Are the Green Bay Packers set at the cornerback position?
They have invested a lot at cornerback, including first-round picks on Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes.
Here’s a look at the Packers’ projected cornerback depth chart a couple of weeks into free agency:
Packers projected cornerback depth chart after second week of free agency
- Jaire Alexander
- Rasul Douglas
- Eric Stokes
- Keisean Nixon
- Shemar Jean-Charles
- Corey Ballentine
- Kiondre Thomas
- Benjie Franklin
- Tyrell Ford
When fully healthy, the Packers have an excellent starting trio. However, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t add another cornerback if an opportunity comes up.
You can never have enough good cornerbacks. They are hard to find, and given the importance of the position, teams should never pass up the opportunity to draft a top cornerback.
Rasul Douglas could be an ideal candidate to move to safety, and it’s something general manager Brian Gutekunst spoke about earlier this offseason.
Brian Gutekunst left the door open this morning for a possible move to safety for Rasul Douglas. His skill set could create a seamless transition, “As far as his eyes, ability to go get the ball, his angles, instincts -- and he’s a pretty good tackler, too,” Gutekunst said.
— zach jacobson (@itszacharyj) February 28, 2023
Douglas moving to safety would help solve one of the Packers’ biggest needs in the secondary, but create an opening at cornerback.
Also, Eric Stokes is returning from a significant injury and struggled in the games he played last season. According to Pro Football Reference, Stokes gave up a passer rating of 123.5 in his coverage last season.
But Stokes showed more than enough ability in his rookie season to have confidence in him entering year three.
Even so, if one of Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon or Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez is on the board when the Packers pick in the first round, could they pass on the opportunity to draft either? Both players have CB1 potential. Imagine a trio of Jaire Alexander, Gonzalez, and Stokes, with Douglas at safety but also able to play at corner.
In all likelihood, any cornerback additions for the Packers will be made on Day 2 or 3 of the draft.