Packers forced to scour the market for cornerback help as an emergency situation suddenly puts roster depth to the test
Green Bay is dealing with cornerback issues, affecting an already questionable depth.
The Green Bay Packers’ cornerback situation was always going to be a problem this season. Surprise, surprise: It’s become a huge problem at the worst possible time. The depth suffered some hits against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17, and the Packers will have to find options on the market.
Nate Hobbs left the game with a knee injury, and it’s yet to be determined how severe it is. Moreover, Kamal Hadden entered the game and had a significant ankle injury. At this point, especially considering that Bo Melton has played only on offense and special teams, the only active cornerbacks on the 53-man roster are Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine, who the Packers tried to bench because of his inability to tackle.
Practice squad options
The Packers have two defensive backs who can be elevated for gameday or promoted to the 53-man roster. It’s cornerback Shemar Bartholomew, who’s been on the PS since early December, and safety/slot corner Johnathan Baldwin, signed by the Packers as an undrafted free agent right after the draft.
They’ve been with the team, they know Jeff Hafley’s system, and it would be easier to play them right away, though Bartholomew hasn’t been in Green Bay for much time.
On the roster, the Packers could also finally use Bo Melton as a cornerback. He had defensive snaps in the preseason and was fine, but didn’t have a single defensive rep in the regular season; he’s played more and more at wide receiver.
Other teams’ practice squads and free agents
If the Packers want to find players who are elsewhere, like they did with Rasul Douglas in 2021, there are some intriguing options. The most natural one would be Carolina Panthers’ David Long, who spent some time with Green Bay back in 2023 — at that time, though, Joe Barry was the defensive coordinator.
Veteran options would also include Seattle Seahawks’ Shaquill Griffin, Buffalo Bills’ Dane Jackson, and New York Jets’ Samuel Womack. The problem with signing players off other teams’ practice squads is that you have to keep them on the active roster for at least three weeks.
The highest upside move, but with a decent amount of risk, would be signing veteran Stephon Gilmore in free agency. The 35-year-old corner, the defensive player of the year back in 2019, played at a solid level for the Minnesota Vikings last year but has been unsigned through this entire season. Other free agents could be Kendall Fuller and former Packer Ka’dar Hollman. Because they are true free agents, the Packers could sign them to the practice squad with low salaries.
The lack of CB depth is certainly not a shocking outcome given how the Packers built the roster, but the avenues to address it now are obviously limited.
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