Packers named landing spot in surprising trade for All-Pro cornerback

The Green Bay Packers' decision not to draft a cornerback before the seventh round was surprising. The team's lack of depth and recent injury concerns at the position, especially after trading Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills, seemed to put corner near the top of the offseason to-do list.

However, the Packers disagreed.

They had several opportunities to draft a cornerback early. Cooper DeJean and Kool-Aid McKinstry were available when they hit the clock in the first round, while trading up for Terrion Arnold or Quinyon Mitchell would've been affordable. Instead, the Packers waited until their final selection to pick Kalen King.

Matt LaFleur has confidence in second-year Carrington Valentine, but Green Bay is counting on Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes staying healthy.

Perhaps the Packers aren't done yet.

Bleacher Report lists Packers as landing spot in proposed trade for Marshon Lattimore

General manager Brian Gutekunst is always looking for ways to upgrade the roster. If he believes the cornerback position still needs work, the possibility of a trade increases. Could the Packers make another move?

Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine made seven bold predictions for NFL training camp. One is that the New Orleans Saints will trade All-Pro cornerback Marshon Lattimore. And Ballentine believes the Packers are among the teams with enough cap space that "should be interested."

"The Saints' choice to restructure Lattimore's contract in January might have provided a sneak peek into their plan for him," writes Ballentine. "Rather than convert his salary into a traditional bonus that would have spread out the money, they gave him an option bonus that won't officially kick in until the week before the regular season."

The Saints' financial decision could signal their plans to trade him, but should the Packers consider making a deal?

Lattimore is a four-time Pro Bowl and could start opposite Alexander.

The concern is that, like Alexander and Stokes, Lattimore has missed significant time due to injury in recent years. He only played 10 games last season due to an ankle injury and featured in only seven contests in 2022.

The other significant issue is Lattimore's contract. Per Spotrac, his cap hit is a manageable $14.62 million this season but rises to $31.41 million in 2025 and $28.56 million in 2026. That's too much, as he will be entering his age-29 and age-30 seasons.

If the Packers wanted to add a potential starting cornerback, they should've done so in the draft. The opportunities were there.

Their decision not to add a corner in the early rounds shows their confidence in Alexander, Stokes, and Valentine. Even if they still have concerns, trading for Lattimore isn't the answer, no matter how talented he is. With his recent injury history and huge contract, the Packers shouldn't make an offer.

More Packers news and analysis