The Green Bay Packers have made a like-for-like switch at the cornerback position, as Brian Gutekunst prepared for the end of the Jaire Alexander era by handing out a four-year contract to cornerback Nate Hobbs. The secondary is still far from finished, however.
The Packers need one more addition in their secondary to take it from good to great, assuming that All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney is able to replicate his success from last season and young standout Javon Bullard keeps developing. Luckily, the free agent market has one such player who could move the needle.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore, fresh off a solid season as one of the starting cornerbacks on a quality Minnesota Vikings defense, remains without gainful employment as the slower parts of the offseason start to arrive. While Gilmore may not be inclined to ring chase on account of his past win with the Patriots, he likely won't join up with a rebuilding team.
If Gilmore wants to play, some team is going to sign him for another go-around in 2025. Gutekunst being proactive instead of reactive (and crossing whatever financial threshold Gilmore is looking for) could be all it takes to help Gilmore put that green and gold helmet on.
Packers could pull off Stephon Gilmore signing late in 2025 offseason
Gilmore's PFF coverage grade may have taken a slight downturn from the usual excellent levels fans have become accustomed to out of the former Defensive Player of the Year, but he remains a very sticky cover corner who is one of the best defensive backs in the game at making tackles in the open field.
Keisean Nixon is currently slated to be a starting outside cornerback, and his roller-coaster play might be less appealing to Jeff Hafley (a former defensive backs coach himself) than a very known quantity like Gilmore.
The Packers have some money to spend, and this front office seems much more willing to splash the cash for external free agents than past regimes. That could lead to them finally striking a balance that ends up with Gilmore swapping out the horn on the side of his helmet for Packers green and gold.