With the benefit of hindsight, the Green Bay Packers should never have let Corey Ballentine go.
His departure felt inevitable, but it shined the spotlight on the desperate need to add reinforcements at cornerback. The Packers didn't do enough, but they are in luck.
Ballentine is available again. The Indianapolis Colts have released the veteran cornerback who spent three seasons with the Packers.
Corey Ballentine reunion would give Packers the backup cornerback help they desperately need
Is he a difference-maker? A starter? No to both of those questions, but Ballentine can provide quality depth, and that's what the Packers' secondary is crying out for. Beyond starters Nate Hobbs (who is dealing with a knee injury), Keisean Nixon, and Carrington Valentine, the Packers lack experience at cornerback.
If a starter gets hurt, Green Bay may need to call on wide receiver-turned-cornerback Bo Melton or seventh-round rookie Micah Robinson. Ballentine can help.
He would take the CB4 role in Green Bay, ready to step in when required. The Packers benefited from his reliable play in 2023 when he filled in for injury and started six games.
Per Pro Football Reference, that season, Ballentine allowed a completion percentage of just 56.3 and a passer rating of 81.2 in his coverage. He allowed only two touchdowns while intercepting one pass and defending seven.
You can't ask for much more from your backup cornerbacks.
Ballentine spent a year in Jeff Hafley's system and wouldn't face a learning curve. He could immediately step into backup duties on defense while resuming his previous role as a core special teams contributor. Only five Packers played more special teams snaps than Ballentine last season.
It's an easy decision. Ballentine might not be the big free-agent name fans hoped for, but he is what this team needs.
Carrington Valentine is having an outstanding camp, as is Nate Hobbs. The Packers feel good about their starting three but need adequate depth behind them.
Ballentine can solve that problem.