For the Green Bay Packers, continuing to upgrade at cornerback remains a top priority, ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Both because veteran Jaire Alexander is very much available on the trade market and because of the premium that defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme places on dominant play at the position, Green Bay could look to invest its first-round pick in the best available cornerback on the board at No. 23 overall.
Green Bay Packers’ Potential Top NFL Draft Cornerback Target Revealed
Green Bay Packers, Darien Porter
Jan 28, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team defensive back Darien Porter of Iowa State (10) pauses between plays during Senior Bowl practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
Fortunately for Green Bay, this is a good year to be shopping for cornerback help in the NFL Draft.
That’s exactly what the Packers prioritize in NFL Draft analyst Kyle Crabbs’ latest mock draft projection, with general manager Brian Gutekunst and Green Bay investing the No. 23 pick in Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter.
“The Packers must address their needs at edge rusher and cornerback,” Crabbs writes for The 33rd Team. “GM Brian Gutekunst swung big in free agency for an add at corner (Nate Hobbs), but both positions remain in limbo.
“The Packers have traditionally spent their early capital on the defensive side of the ball, and a talent like Darien Porter fits the bill of what a first-rounder looks like on the perimeter these days.”
Even if the Packers don’t trade Alexander, pairing a player with Porter’s pedigree opposite Hobbs would be a solid infusion of talent at a clear position of need on Green Bay’s defense.
“Elite traits and special teams talent,” NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein writes of Porter. “But only one year of starting experience at cornerback. Porter’s rep total is heavy on zone coverages but he has the athleticism, burst and speed to handle more man coverage. He has excellent zone awareness with the twitch and ball skills to expand his sphere of influence.”
At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Porter has the ideal size and length that defensive coordinators envision building entire secondaries around, and he has the physicality to match up with the premier wide receivers such as Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and A.J. Brown, among others, who are standing in Green Bay’s way of a Super Bowl run.
Porter intercepted three passes and posted 18 total tackles last season.
Oct 29, 2022; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Boston College Eagles head coach Jeff Hafley on the field during warms up before the start of the game against the Connecticut Huskies at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2022; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Boston College Eagles head coach Jeff Hafley on the field during warms up before the start of the game against the Connecticut Huskies at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports