The main part of free agency is over, and the 2026 NFL Draft is just a few weeks away, but the Green Bay Packers still haven’t addressed a major need on this roster. The team lacks a legitimate number one cover corner. In fact, it’s safe to say the team hasn’t had one for more than a year since Jaire Alexander was slowed and eventually saw his career end due to recurring injuries. GM Brian Gutekunst added depth in free agency, but a number one corner remains an important need.
The Packers defense got off to a strong start last season without a number one cornerback. But that weakness was exposed later in the season when Micah Parsons was injured and Rashan Gary stopped reaching the quarterback. With more time to throw, the lack of a shutdown cornerback proved to be too much for the Packers to overcome. The secondary gave up important long passes late in too many games including the playoff loss to Chicago. This was one of several reasons for the Packers late season collapse.
The Packers best cornerback on the roster now remains Keisean Nixon. Nixon would be considered a solid number two cornerback, but he isn’t consistent enough to be considered a legitimate number one. Nixon had some great games but also had too many games where he was beaten badly in important situations.
The former South Carolina star broke up 17 passes last season, including five in one game against the Commanders. Keep in mind, in his first six seasons in the league, he broke up a combined total of 16. However, opposing quarterbacks completed 64.4 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Nixon according to pro-football-reference.com. Their quarterback rating was 105.1, the worst mark out of Nixon’s three seasons in Green Bay.
Nixon is not an elite cover corner and he’s not a ballhawk either. He intercepted just one pass in 2025 which ties his career high for a season. In seven years in the NFL, he has intercepted a total of four passes.
The other cornerbacks fighting for the starting job opposite Nixon on the boundary are returning fourth-year man Carrington Valentine and newly signed free agent addition Benjamin St-Juste. While both are capable of starting, neither would be considered a number one cover corner by most NFL scouts.
The 2026 season will be the final year on Nixon’s contract. His cap hit remains a reasonable $7.16 million for this year. But it will also likely be his final season in Green Bay. Nixon turns 29 in June and would be 30 before any potential extension with the Packers would take effect. Gutekunst only hands out third contracts to a select few players and unless you look at his statistics as a kick returner (something Nixon no longer wishes to do), he really doesn’t meet the standards to sign another contract in Green Bay. Furthermore, even if he did, he wouldn’t solve the need for a legitimate number one cover corner.
Valentine’s rookie contract also ends after the 2026 campaign. So, after next season, two of the top three boundary corners currently on the roster may not be back. So not only do the Packers need an elite cover corner, but they need more potential starters at the position by 2027.
Clearly, cornerback remains one of the highest needs for the Packers entering the draft later this month. While the Pack doesn’t have a first round pick, there are several strong cover corners who could be available for them to pick in the second or third rounds. Don’t be surprised if Gutekunst doubles down at the position at some point in the draft.
Teams have won championships in the NFL without an elite cover corner. But you need a strong pass rush and strong depth across the corner room to get it done. Pass defense is a weak link system and if you have a vulnerable player out there, opposing coaches and quarterbacks will find a way to exploit that weakness.
The sooner Gutekunst can address the cornerback position the better. I’d expect multiple draft picks in 2026 and again in 2027 with the possibility of a free agent signee next offseason added to the mix as well. This is one area the Packers must address.