Cornerback is arguably the Green Bay Packers' most pressing outstanding need. Alas, the remaining free-agent options leave much to be desired, and the team doesn't have its first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Given the circumstances, the Packers must get creative to fill one of, if not their biggest, roster holes. Things have gotten dire enough for them to consider bringing back veteran castaway Trevon Diggs, who seems interested in a reunion. However, if Green Bay prefers to bring in a rookie, Jordan Reid of ESPN identified Georgia defensive back Daylen Everette as an under-the-radar option.
Reid highlighted Everette as a prospect who addresses a glaring area of weakness for the Packers and can be taken "outside Round 1." The former pointed out how the latter checks multiple boxes in both the physical tools and skill categories:
"When drafting corners, the Packers have prioritized high-end athletes and length," Reid wrote. Everette has both traits as a versatile corner with the speed and change-of-direction skills to remain consistent in man coverage. His spatial awareness in zone could also be useful for new [defensive] coordinator Jonathan Gannon."
ESPN named Georgia CB Daylen Everette as under-the-radar 2026 NFL Draft target for the Packers
There's a lot to like about Everette's profile. He's one of the fastest and most explosive corners who will be selected this April. His 4.38-second and 1.54-second 40-yard dash and 10-yard split times, respectively, are both top-three among the incoming crop of talent at the position.
A strong outing at the league's annual scouting combine earned Everette an elite 9.89 Relative Athletic Score (RAS). For context, that mark is 34th out of 2,920 cornerbacks since 1987. At 6-foot-1, 196 pounds, he possesses the blend of size, burst and playmaking ability to be a value add.
Everette is set to enter the pros with loads of experience and an impressive résumé. He was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and a three-year starter at Georgia, perhaps the premier program in college football. His steady progression with the Bulldogs suggests there's untapped potential to be here.
In 2025, Everette recorded 50 tackles, a career-high 10 pass deflections, an interception and a fumble recovery, which was returned for a touchdown. He proved capable of lining up inside or outside. His efforts yielded a 67.1 Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade, good for 486th among 897 qualified corners.
Listed as the 89th-ranked player on PFF's big board and 73rd on ESPN's overall list, Everette is shaping up as a third-round choice. The Packers notably hold the No. 84 spot.