With all the attention being given to edge rushers, defensive line and wide receiver positions, it seems to be going under the radar that cornerback is still arguably one of the Green Bay Packers’ biggest needs in the 2025 NFL draft.
With Jaire Alexander’s days in Green Bay seemingly numbered, and Keisean Nixon not a guarantee to be on the roster in 2026, Nate Hobbs and Carrington Valentine might be the only long-term building blocks on the current depth chart.
For all the questions general manager Brian Gutekunst had to answer about why he did not draft a corner until Round 7 last year, when they had Alexander, it seems strange that so many are accepting the notion that the Packers could wait to address corner this time around.
Since 2022, Green Bay has only drafted two corners, both in the seventh round. It is a position teams can never have too many of, and it would be stunning if the Packers do not draft one in at least the first three rounds this year, if not earlier.
Ignoring Shemar Jean-Charles, whom Gutekunst admitted was a departure from their usual standards, the Packers have several criteria for cornerbacks which they look for in potential draft picks:
Size: At least 5-10 and 190 pounds, with arms longer than 30 ⅞” arms.
Athleticism: Speed and explosiveness. 4.57 or better in the 40-yard dash, with a 1.57 10-yard split, at least 35” in the vert and 9-11 in the broad jump. They have drafted corners with sub-par agility, but there is some precedent for a 3-cone drill of 6.96 seconds or better.
Production: Not the be all, end all, but the Packers have often mentioned ball production, in terms of interceptions specifically, being an attractive quality in the corners they draft.
Here are the top five prospects in the 2025 NFL draft who most closely align with Green Bay’s core principles:
Maxwell Hairston – Kentucky
Falling back on those core principles is what makes Hairston a prime candidate to be the Packers’ first-round pick this year, in spite of one significant outlier in his profile.
Hairston weighed in at 183 pounds at the combine, which would make him the lightest corner Gutekunst has drafted according to “official” weight, even lighter than Jean-Charles, who was 184 lbs.
However, he is the only high-end corner in this draft who has what they value most: truly elite speed and explosiveness. Hairston ran a 4.28 at the combine, the best mark of any prospect at any position, and also put up elite numbers in the jumps.
He has posted multiple Instagram stories since the combine which show him weighing in the 190s, which could wipe away the potential weight issue.
Hairston is taller than his fellow Kentucky alum Valentine at just over 5-11 ⅔, and Valentine weighed 10 lbs more, so it checks out that Hairston could add mass to his frame and maintain his athleticism. The 21-year-old has 31 ½” arms, giving him good length for the position.
He is a scheme fit with Jeff Hafley’s defense, played outside corner, which is more valuable, but can also theoretically man the slot. Hairston had six interceptions over the last two seasons, including an FBS-leading three pick sixes.
His listed weight is an outlier for the Packers, but in this class of corners, they are going to have to bend on something if they want to take one early, and they will want to. Of note, the Packers brought in Tulane corner Micah Robinson on a pre-draft visit, who also weighs 183 pounds.
As will be explained with other players on this list, everyone has flaws, but they are not as easily remedied as Hairston adding ten lbs, which he appears to have already done.
Ranked 36th on the consensus board, he accepted his invitation to attend the draft and is expected to be a first-round pick. As long as the character reports check out, Hairston could be the corner for Green Bay in this draft.
Darien Porter – Iowa State
Porter is a fascinating prospect in this year’s draft.
He possesses top tier size and athletic traits, standing over 6-2 ⅔ with 33 ½” arms, and weighing 195 pounds, he ran the 40 in 4.30 seconds, had “elite” scores in the agility drills according to the RAS model, as well as “great” explosions scores, giving him a 9.99 RAS overall.
However, he is already 24 years old and has been a full-time cornerback for only one season.
A former wide receiver and mostly a special teams player, Porter finally got his chance to play consistently on defense in 2024 and made the most of it, grabbing three interceptions and earning a PFF coverage grade of 90.1.
His movement skills and explosiveness are evident on tape, although the agility and change of direction he showed in testing did not quite translate to the football field. Porter is tall and leggy, and looks awkward when asked to flip his hips or quickly break down in coverage.
He gives consistent effort in the run game, but the results are mixed. While there is bust potential as a cornerback, NFL teams will be comforted by the fact they should be getting an elite special-teamer in a worst-case scenario.
Currently ranked 71st on the consensus big board, Porter feels like the kind of swing worth taking in Round 3, but more power to any team who feels confident picking him any earlier.
Caleb Ransaw – Tulane
The list of Packers fits at corner quickly ends up looking at Day 3 prospects, with Ransaw, ranked 171st on the consensus big board, the next-best after Porter.
He is actually listed with the safeties but played in the slot for Tulane in 2024 after three years at Troy, where he had some experience playing outside corner.
Just under 5-11 ⅓ and weighing 197 pounds, with 31” arms, Ransaw opened some eyes at the combine, running the 40 in 4.33 seconds and also registering elite scores in the explosion drills, on the way to a 9.75 overall RAS.
He lacks the ball production the Packers covet, with just one career interception, and his lack of recent history playing outside corner could hurt his case, given Green Bay already has several options to man the slot.
Tulane’s defense arguably did not play to Ransaw’s strengths or allow him to show his ability in coverage often enough, but he is a consistent contributor in run defense and had an 84.2 coverage grade in 2023. He is a worthwhile day three flier.
Bilhal Kone – Western Michigan
Kone is a big corner at 6-1 ⅕ and 190 pounds who plays with real physicality on tape which helps in both the run game and in coverage. He has the movement skills and twitch required to play the position, which was proven in his 4.43 40-yard dash and overall RAS of 7.80.
He needs to build more assuredness and confidence in coverage, seeming a bit on edge and often overactive to whatever his opponent presents, which can be used against him. That calmness and self-trust is hard to teach.
The 23-year-old competes well at the catch point, having at least pass break ups in each of the last three seasons, but only has two career picks. He is a firm and fearless tackler and is around the ball plenty in the run game.
Ranked 227th on the consensus big board, Kone is a solid late Day 3 option for Green Bay.
Jason Marshall Jr. – Florida
Marshall took a pre-draft visit with the Packers and fits the mold of their traditional cornerback preferences at just under 6-0 ⅓ and 194 pounds.
His arms are on the shorter side at 30 ⅜”, but Green Bay has drafted corners with arms shorter than that going back to the days of Ted Thompson. Marshall has good speed, running a 4.49 in the 40, and posted a “great” explosion score on the way to a 9.42 RAS overall.
On tape, has naturally quick feet to help him in coverage, as well as the speed and twitch which was also evident in his testing. Marshall is able to hand fight with receivers throughout the route or off the line and keeps opponents close to him consistently.
He allowed just 47.6% of targets his way to be completed in college and is another potential Day 3 target for the Packers as they look to add depth to the cornerback room.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Top 5 ‘Packers type’ cornerbacks in 2025 NFL draft
With all the attention being given to edge rushers, defensive line and wide receiver positions, it seems to be going under the radar that cornerback is still arguably one of the Green Bay Packers’ biggest needs in the 2025 NFL draft.
With Jaire Alexander’s days in Green Bay seemingly numbered, and Keisean Nixon not a guarantee to be on the roster in 2026, Nate Hobbs and Carrington Valentine might be the only long-term building blocks on the current depth chart.
For all the questions general manager Brian Gutekunst had to answer about why he did not draft a corner until Round 7 last year, when they had Alexander, it seems strange that so many are accepting the notion that the Packers could wait to address corner this time around.
Since 2022, Green Bay has only drafted two corners, both in the seventh round. It is a position teams can never have too many of, and it would be stunning if the Packers do not draft one in at least the first three rounds this year, if not earlier.
Ignoring Shemar Jean-Charles, whom Gutekunst admitted was a departure from their usual standards, the Packers have several criteria for cornerbacks which they look for in potential draft picks:
Size: At least 5-10 and 190 pounds, with arms longer than 30 ⅞” arms.
Athleticism: Speed and explosiveness. 4.57 or better in the 40-yard dash, with a 1.57 10-yard split, at least 35” in the vert and 9-11 in the broad jump. They have drafted corners with sub-par agility, but there is some precedent for a 3-cone drill of 6.96 seconds or better.
Production: Not the be all, end all, but the Packers have often mentioned ball production, in terms of interceptions specifically, being an attractive quality in the corners they draft.
Here are the top five prospects in the 2025 NFL draft who most closely align with Green Bay’s core principles:
Maxwell Hairston – Kentucky
Falling back on those core principles is what makes Hairston a prime candidate to be the Packers’ first-round pick this year, in spite of one significant outlier in his profile.
Hairston weighed in at 183 pounds at the combine, which would make him the lightest corner Gutekunst has drafted according to “official” weight, even lighter than Jean-Charles, who was 184 lbs.
However, he is the only high-end corner in this draft who has what they value most: truly elite speed and explosiveness. Hairston ran a 4.28 at the combine, the best mark of any prospect at any position, and also put up elite numbers in the jumps.
He has posted multiple Instagram stories since the combine which show him weighing in the 190s, which could wipe away the potential weight issue.
Hairston is taller than his fellow Kentucky alum Valentine at just over 5-11 ⅔, and Valentine weighed 10 lbs more, so it checks out that Hairston could add mass to his frame and maintain his athleticism. The 21-year-old has 31 ½” arms, giving him good length for the position.
He is a scheme fit with Jeff Hafley’s defense, played outside corner, which is more valuable, but can also theoretically man the slot. Hairston had six interceptions over the last two seasons, including an FBS-leading three pick sixes.
His listed weight is an outlier for the Packers, but in this class of corners, they are going to have to bend on something if they want to take one early, and they will want to. Of note, the Packers brought in Tulane corner Micah Robinson on a pre-draft visit, who also weighs 183 pounds.
As will be explained with other players on this list, everyone has flaws, but they are not as easily remedied as Hairston adding ten lbs, which he appears to have already done.
Ranked 36th on the consensus board, he accepted his invitation to attend the draft and is expected to be a first-round pick. As long as the character reports check out, Hairston could be the corner for Green Bay in this draft.
Darien Porter – Iowa State
Porter is a fascinating prospect in this year’s draft.
He possesses top tier size and athletic traits, standing over 6-2 ⅔ with 33 ½” arms, and weighing 195 pounds, he ran the 40 in 4.30 seconds, had “elite” scores in the agility drills according to the RAS model, as well as “great” explosions scores, giving him a 9.99 RAS overall.
However, he is already 24 years old and has been a full-time cornerback for only one season.
A former wide receiver and mostly a special teams player, Porter finally got his chance to play consistently on defense in 2024 and made the most of it, grabbing three interceptions and earning a PFF coverage grade of 90.1.
His movement skills and explosiveness are evident on tape, although the agility and change of direction he showed in testing did not quite translate to the football field. Porter is tall and leggy, and looks awkward when asked to flip his hips or quickly break down in coverage.
He gives consistent effort in the run game, but the results are mixed. While there is bust potential as a cornerback, NFL teams will be comforted by the fact they should be getting an elite special-teamer in a worst-case scenario.
Currently ranked 71st on the consensus big board, Porter feels like the kind of swing worth taking in Round 3, but more power to any team who feels confident picking him any earlier.
Caleb Ransaw – Tulane
The list of Packers fits at corner quickly ends up looking at Day 3 prospects, with Ransaw, ranked 171st on the consensus big board, the next-best after Porter.
He is actually listed with the safeties but played in the slot for Tulane in 2024 after three years at Troy, where he had some experience playing outside corner.
Just under 5-11 ⅓ and weighing 197 pounds, with 31” arms, Ransaw opened some eyes at the combine, running the 40 in 4.33 seconds and also registering elite scores in the explosion drills, on the way to a 9.75 overall RAS.
He lacks the ball production the Packers covet, with just one career interception, and his lack of recent history playing outside corner could hurt his case, given Green Bay already has several options to man the slot.
Tulane’s defense arguably did not play to Ransaw’s strengths or allow him to show his ability in coverage often enough, but he is a consistent contributor in run defense and had an 84.2 coverage grade in 2023. He is a worthwhile day three flier.
Bilhal Kone – Western Michigan
Kone is a big corner at 6-1 ⅕ and 190 pounds who plays with real physicality on tape which helps in both the run game and in coverage. He has the movement skills and twitch required to play the position, which was proven in his 4.43 40-yard dash and overall RAS of 7.80.
He needs to build more assuredness and confidence in coverage, seeming a bit on edge and often overactive to whatever his opponent presents, which can be used against him. That calmness and self-trust is hard to teach.
The 23-year-old competes well at the catch point, having at least pass break ups in each of the last three seasons, but only has two career picks. He is a firm and fearless tackler and is around the ball plenty in the run game.
Ranked 227th on the consensus big board, Kone is a solid late Day 3 option for Green Bay.
Jason Marshall Jr. – Florida
Marshall took a pre-draft visit with the Packers and fits the mold of their traditional cornerback preferences at just under 6-0 ⅓ and 194 pounds.
His arms are on the shorter side at 30 ⅜”, but Green Bay has drafted corners with arms shorter than that going back to the days of Ted Thompson. Marshall has good speed, running a 4.49 in the 40, and posted a “great” explosion score on the way to a 9.42 RAS overall.
On tape, has naturally quick feet to help him in coverage, as well as the speed and twitch which was also evident in his testing. Marshall is able to hand fight with receivers throughout the route or off the line and keeps opponents close to him consistently.
He allowed just 47.6% of targets his way to be completed in college and is another potential Day 3 target for the Packers as they look to add depth to the cornerback room.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Top 5 ‘Packers type’ cornerbacks in 2025 NFL draft
