The Green Bay Packers have an undeniable need for cornerback help this offseason.
The Nate Hobbs experiment did not pan out in Year 1. Keisean Nixon dropped countless picks and couldn't measure up to the responsibilities of a No. 1 corner. Carrington Valentine was thrust into a starting role and, while he performed admirably, he was also badly exposed at times. Further down the depth chart, Bo Melton is a converted receiver.
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More than likely, cornerback is a position the Packers will target in the draft, but pursuing established names in free agency could give them a quicker fix. They might need an immediate contributor with the looming possibility of Hobbs being released or traded.
In search of a solution, general manager Brian Gutekunst could return to a familiar well: defensive backs who last played for the New York Giants. Pilfering safety Xavier McKinney sure worked out well two offseasons ago. The team's next move could be luring away his former teammate, cornerback Cor'Dale Flott, to help stabilize the sidelines for a vulnerable secondary.
Cor'Dale Flott could be stabilizer the Packers' DB room craves
McKinney responded to the change of scenery by racking up eight interceptions and earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2024. He followed up with another All-Pro bid last season. Flott might not be quite the same shiny new toy, but he would be an upgrade over Hobbs and give coordinator Jonathan Gannon a plug-and-play piece for all those Cover 4 looks.
In free agency, the former Giant is projected to command a four-year, $38 million contract. Would the Packers be willing to spend that after last winter's whiff on Hobbs? Hopefully, whether on Flott or someone else. Without a first-round draft pick, the open market is their best bet to land a quality starter.
While Flott isn't a turnover machine (just one interception), he is a reliable nuisance in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, his 72.8 passer rating allowed ranked 14th in the league, outdoing any Packers corner by a country mile (Nixon came closest by holding QBs to a rating of 105.2). Pro Football Reference credits him with 11 pass breakups and three tackles for loss.
Listed at just 175 pounds, he doesn't boast Nixon's physicality, but Flott would supply an upgrade in tackling compared to Valentine. PFF credits him with seven missed tackles to the latter's 10, while PFR recorded a much larger gap in Flott's favor. Despite being light even for his position, at 6-foot-1 he also has a height advantage over either Nixon or Valentine.
As for his injury history, let's address that now. Health concerns are valid, as he has yet to play more than 14 games in his career. Noting that Flott ended last year on the injured reserve could cause alarm among fans of the Green and Gold. However, the Giants also had every reason to hold him out with a knee issue to further their tank for draft position. His other absence was due to a concussion.
Bottom line: yes, his ability to stay on the field is a concern, but also one that could be overemphasized. By comparison, when the Packers signed Hobbs, he had missed 16 games in three seasons versus Flott's nine since 2023.
Handing McKinney a big contract paid off in a major way. If the Packers can have Flott for what could be around half McKinney's cost, adding another ex-Giant to the backend of the defense could prove to be a winning formula.