Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay Packers
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General manager Brian Gutekunst of the Green Bay Packers speaks to the media during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 25, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers, after having their roster picked apart in NFL free agency, have quite a few holes they need to fill before the 2026 season begins. Luckily, the NFL Draft is just a couple of weeks away.
The Packers have seven total picks. The problem? They don’t select until the second round at No. 52 overall. Their first-round pick belongs to the Dallas Cowboys after last August’s trade for edge rusher Micah Parsons.
That means Green Bay will have to be even more strategic this year, waiting until Day 2 to make its first selection.
That said, one clear area the Packers will have to absolutely address is the cornerback position, which is essentially down to just Keisean Nixon at this point. He’ll be entering his eighth NFL season in 2026.
According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, Green Bay already has its eye on one cornerback in this year’s draft.
Packers Showing Strong Interest In San Diego State CB Chris Johnson
Without question, the Packers have to get better at cornerback. So why not target one of the better options in this year’s class in San Diego State’s Chris Johnson?
“I’ll echo the cornerback talk. The Packers have been widely connected to the second tier of corners in this class since the Senior Bowl. Chris Johnson (San Diego State) has plenty of fans in the team’s scouting department, from what I’ve heard,” Miller said.
Johnson ranked fifth among all cornerback prospects with a total score of 80 based on the 2026 NFL Combine.
He spent his entire college career at San Diego State, logging 152 total tackles, one sack, six interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 14 pass deflections and five forced fumbles across 47 games. He was awarded the Mountain West Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2025.
The real question is whether he’ll even be available at No. 52.
Right now, the consensus big board has Johnson as the sixth cornerback off the board at No. 42 overall — 10 picks before Green Bay is on the clock.
So, if the Packers want him badly enough, they may have to sacrifice additional draft capital to go get him.
Packers Could Double Down At Cornerback In 2026 NFL Draft
Johnson may not be the only cornerback on the Packers’ radar, though. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the team could follow a familiar trend under general manager Brian Gutekunst.
“New defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon needs help at several positions, but chief among them is cornerback. And don’t be surprised if the Packers pick more than one,” Demovsky said. “GM Brian Gutekunst has never been afraid to double or even triple up at a position in the same draft. The Packers still like Keisean Nixon, but they need another equally — if not more — effective player to pair with him. The Packers could also use a defensive lineman or two who can play right away.”
In last year’s draft, the Packers selected two wide receivers and two defensive ends. The year before, they took three offensive linemen and four defensive backs. Only one of those was a cornerback — Kalen King — with their final pick at No. 255 overall.
King later found himself with the Carolina Panthers where he appeared in one game last season.