GREEN BAY, Wis. — With a need at cornerback that some would refer to as "dire," the Green Bay Packers are doing their homework at the position ahead of this year's draft.
They've hosted four of them on top-30 visits so far in this draft cycle, with the latest -- Texas A&M's Will Lee III -- expected to take place next week, according to Sports Illustrated. Lee joins Akron's Malcolm DeWalt IV, Stephen F. Austin's Charles Demmings, and Wake Forest's Karon Prunty on a list that should continue to grow ahead of the draft in two weeks.
Lee, who possesses the kind of elite length that can help him thrive at the next level, is believed to be a day-three selection. At the NFL Scouting Combine last month, he measured at 6'1 1/2" and weighed 189 pounds. He would be the second-tallest cornerback on the Packers' roster, trailing only Benjamin St-Juste, who they acquired in free agency.
Lee's 42-inch vertical and 11'0" broad jump ranked in the 98th and 96th percentile for his position, respectively, and were both tied for second among all defensive backs. He clocked in with a 4.52 40-yard dash, which would be perfectly acceptable for someone of his stature -- a long stride and 32 3/4" arms make for easy recovery if he gets beaten.
Will Lee in coverage in the second half of a game against Florida. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
After playing one season at Iowa Western Community College, Lee committed to Kansas State in November of 2022 before enrolling the following summer, despite a bevy of offers from other programs.
He played in 11 games, snagging a pair of interceptions and finishing his sophomore season with six passes defended, as well as a forced fumble. He transferred to Texas A&M, where he'd be a mainstay in the Aggies' secondary for the remainder of his collegiate career.
Across two seasons, Lee played in 25 games, registering another pair of interceptions -- including a 93-yard pick-six against Texas as a junior -- and 18 total defended passes. In that span, however, he surrendered just south of 1,000 yards into his coverage and eight total touchdowns. His junior season ended with Lee ranked fifth in the SEC in pass breakups, earning second-team All-SEC honors.
As a senior, Lee continued to excel and pieced together arguably his best statistical campaign. He registered a career-high 50 tackles to go along with eight pass deflections, allowing just 32 receptions and four touchdowns on the year in coverage. Lee was invited to the Senior Bowl, but didn't participate in the event for reasons unknown.
Will Lee breaks up a pass intended for Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman on Sept. 27. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
"Lee was a consistent performer throughout college and jumps off the tape in press coverage, where he played 240 of his snaps over three seasons," wrote ESPN's Matt Miller. "Lee's 4.52-second time in the 40-yard dash at the combine didn't help his draft stock, but he's a potential NFL starter."
There hasn't been a position on the Packers' roster under more scrutiny dating back to last summer than cornerback. Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine both struggled on the boundary in 2025, while Nate Hobbs -- released in March after signing a four-year deal with the Packers worth $48 million last spring -- struggled to stay healthy throughout the season. Even when he was on the field, he was deployed on the perimeter as opposed to the slot, where he had played well throughout his career to that point.
The Packers have a limited allotment of draft picks following their blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys in August for Micah Parsons. Any swing they take, they're going to have to make it count. However, it's also a class rich with depth at the position, so it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility for them to pursue other areas of need with their premium picks and target other prospects -- like Lee -- on day three.
Zachary Jacobson is the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is entering his 12th season covering theGreen Bay Packers. He is a member of thePro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter@zacobson or contact him via email atitszachariahj@gmail.com