Cornerback is at the top of the Packers’ draft hit list
By GERY WOELFEL
One of the Green Bay Packers’ biggest issues in recent seasons has been the availability of their cornerbacks.
Or, more precisely, their unavailability.
Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes spent considerably more time in the trainer’s room than on the field.
The Packers won’t have that issue this season, at least with Stoks. He’s moved on to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency.
And, by all accounts, they won’t have to hold their breath every week during the upcoming season on whether Alexander will play.
Rumors continue to swirl Alexander’s days in Titletown are numbered. He could be traded during the draft, which starts Thursday and ends Saturday. If he isn’t traded, he could be released.
In any case, the Packers need help at cornerback in the worst way. Their starters — Keisean Nixon, recently signed free agent Nate Hobbs and young Carrington Valentine – are mediocre.
And, in the highly competitive NFC North, that’s a recipe for disaster. After all, Detroit, Minnesota and Chicago all have highly potent passing attacks.
With the Packers’ cornerbacks situation so dicey, the word in NFL circles is that the Packers are focusing on selecting a cornerback with their top draft pick, No. 23 (for now, at least), on a cornerback.
And, luckily for the Packers, there should be some enticing options.
Will Johnson of Michigan and Jahdae Barron of Texas are likely to be chosen before the Packers pick, although it’s not inconceivable they could slide.
Three other cornerbacks who are more likely to be on the board at 23 are Trey Amos of Mississippi, Maxwell Hairston of Kentucky and Shavon Revel of East Carolina.
Many NFL scouts contend there is little difference in playing ability between that trio of cornerbacks. But there is a difference with their health histories.
Hairston missed five games with a shoulder injury last season and Revel suffered a season-ending ACL injury early in the season and still isn’t 100 percent, although he is expected to be fully recovered by June 1.
In light of Alxander’s and Stoke’s health problems in recent years, can the Packers, a potential Super Bowl-contender, afford to roll the dice on someone who has already exhibited injury concerns?
Maybe. After all, Revel and Hairston are elite athletes who could make their impacts immediately.
The safest pick of the aforementioned trio is Amos, who hasn’t suffered any significant injury throughout his college career and excelled last season against high-caliber competition.
Amos also has two other factors going for him: He attended the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is fond of Senior Bowl players. Also, Amos was among the Packers’ Top 30 visits — as was Revel.
From my viewpoint, the Packers can’t go wrong with any one of those three cornerbacks and, if Johnson or Barron would surprisingly slip to 23, Gutekunst and Company would be even happier camps.
