Packers seventh-round pick could land starting job after turning heads at camp

A seventh-round rookie starting the season opener for a team, in theory, sounds nonsensical or like a rebuilding team with minimal roster talent.

It sounds especially ridiculous in the case of a Green Bay Packers defense with eight first-round draft picks. From there, your chances only get worse if you're also a cornerback.

According to Pro Football Reference, the Packers have never drafted a seventh-round cornerback who started a game for the franchise in the modern draft era (1994-present). 

However, in the case of Packers rookie cornerback Carrington Valentine, a seventh-round draft pick in 2023, he's been a preseason sensation and could be in line to break that mold.

It's easy to overreact to a fringe roster player making a few splashy plays in training camp or preseason games, but Valentine has been a top performer since entering the building.

A converted wide receiver out of the University of Kentucky, Valentine only spent two seasons starting as a cornerback for the Wildcats. During that time, he displayed fluid athleticism, crafty technique, and superior ball skills in his new position.

Despite a highly productive 2022 season, including nine pass breakups and an interception, and due to limited starts in college, Valentine fell under the radar in a deep cornerback draft class. His biggest knocks are biting against double moves and being over-zealous in zone coverage.

Many draft experts, like Pro Football Network's Ian Cummings, believed Valentine would make a quality day two selection with immense upside.

"There are several high-upside cornerback prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, but Valentine has one of the highest ceilings of the entire group," Cummings writes.

He added that Valentine "has great proportional length, elite explosiveness, exceptional recovery speed, twitch, and fluidity."

Valentine has seen added reps in the Packers camp, mainly due to third-year cornerback and 2021 first-round pick Eric Stokes recovering from injury.

With mentorship from cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas, Valentine has seized the opportunity.

He's suffocating the Packers' top receivers in man coverage with regular pass breakups and interceptions while running with the starters.

But not just in practice; Valentine was a force in his first preseason action.

Packers rookie Carrington Valentine could turn preseason success into starting job

Against the Cincinnati Bengals, Valentine tied for a team-high four solo tackles, tallied three pass breakups, and hauled in an interception.

With nobody standing out to take over the safety room in Green Bay, the Packers are considering testing out Douglas at safety to get Valentine on the field more permanently.

A necessary experiment because once Stokes returns from injury, the Packers have a good problem to have: an abundance of starting-caliber corners.

The only issue is that besides presumed starting slot corner Keisean Nixon, they are all best suited to play on the outside.

Valentine and Stokes are particularly similar, possessing abilities to track vertical throws with elite speed, pressing at the line, and using fluid athleticism to remain sticky in man coverage.

Douglas's only blunders in Green Bay have come from covering the slot, and he has minimal starting experience at safety. He otherwise ranks third in the NFL since 2021 with nine interceptions.

But his high-IQ play, ball-hawking nature, and physicality make him the most logical choice of any corner to try out next to safety Darnell Savage.

Douglas himself is not opposed to the move either.

"I think it's I'm just a ballhawk, so people want to see me roam and be like Ed Reed. They want to see that," said Douglas, per Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated.

On trying out Douglas at safety, head coach Matt LaFleur said: “I think that's certainly a possibility, yeah. I think you could absolutely do that.”

You rarely see a coaching staff alter their expected starters to accommodate a seventh-round rookie. So while Valentine may not start week one, it's apparent he's already made an impression and not only carving out a roster spot but a role in the defense.

Valentine again shined in joint practice with the New England Patriots leading up to their week two preseason clash and he will look to keep his hot streak going come gametime.

If Douglas shows promise at safety as that group continues to struggle, and while they ease Stokes back, there's growing confidence among coaches that Valentine can slot in opposite of Alexander to get the best 11 players on the field.

Keep an eye on this rookie; he might pan out to be a steal of the 2023 draft.

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