This is the sixth in a nine-part series previewing the NFL Draft and the Green Bay Packers’ needs at each position.
Fix the secondary.
It’s an annual rite of spring in Green Bay, where the Packers have struggled to find the right pieces for years now.
And it could be the same old song and dance when the 2024 NFL Draft begins on Thursday.
Since 2014, the Packers have used five of their 11 first round draft choices on defensive backs. Cornerback Jaire Alexander (2018) blossomed into a Pro Bowl player, safeties Darnell Savage (2019) and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (2014) had up and down careers in Green Bay, cornerback Eric Stokes (2021) has battled injury and cornerback Damarious Randall (2015) was a bust.
Today, Green Bay is trying to rebuild the safety position and looking for help at cornerback. So don’t be surprised if the Packers use their first round pick (No. 25) on another defensive back.
“I think the back end is probably where we weren’t as consistent as we needed to be and I’d like that to be shored up,” Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst said earlier this offseason. “There will probably some moving pieces there going into next year.”
Gutekunst made quite a splash last month when he signed former New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney to a four-year, $68 million deal in free agency.
The 24-year old McKinney was rated the No. 4 safety in football by Pro Football Focus in 2023 with top-10 grades in both coverage and in the box.
In 592 coverage snaps last season, McKinney was targeted 53 times and didn’t allow a touchdown. McKinney had five interceptions in 2021, three in 2023 and is widely regarded as an outstanding tackler.
Green Bay also resigned slot corner Keisean Nixon and reserve corner Corey Ballentine, but lost safeties Savage and Jonathan Owens in free agency.
The Packers ranked an impressive ninth in passing yards allowed per game (206.8) last season. Green Bay had just seven interceptions, though, matching the 2018 team for the fewest interceptions in a season since at least 1940.
With the draft here, the Packers could use a safety to pair with McKinney and a starting cornerback next to Alexander.
Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell of Toledo and Terrion Arnold of Alabama will almost certainly be gone when the Packers pick at No. 25. After that, there’s little certainty and the Packers could have several attractive options available.
Iowa’s Cooper DeJean is a highly athletic, ultra-competitive player who could play cornerback or safety at the next level. DeJean returned three of his seven interceptions for touchdowns in the last two years and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation’s top DB.
“I feel like it’s more about my versatility,” DeJean said of his strengths. “I feel like I’ve proven that I can play outside and inside. I feel like I have the ability to play multiple, different positions in the back end.”
Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry could be an interesting option at No. 25.
McKinstry was a terrific cover corner with the Crimson Tide, then had the fourth-best production score among corners at the NFL Combine.
The biggest knock on McKinstry is his so-so speed after he timed in the mid-4.4’s in the 40-yard dash at Alabama’s pro day.
“I would say people always question my long speed because you really can’t find any place where I’m beat or where I have to use long speed because I do a good job of keeping guys cut off,” McKinstry said. “And having good technique at the line of scrimmage where guys do not have a chance to run past me and I have to use long speed.”
Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins is also projected as a late first round draft pick and could be an option for Green Bay.
Wiggins ran the 40-yard dash in a sensational 4.28 seconds at the NFL Combine. He’s also tall (6-1) and has terrific lower body movement in coverage, but is just 173 pounds and lacks physicality.
“The blend of cover skills and physical tools should make him an early contributor,” ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper said of Wiggins.
Other corners such as Ennis Rakestraw and Kris Abrams-Draine — both of Missouri — or Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter could be options for Green Bay in Round 2.
It’s unlikely a safety will go in Round 1, but the Packers could target someone like Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin or USC’s Calen Bullock in the second round.
The Packers do have some impressive pieces in back.
Alexander is a former Pro Bowl corner who is coming off the most disappointing of his six NFL seasons. When Alexander is healthy and motivated, though, he remains an elite player.
McKinney is a rising star at safety. And Stokes, Green Bay’s first round pick in 2021, has played at a high level, but is coming off a season where he missed 16 games due to foot and hamstring injuries.
“I think Eric’s played a lot of really good football for us when he’s been healthy,” Gutekunst said. “He’s worked his tail off through all these injuries that he’s had.
“I know how frustrated he is because it’s so important to him, but I think he’s got a good plan as we go forward this summer to try to get some of those things righted, but yeah, when he’s out there, we’re a little bit different because of his ability to take speed away.”
Now, if the Packers can add another high-level piece early in the draft, they might finally have the type of secondary they’ve been trying to build for years.
CORNERBACK RANKINGS
1. Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo, 6-0, 196; 2. Terrion Arnold, Alabama, 6-0, 196; 3. Cooper DeJean, Iowa, 6-1, 207; 4. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama, 6-1, 195; 5. Nate Wiggins, Clemson, 6-2, 173; 6. Ennis Rakestraw, Missouri, 6-0, 188; 7. Kamari Lassiter, Georgia, 6-0, 180; 8. Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri, 5-11, 178; 7. 9. Mike Sainristil, Michigan, 5-10, 182; 10. T.J. Tampa, Iowa State, 6-2, 200.
SAFETY RANKINGS
1. Tyler Nubin, Minnesota, 6-2, 210; 3. Javon Bullard, Georgia, 5-11, 195; 3. Calen Bullock, USC, 6-3, 190; 4. Jaden Hicks, Washington State, 6-3, 212; 5. Kamren Kinchens, Miami (Fla.), 6-0, 205; 6. Tykee Smith, Georgia, 5-10, 205; 7. Beau Brade, Maryland, 6-1, 210; 8. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Texas Tech, 5-10, 197; 9. Cole Bishop, Utah, 6-2, 207; 10. Trey Taylor, Air Force, 6-0, 210.
Part 1: Offensive Line
Part 2: Running Backs
Part 3: Wide receivers
Part 4: Tight ends
Part 5: Quarterbacks
