Perhaps the biggest question mark about the Green Bay Packers' roster entering the offseason was the cornerback position. The likes of Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine didn't inspire a ton of confidence in 2025.
While Green Bay GM Brian Gutekunst did select South Carolina's Brandon Cisse in the second round of the draft, the other additions at the position were minimal. One under-the-radar pickup, though, could prove to be massive.
Cisse only turned 21 earlier this month. With Valentine as the only other semi-viable starting candidate, Benjamin St-Juste may very well be Green Bay's CB2 if the coaching staff gives him a proper shot.
You just wouldn't know it if you weren't, well, in the know about the goings-on around Titletown. Or a Cheesehead diehard. Or shoot, maybe more folks are sleeping on St-Juste than I realize.
Benjamin St-Juste named to 'All-Backup' team, but he could be a Packers starting cornerback in 2026
The reason I raise the topic of Benjamin St-Juste is because ESPN's Bill Barnwell constructed a crafty concoction in his latest word salad. Barnwell created an "All-Backup" team, a la an All-Pro team, except he built an entire roster totally out of backups, with reps from all 32 NFL teams.
Billy B. described St-Juste thusly, and I gotta admit, as someone who blasts Barnwell any chance I get over his Terms and Conditions Agreement column length, he's bang-on here:
"St-Juste was a promising cornerback in Washington before falling out of the starting lineup in 2024. The Canadian wisely chose to join the Chargers last offseason, where he was one of the many defensive backs to revitalize their careers under Jesse Minter, allowing a 68.3 passer rating in coverage across 356 snaps. St-Juste's 6-3 frame makes him a valuable option on the outside for our defense."
Pretty succinct by Barnwell standards. Don't know if I agree with the assertion that St-Juste was a "promising" player in Washington. Then again, nobody could really succeed there until ownership was wrested away from the reluctant, deplorable Dan Snyder.
St-Juste is a lengthy, physical guy who's converted on 96 of his last 103 tackle attempts over the last two seasons, per PFF. That's impressive for any player, never mind defensive backs, who are inclined to avoid heavy collisions if they're able to.
So long story short, St-Juste ain't your typical backup. He's among the biggest corners in the sport. His freakish 6.68-second 3-cone time coming out of the University of Minnesota is elite-of-elite and speaks to how fast he can change direction for a man his size.
All of these attributes and the climate in Green Bay's secondary, which is quietly begging someone to step up, should make Barnwell's All-Backup Team digital tome at least a tad dated in rather short order.
Especially with Nixon and Valentine due to hit free agency in 2027, and St-Juste on a two-year deal worth $10 million, maybe the writing is on the wall as is!
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