Grading the signing: Packers land low-risk, high-reward free agent cornerback as they search for value in a tricky market
Benjamin St-Juste signed a two-year contract.
The Green Bay Packers have made their first external addition of free agency, signing cornerback Benjamin St-Juste to a two-year, $10 million contract — it has additional $500k in incentives. It’s the ideal move for the Packers for several reasons — including need and profile.
A third-round pick back in 2021, he spent last year with the Los Angeles Chargers after playing his first four NFL seasons on the Washington Commanders.
Low risk, high reward
St-Juste signed a relatively cheaper deal with the Packers at $5 million a year — Cor’Dale Flott, for instance, got $15 million a year from the Tennessee Titans. He was a full-time starter throughout his time in Washington, but became a part-time player and was on the field for 356 defensive snaps in Los Angeles. A big-bodied corner, he plays mostly as a boundary piece.
In 2025, he allowed a 64.0 passer rating when targeted, with one interception and three pass breakups. Via PFF, St-Juste was the 11th-highest graded cornerback last season on a part-time role for the Chargers.
“Thanks to a change of scenery from Washington to Los Angeles, St-Juste enjoyed a career revival in 2025. Despite not playing a full-time role in the Chargers’ secondary, the fifth-year cornerback showcased how high his ceiling can be in the right system. St-Juste displayed quality zone instincts that allowed him to earn a league-leading 90.1 PFF zone coverage grade.” — Mason Cameron
Mid-level signing
We did a predictions piece ahead of free agency. The three predictions were focus on defense, more willingness to sign mid-level pieces, and the draft as the ultimate tool to build the team. This move encapsulates all of them.
St-Juste helps solve a huge depth issue at cornerback, joining a room that has Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and Nate Hobbs. He’s a lower-level signing in terms of cost, which fits what the Packers can afford cap-wise.
St-Juste is 28, will be 29 by September, but general manager Brian Gutekunst had already indicated an openness to sign older pieces.
“Anytime you have an opportunity to add a player that can help you, regardless of their age,” Gutekunst mentioned. “Very few years are we adding guys for one year, We’re usually looking for a more long-term solution. And certainly if you’re up there in age, that may not be the case. But we’ve certainly done that in the past, and we’ll do it again.”
The Packers are finding a mid-term solution for a mid-level cost. And if he can extrapolate his production in a higher number of snaps, Green Bay will have found great value.
Grade: B+.
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