What the Packers' new addition at premium position can offer as they look to build depth and stability across the roster
Cornerback depth is one of the most impactful concerns of the Green Bay Packers this offseason. With uncertainty around Jaire Alexander and the lack of investment at the position, the team is still looking for answers.Earlier this week, the Packers announced the signing of Gregory Junior, a former sixth-round pick who’s entering his fourth season […]
Cornerback depth is one of the most impactful concerns of the Green Bay Packers this offseason. With uncertainty around Jaire Alexander and the lack of investment at the position, the team is still looking for answers.
Earlier this week, the Packers announced the signing of Gregory Junior, a former sixth-round pick who’s entering his fourth season in the NFL in some capacity. In a corresponding move, Green Bay waived fellow cornerback Kaleb Hayes.
Who’s Gregory Junior
Junior played at the small Ouachita Baptist University and ended up being the first player from the school ever drafted in the NFL. In 2022, the Jacksonville Jaguars used a sixth-round pick to take him—the 197th overall pick. Back in the pre-draft process, Junior had a visit with the Packers. He is a 6-0, 203 pound cornerback with flexibility to play defense and special teams, something indispensable for a depth defensive back.
This is what Lance Zierlein, a draft analyst for NFL.com, wrote about him ahead of the 2022 draft, when he was projected as a sixth/seventh-round prospect.
“Developmental defensive back with size, speed and fluidity that stands out on tape against his level of competition. Junior's technique and field awareness could be early stumbling blocks but are certainly correctable. He's smooth and athletic working around the field and teams will go to work discovering his level of talent and versatility during the draft process. He had limited ball production against a lower level of competition, but the traits are present for that to change. He will be an early special teams worker as a draft-and-stash talent on Day 3.”
What his NFL career has looked like
Gregory Junior spent two full seasons with the Jaguars, but most of the first one was on the practice squad, and the second one on the injured reserve. However, he did have a role when he was available, especially in 2023.
On defense, he played 18 snaps as a rookie (mostly as a boundary cornerback) and 94 in his second year (mostly in the slot). He improved in the second year, allowing a 95.4 passer rating when targeted.
Junior barely played special teams as a rookie, but had a real role in 2023, with 105 snaps, including blocking in kick and punt return, kick coverage, and field goal block. He had an average 62.7 PFF grade in each year.
In his career, Junior has had 12 tackles, four stops, and one batted ball at the line of scrimmage. Since being waived by the Jaguars last August, he had an AFC South tour, with brief experiences with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans.
Even though the top of the roster is questionable, the Packers have added several depth pieces to fight for roster spots, and it will be a tough task for Gregory Junior to find a place for him.
The cornerback room has Jaire Alexander, Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, and Carrington Valentine as the primary options. Behind them, everything is open between Junior, seventh-round rookie Micah Robinson, practice squad holdovers Kamal Hadden and Kalen King, Isaiah Dunn, plus undrafted free agents Johnathan Baldwin and Tyron Herring.
Matt LaFleur confirms suspicion that explains why the Packers are open to trading Jaire Alexander but not closing door on return
Cornerback has two years left on his contract
