Packers 2021 pre-draft preview: Cornerback top of to-do list

January’s NFC Championship Game showed us the Green Bay Packers need to get better at cornerback opposite All-Pro Jaire Alexander.

Like wide receiver a year ago, this feels like a position group the Packers will need to target early and often in the draft. Let’s just hope they actually do it, unlike wide a receiver last spring.

Cornerback looks to be Green Bay’s main concern ahead of the draft.

Free agency recap

The Packers re-signed Kevin King to a one-year “prove-it” deal while also issuing a tender to restricted free agent Chandon Sullivan. Two of the Packers’ top three cornerbacks from last season return in 2021.

Need in the draft?

Yes.

Re-signing King to a low-risk, one-year deal isn’t a bad move. He struggled in the NFC title game but has been a solid player throughout his career in Green Bay. Sullivan also played well in the slot. But that doesn’t mean Green Bay shouldn’t be open to adding talent at both spots in the draft.

Draft outlook

There should be plenty of good cornerbacks available to Green Bay in the opening couple of rounds, and it also wouldn’t be surprising if the team traded up for a potential star player like Greg Newsome II in the first round.

Even if King is the Week 1 starter in Joe Barry’s defense, the Packers need to achieve a couple of things in the draft.

One is to strengthen the cornerback depth. An injury or two leaves some serious question marks at one of the most important positions on the roster. The second is to find a long-term starter to play opposite Alexander. This is a good draft class to find that player.

Like it has been many times over the past decade, cornerback is the Packers’ number one need in the offseason. They didn’t make many moves at the position in free agency (so far), instead choosing to bring back their own free agents.

They need to address the position in this month’s draft.