The Packers need to acquire a cornerback this offseason, and a new target may have emerged.
Heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers (and their fans) were keeping a close eye on Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean.
But despite passing on him in the first round, opting instead to select Arizona offensive tackle Jordan Morgan with the 25th overall pick, fans seemed pretty confident that he could still land the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year at No. 41 overall.
And as the second round progressed, it looked as if that’s how things would play out for the Packers.
Things didn’t pan out that way, of course, as the Philadelphia Eagles, who’d already taken Toledo corner Quinyon Mitchell at No. 22 overall, worked out a deal with the Washington Commanders to move up 10 spots from No. 50 to No. 40, at which point they selected DeJean.
The Packers then made a trade with the New Orleans Saints, moving back four spots while also acquiring a pair of late-round selections, none of which were used on a cornerback, although they did take Kalen King with their compensatory seventh-rounder at No. 255 overall.
King spent most of the 2024 season on the practice squad, and while he was elevated to the main roster ahead of Week 14, he didn’t take a single snap.
Green Bay, of course, had all sorts of problems at cornerback this past year. Jaire Alexander appeared in just seven games for the second straight season and could very well be cut or traded in the coming weeks. And none of the trio of Carrington Valentine (No. 54), Keisean Nixon (No. 63), or soon-to-be free agent Eric Stokes (No. 74) ranked among PFF’s top 50 cornerbacks.
DeJean, on the other hand, was PFF’s highest-rated cornerback, earning an overall grade of 86.3 during the regular season and then topping off his sensational rookie season with a pick-six of Patrick Mahomes in the Eagles’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59.
So, to say that the Packers missing out on DeJean hurt would obviously be a massive understatement. And with Green Bay now needing more help at cornerback than they did a year ago, it looks even worse.
However, the blow could be softened a touch if Gutekunst can land a draft prospect who turned all sorts of heads at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Packers should keep an eye on Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron as the 2025 NFL Draft approaches
While some mock drafts have the Packers once again taking an offensive lineman with their first-round pick at No. 23 overall, many others have them selecting a cornerback.