Monday Cheese Curds: Packers’ cornerbacks look to validate front office’s confidence

Monday Cheese Curds: Packers’ cornerbacks look to validate front office’s confidence
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So far it has been a good start to training camp for this position group.

When the Green Bay Packers did not select a cornerback in the 2025 NFL Draft, there were plenty of fans of the team wringing their hands. Especially with Jaire Alexander’s uncertain status — which would end about six weeks later in his abrupt release — the concern level was high about that position group.

Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and free agent arrival Nate Hobbs are expected to be the team’s top three cornerbacks throughout this season. Those players were selected as follows in their respective NFL Drafts: undrafted, 7th round, 5th round. But of course, draft status is hardly everything, and the Packers’ front office said repeatedly that they felt good about the state of the cornerback room, even without any major additions.

So far through four training camp practices, the group is living up to the team’s expectations.

Valentine is continuing his ball-hawking ways. Hobbs is bringing a physical presence to the secondary, particularly from the slot. And Nixon, while still pitching in here and there on special teams drills, is serving as the group’s leader.

There are encouraging signs from at least one young player as well, as the Packers will need to find one or two options behind the top three that they can count on in a pinch. Plus the Bo Melton factor makes for an interesting storyline.

Perhaps no position group on this team faces as many questions as the cornerbacks. But after a few days of camp, it appears that the guys in that room are determined to answer those questions with high-quality play.

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Valentine has continued his interception hot streak from the end of the 2024 season, scoring multiple picks early in training camp.

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Meanwhile, Kalen King is looking more confident after spending basically all of last season on the practice squad.

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Meanwhile, Hobbs is a little reckless early in camp, making a couple of big plays with his body despite the pads not coming on until this week.

Packers Isaiah Simmons showing he has ability to live up to draft slot | Packersnews.com
A former DB, Simmons has really taken to being a full-time linebacker and he's convinced that no wide receiver can block him.

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Former APC contributor Tyler Brooke was all-in on Cooper when the Packers drafted him last season, and he’s back with a video breakdown of the linebacker, who is poised to take the NFL by storm this fall.

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