all that much.
As we all know, Brian Gutekunst takes thresholds as seriously as any GM in football, so diving too deep on players before the NFL Combine and Pro Days is usually a waste of time.
Now that we're past the Combine and have athletic testing for most healthy players, it makes our job of figuring out which players the Packers will likely have on their board a lot easier.
While I may not believe this should be as valuable to Gutey as it seems to be, there is no denying that RAS scores have played a major role in who he ends up targeting, so every player listed today has a RAS of 9.23 or higher.
Over the next few weeks, I'm going to go position by position, breaking down my favorite players that I believe have a realistic chance of ending up in Green Bay.
With no first-round pick, predicting who will be available when they make their first selection is a bit tougher than most years, but I won't only be focusing on the second round.
Gutey does a lot of his best work on Day 3 of the draft, so I will also be highlighting a couple of players they could find later in the draft.
I'm going to start this series with what I believe is the team's biggest need – cornerback.
Here are four cornerbacks that the Packers could actually draft later next month.
****Chris Johnson, San Diego State
Chris Johnson has been one of the most popular names in Packers mock drafts over the past couple of months, and for good reason. He is an extremely intelligent corner who makes a living in zone defense, reading opposing quarterbacks' eyes.
While we don't know exactly what type of defense new DC Jonathan Gannon is going to run, we do know that nearly every defense in the Matt Lafleur era has relied heavily on zone coverage. He has said on many occasions how much he likes his defensive backs to have their eyes on the quarterback so they can make plays on the football.
Johnson does a tremendous job of breaking on the football and breaking up passes. In 2025 alone, he had nine pass breakups and four interceptions. The Packers have lacked that kind of playmaking ability from their cornerback room for far too long.
Chris Johnson and Emmanuel McNeill-Warren were my highest graded G5 players heading into the year, and they’ve exceeded my expectations so far. I’d project both to go in the 2nd round, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they’re the only day two picks from the G5. (That speaks to how… https://t.co/ya1acOBaJF pic.twitter.com/PvUaOfVZff
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) October 21, 2025
A few things that really stood out to me when watching Johnson's tape were how smooth he was in his back pedal and how easily he can flip his hips and run with a wide receiver downfield.
Tackling isn't something that usually gets talked about a ton when it comes to cornerback play, but as Packers fans, we know all too well what can happen when you have guys who aren't willing or able to consistently make tackles. That will not be an issue with Johnson. He's made 116 tackles over the past two seasons while only missing seven. That is as good a ratio as you're going to find at that position.
****Daylen Everette, Georgia
If you have read my previous work or follow me on Twitter, then you'll know I've been a fan of Everette's since the beginning of this process. He has the size I like at corner and the attitude that everyone should want out of their corners.
The biggest differentiator between Everette and Chris Johnson is when it comes to Everette's ability to play in man coverage. He excels when put on an island and asked to lock down an opponent's top receiver.
I know I just said the Packers will likely play a ton of zone coverage under Gannon, but that doesn't mean they aren't going to play any man, and no team is going to turn its nose up at a corner who can be relied upon one-on-one.
Daylen Everette just ran a 4.38 40-yard dashpic.twitter.com/wwBPQ6mIjH https://t.co/o8416nATfM
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) February 27, 2026
Everette is at his best on the boundary with the ball in the air, breaking up 10 passes in 13 games in 2025. We have seen so many Packers cornerbacks over the years struggle to get their head around to look for the football, and I think we're all sick of it. That is not something that I'm concerned about with Everette.
If there are two areas I want to see Everette improve in most it would be tackling and penalties. He's already made progress as a tackler after missing 13 in 2024, he only missed five in 2025, but there is still work to be done.
While it isn't egregious, he has committed eight penalties over the past two seasons, which is a bit more than I'd like.
For those reasons, I see Everette as more of a third-round option than someone I'd draft at 52nd overall.
****Julian Neal, Arkansas
Julian Neals feels like one of the most overlooked cornerbacks in this year's class. He is a player I watched early in the process and immediately became a fan.
He has prototypical outside corner size and knows how to use it. He has long, lanky arms that he used to break up 10 passes in 2025 to go along with two interceptions. He does a great job of breaking on crossing routes and disrupting wide receivers' path to the football.
Even at over 6-foot-1, Neal is very fluid at all three levels and knows how to stay glued to his receivers. He has tremendous quickness for a guy his size, with a natural ability to stab at receivers right off the line of scrimmage, messing with the timing of their routes.
Very big fan of Julian Neal https://t.co/xQyBb7aLGZ pic.twitter.com/HGMarWWz2J
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) January 17, 2026
As much as he utilizes his size and strength in coverage, it becomes even more apparent when defending the run. He consistently attacks ball carriers, working his way through blocks and forcing backs away from the sidelines and into the arms of waiting tacklers. He finished the 2025 season with 55 tackles with only four misses.
I love his attitude and style of play. It's something the Packers' cornerback room has sorely missed for a long time.
****Will Lee III, Texas A&M
Much like the other players I've highlighted today, Will Lee III is a long, range-y corner with great athletic testing who excels on the boundary.
Lee III impressed me most with his ability to mirror opposing wide receivers, especially on double moves. He has a high football IQ and rarely finds himself out of position, which is something we've seen far too often from the Packers' current cornerback group.
He's another corner who spends most of his time in man coverage, so it will be up to the coaching staff to decide if they think he can hang in a zone scheme. Based on what I saw from his tape, I don't see why he wouldn't be able to crack it with the right coaching.
He stays incredibly patient during the receivers' routes but breaks on the ball with quickness and aggression. Possibly too much aggression, as he's racked up 11 penalties over the past two seasons, which is something he'll definitely have to clean up.
Will Lee III is a strong physical CB. Would be a nice change-up from what we currently have https://t.co/WSL4je13tx pic.twitter.com/v60B0vcUQr
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) January 17, 2026
He isn't always the most consistent tackler, but he takes good angles, is more than willing, and has some massive hits on tape.
If Gutey decides to go elsewhere in rounds two and three, I believe Lee III could be near the top of their board when they pick in the fourth round.