The Green Bay Packers’ need for the corner this season is not to try.
Over a period of four years between 2015 and 2018, the Packers used five first or second rounds at the corner position, including four in the top-50. Of the five, only one – the All-Pro Jaire Alexander – was a hit. The other? Well, that’s why cornerbacks are a constant need in Green Bay.
It will not be shocking if Brian Gutekunst, general manager, plays a top-50 pick on a corner again in April.
Four big misses have the position to look terrible within the off-season.
Kevin King, the team’s top pick in 2017, is on his way to free agency after a disappointing fourth season culminating in the disastrous performance in the NFC title race. He’s probably gone. Josh Jackson, the 45th overall pick in 2018, has not played a significant role since his rookie season and is well on his way to bust status, where he competed in the first round of 2015, Damarious Randall, and the second round of 2015, Quentin Rollins.
Randall picked up 10 passes with the Packers, but eventually traded for a rugby quarterback. He has been on three different teams for the past three years. Rollins showed promise early in Green Bay, but has fallen back sharply and has been out of football for more than a year.
King was very productive in 2019 and intercepted five passes, but he struggled with injuries during his time in Green Bay and as an appetizer never rose above the replacement level.
Not only will the Packers likely have to find a new starter to play on the perimeter opposite Alexander in 2021, but the starter in the lock also looks uncertain. Chandon Sullivan looked very good in 2019 as a no. 4-corner line, but was generally at odds with the defense’s top closing corner in 2020. The position is too important for the Packers not to add any kind of competition, especially since Sullivan is a free agent.
The Packers tried to use Jackson in the slot. He got opportunities to play on the perimeter. The team has repeatedly shown reluctance to play him. He has been on the field for the past two seasons for a little over 400 defensive grips, with seven healthy scratches and no significant contributions.
Cornerback is an excellent position, and the Packers have treated it that way for a long time during the draft. The problem is not the volume of the swing. This is the amount missed. This team needs to get better at identifying corner improvement talent through the draft process or developing the talent once it’s in Green Bay. Somewhere an exposition takes place in the process.
Randall was the 30th pick in 2015. Rollins was 62nd in 2015. King was 33rd in 2017. Jackson was 45th in 2018. It’s a lot of concept capital to see lost, especially in one place. The Packers really need to have one of the deepest cornerbacks in football. Instead, they will have to use more draft capital – or precious salary dollars – in another effort to correct the position over the next few months.