Packers' free agent addition at CB offers a glimpse into their defensive vision and what they expect from the secondary in 2025
Look at the Green Bay Packers' big free agent signings under general manager Brian Gutekunst. Offensive line, edge rushers, and safety are frequent options. This time around, though, the Packers signed a cornerback. Last Monday, Nate Hobbs agreed to a four-year, $48 million deal with Green Bay, with $16 million in guarantees.The decision to sign […]
Look at the Green Bay Packers' big free agent signings under general manager Brian Gutekunst. Offensive line, edge rushers, and safety are frequent options. This time around, though, the Packers signed a cornerback. Last Monday, Nate Hobbs agreed to a four-year, $48 million deal with Green Bay, with $16 million in guarantees.
The decision to sign him is a byproduct of a need at the position, sure, but also based on what Hobbs brings to the table as a player and how he fits the locker room and Jeff Hafley's defensive scheme.
Primarily a nickel corner, Hobbs has the versatility to play outside or even in the box, unlocking what is now a trend around the NFL—post-snap disguises and simulated pressures.
"Nate is the key that unlocks our defense," said last year Ricky Manning Jr., Hobbs' cornerbacks coach on the Las Vegas Raiders. "That nickel spot is very special. Being able to play inside and outside is a unique characteristic to have. That's what Nate Hobbs is, that's what the star position has become. He's the key to unlock our defense and he's great at it."
Hobbs had an impressive rookie year in 2021 and has been up and down since then, but allowed a solid 96.3 passer rating when targeted last season—a good number for slot corners.
But to play his position, Hobbs has to be much more than that. And his ability is run support is real.
Last season, he had a 62.1 run defense grade, even though his ability to tackle is inconsistent. The ups are there, though, and he finished the year with 16 stops—he's had 81 in his career.
A smart player, Hobbs has an impressive capacity to recognize plays and kill them at the line of scrimmage.
The challenge to play inside is that the action happens extremely fast. With elite explosion grade and good agility grade in his pre-draft Relative Athletic Score, Hobbs can offer that to the Packers.
Nate Hobbs is not exactly a small cornerback, otherwise the Packers wouldn't have signed him, most likely. However, he has shown some signs of trouble covering bigger and more physical wide receivers. His man coverage success rate was 73.3%, which was 39th in the NFL according to PlayerProfiler.
Nate Hobbs is not a perfect player by any means, but he offers a skillset that will allow the Packers to be multiple on defense. That's an ability that Jeff Hafley showed in his first season as a defensive coordinator, having to handle multiple injuries and changes throughout the year. Athletic and a good fit, Hobbs was too good of an opportunity to pass up in a weak free agent class.
“Dumbfounded by the opportunity” – Packers’ free agent signing is ready to have immediate impact against top competition
Nate Hobbs signed a four-year deal with the Packers
