The Green Bay Packers are finally on the board in free agency, and, crucially, they added to the cornerback room by agreeing to a deal with Benjamin St-Juste.
It's reportedly a two-year, $10 million contract, which makes it a low-risk move, but it could offer some insight into Nate Hobbs' future.
Just one year ago, the Packers handed Hobbs a four-year, $48 million contract in the first wave of free agency. His time in Green Bay may already be nearing an end, especially if St-Juste isn't the only cornerback through the door this week.
Packers' move for Benjamin St-Juste could hint at Nate Hobbs' exit
At the start of free agency, ESPN's Rob Demovsky said there are "rumblings" that Hobbs' "time with the Packers could be coming to an end."
The St-Juste signing goes a way to backing that up.
Whether Packers fans like it or not, Keisean Nixon probably isn't going anywhere. Carrington Valentine shouldn't be a guaranteed, every-week starter, but he's a capable backup. St-Juste adds competition on the outside, potentially leaving no room for Hobbs.
Green Bay could add another free-agent cornerback, and there are still a number of talented names to watch on the market, including Riq Woolen and Greg Newsome II. The Packers have created more than enough cap space to make another move, should they wish.
While St-Juste struggled for consistency throughout his time with the Washington Commanders, he enjoyed a bounce-back season with the Los Angeles Chargers. Playing on a one-year, prove-it deal, St-Juste was Pro Football Focus' 11th-highest-graded cornerback. PFF called it a "career revival."
Crucially, he didn't start every game and only played about a third of the Chargers' defensive snaps, so it's unclear where he will sit on the Packers' depth chart.
But there's a good chance his arrival will accelerate Hobbs' departure, especially if Brian Gutekunst doubles down and adds another cornerback in free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft.
Hobbs battled injuries last season. He missed six games and struggled for consistency when he did play. The Packers experimented with him on the outside, but to disappointing results, and his best work came in the slot. Per Pro Football Reference, Hobbs allowed a passer rating of 111.1 in his coverage.
While Green Bay believed Hobbs would provide inside/outside versatility, he sure looked like a slot-only cornerback for much of last season, a role Javon Bullard has locked down in the Packers' secondary.
It seems inevitable that the Packers will move on, and St-Juste's arrival is potentially one step toward making it happen.