As recently as 2024, the Green Bay Packers have doubled up at the same position in the top half of the draft.
Last year, they selected inside linebackers Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper in the second and third rounds, respectively. The Packers also double-dipped at safety, taking Javon Bullard in Round 2 and Evan Williams in Round 4.
Green Bay has often used this strategy under Brian Gutekunst, and it’s one they should consider again this year at wide receiver or cornerback.
Even after adding Nate Hobbs in free agency, the assumed departure of Jaire Alexander will leave a hole in the cornerback room. Eric Stokes left for Las Vegas in free agency after an up-and-down four years in Green Bay that were littered with injuries.
Currently, it appears Green Bay plans to start Keisean Nixon and Hobbs on the outside, with Carrington Valentine serving as the No. 3 corner.
Questions exist about whether or not Nixon can be a true No. 1 corner, while Hobbs has excelled in the slot. However, reports indicate the Packers plan on scooting him outside. Snagging a couple of cornerbacks early would solidify the room, even if it’s for depth purposes alone.
Last year, Green Bay took a flier on Penn State cornerback Kalen King in Round 7. The suggestion here isn’t to take two corners late in 2025. Instead, it’s to consider using premium picks on the position.
While that may sound strange, remember Gutekunst’s first draft.
Gutekunst took over as general manager in 2018. He took cornerbacks back-to-back in Rounds 1 and 2 in his first draft, selecting Alexander and Josh Jackson.
Alexander panned out wonderfully until the injuries surfaced the last couple of years. However, Jackson went in the opposite direction. Still, taking two early swings gave the Packers two chances at striking gold. And they did just that with Alexander, who turned out to be an All-Pro.
Green Bay would be taking a risk rolling into 2025 without addressing cornerback in a significant way. On top of losing Stokes and likely losing Alexander one way or another, Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell also left the team.
If you want to make the case Nixon could be a No. 1, fine, go ahead. But nobody can argue this team has enough depth at corner as currently constructed.
The good thing going for Green Bay is Gutekunst has talked before about the idea of drafting the same position twice early on, and he isn’t opposed to doing it again.
I think we tried to follow the board and I’d like to think that we’re disciplined enough that, even though we’ve picked a guy at that position, if the highest rated guy is at that position, we’re not afraid to stay there.
That proved to be true at safety and linebacker last season.
I think you can make a mistake maybe because, ‘Hey, we just picked a guy at this position, maybe we should not take him even though he might be the highest rated guy,’ but I think we do a pretty good job of staying disciplined to the process.
The Packers should also consider a double-dip at wide receiver. There’s quantity in the room at the moment, but there’s also swirling uncertainty.
Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson are entering the final year of their contracts, and Watson will miss a significant portion of the 2025 campaign. Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks have just two years left on their rookie deals. Extension talks have been quiet around Doubs and Watson. That doesn’t mean there haven’t been exploratory talks, but nothing of substance has surfaced.
Of the four, none emerged as a bonafide No. 1 who could be the go-to guy in 2024. As a result, things can be viewed on somewhat shaky ground with four guys who are good but haven’t shown they can be elite.
Green Bay needs an elite weapon at wide receiver, and Gutekunst isn’t afraid of going receiver early in a draft and repeating the strategy. The Packers had 11 picks in 2022 and used a second-rounder (their third selection) on Watson and a fourth-rounder (their fifth selection) on Doubs.
Reed was a second-rounder in 2023, while Wicks was a fifth-rounder. That was also the same draft the Packers took two other pass catchers in Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft in Rounds 2 and 3.
A lot has been made of Green Bay’s long-running streak of not taking a wide receiver in the first round since 2002. The truth remains that the Packers have often taken wide receivers early in the draft, just not in Round 1.
That could change this year, although you might not want to hold your breath. Still, there are key needs at wide receiver and cornerback, and doubling up at one of those positions with a couple of early picks could serve the Packers well.