The Green Bay Packers’ secondary was the weakness of their defense heading into this season. They lost All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander in the offseason but did little to address the unit, signing only Nate Hobbs in free agency and drafting Micah Robinson, who is no longer with the team.
Green Bay’s cornerback room had a strong start to the year. In the first three games, Hobbs, Carrington Valentine, and Keisean Nixon allowed only 38% of passes thrown their way to be completed. Since then, though, the group has struggled to maintain that level of performance.
In Week 4, Dak Prescott went after Green Bay’s cornerbacks 20 times and completed 70% of his throws. Valentine gave up a perfect 158.3 passer rating, while Hobbs allowed two touchdowns. Together, they combined for a 146.8 rating allowed, and the group as a whole gave up a 123.9 passer rating and three scores on the day.
Joe Flacco targeted the group 17 times in Week 6 and completed 11 passes, marking what was then his most efficient passing performance of the season. It’s fair to note that Ja’Marr Chase went into god mode midway through the game, but the Cincinnati Bengals were exploiting Green Bay’s secondary too easily.
On Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, the secondary gave up first downs on third-and-14 and third-and-23. Hobbs was involved in both plays. On the third-and-14, Marvin Harrison Jr. shook him and made the catch to move the chains.
Later in that drive, Hobbs failed to make a tackle attempt at the goal line, allowing Trey McBride to walk in for the touchdown. Meanwhile, Nixon allowed a 116.7 passer rating when targeted in the game, while Hobbs gave up a 109.7 rating, and Valentine played two total snaps.
Overall, the numbers show that Nixon has been a serviceable No. 1 option, but everyone behind him has struggled. Opposing teams have figured out how to exploit the secondary with the quick game because they can’t hold their ground for more than a couple of seconds if the pass rush does not get home.
The Packers may need to find solutions to optimize their cornerbacks. Sliding Valentine to the boundary and Hobbs to the slot could help, but Brian Gutekunst is likely to be a very busy man on the market by the time the trade deadline arrives.
Look at the teams in the bottom left of the graphic: the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, and Bengals. These are the struggling teams in the league as the trade deadline approaches, and they are the most likely to be sellers.
For example, the Bengals could be 3-6 by the November 4 deadline. Therefore, they might be more willing to move a defensive piece, perhaps someone like D.J. Turner, who had an impressive game against Green Bay.
Green Bay’s spending to acquire Micah Parsons could make it harder for them to pursue a top-tier cornerback before the trade deadline, meaning any addition at the position would likely be a gamble.
Fox Sports analyst Bucky Brooks has highlighted Tariq Woolen as a trade candidate to watch. He fits the type of cornerback profile that Green Bay typically targets.
The one-time Pro Bowler looked like a future gold jacket performer when he led the league with six interceptions as a rookie. Unfortunately, Woolen has struggled mightily since his impressive debut, with shoddy coverage and poor technique overshadowing his positive plays on the island. Considering how a change in scenery could help the 6’4”, 210 lb. corner rediscover his magic as a super-sized “ballhawk,” the Seahawks’ phones should buzz as the trade deadline approaches.
Jeff Hafley might be very fond of his cornerbacks, but the truth is this is not an elite group – or even a particularly good one. They may turn things around on their own, but Gutekunst should at least pick up the phone and see what the league chatter is surrounding cornerbacks.