Countdown to camp: Cornerback competition gets spotlight for Packers

Packers
27 Jul 2026, 19:30 GMT+10

Safety position much more settled

Mike Spofford

"Countdown to camp" is a position-by-position overview of the Packers' roster heading into training camp. The series continues with the defensive backs.

GREEN BAY It'll be one of the most-watched position battles of training camp.

The Packers need to find out who their best option is to start at cornerback oppositeKeisean Nixon. Will it be fourth-year proCarrington Valentine, veteran free agentBenjamin St-Justeor rookie draft pickBrandon Cisse?

Green Bay has its CB1 in Nixon, who enters his fifth season with the Packers and eighth in the league overall. During his time in Green Bay, Nixon (5-10, 200) has risen from a return specialist to a slot corner to a full-time starter at boundary corner, and his team-leading and career-high 17 passes defensed last season ranked seventh in the league.

Nixon also sealed a win over the Bears at Lambeau Field with an end-zone interception. The negative was the 10 penalty flags he drew, and reducing those should be the next step in his evolution as a player.

The candidates for the other starting role begin with Valentine (6-0, 189), a seventh-round draft pick in 2023 who has started 34 games, including playoffs, over his first three seasons. He had two career interceptions, both in 2024, before picking off Bears QB Caleb Williams in the playoff game in January.

Last season, Valentine played every defensive snap in five games and all but one or two snaps in five others, but he'll have legitimate competition to maintain a primary role.

St-Juste (6-3, 200) comes to Green Bay after four seasons in Washington, where he started 42 games from 2022-24, and one with the L.A. Chargers, where he excelled in a more limited role last season. He missed time during OTAs with an undisclosed injury, though there was no indication of long-term concern.

Cisse (6-2, 189) was the Packers' top draft pick this past spring, a second-round choice out of South Carolina who broke up five passes each of the last two years playing both outside and in the slot. Having just turned 21, Cissehas plenty of room to grow, but with physical tools like a 4.41 clocking in the 40-yard dash he will push for playing time from the jump.

Another draft pick added to the mix is sixth-rounderDomani Jackson(6-0, 194) from Alabama, who missed a portion of spring practices due to injury, while second-year proKamal Hadden(6-1, 192) showed promise when given an opportunity late last season but broke his leg in the December game with the Ravens and was rehabbing all spring.

Other developmental prospects at corner includeShemar Bartholomew(6-0, 200), who came to Green Bay late last season after playing five games for Carolina in 2024; undrafted rookieMarlon Jones(6-0, 190), who battled cancer during a college career that included stops at Eastern Washington and Vanderbilt; and waiver claimMJ Devonshire Jr.(5-11, 186), who was drafted out of Pitt by the Raiders in the seventh round in 2024.

At safety, things are much more settled at the top of the depth chart, led by two-time All-ProXavier McKinney, whose interceptions fell from eight in 2024 to just two last season. But that was the only decline in his game following his flashy arrival as a free agent two years ago, as McKinney (6-0, 201) is the first Packers DB to earn back-to-back All-Pro selections since Charles Woodson and Nick Collins.

Working alongside McKinney in the back end is 2024 draft pickEvan Williams(5-11, 200), who hassettled in nicely as the veterans starting partner, having led the team with three INTs last year. He also recorded four tackles for loss, showing his nose for the line of scrimmage as well.

Fellow '24 drafteeJavon Bullard(5-10, 198) is entrenched as the nickel or slot corner who just needs the splash playsto complement his solid work against run and pass. Like Williams, Bullard repeatedly receives praise from the coaching staff for his aggressive play style and assignment-sure reliability.

Next up at safety would be a third draft pick from 2024,Kitan Oladapo(6-2, 216), who has played mostly on special teams through his first two seasons, andJohnathan Baldwin II(6-0, 190), an undrafted rookie a year ago. He spent the majority of last season on the practice squad and then played a full game in his NFL debut at Minnesota in Week 18, recording seven tackles.

Newcomers to the safety room includeMark Perry(6-0, 211), who joined the Packers' practice squad late last season after bouncing around through several teams, and undrafted rookieMurvin Kenion III(5-11, 200), who wrapped up a four-school college career at Nevada.

One additional defensive back and roster hopeful,Jaylin Simpson(6-0, 180), has corner/safety versatility and was originally a fifth-round pick by Indianapolis in 2024. He spent most of last season on Green Bay's practice squad before playing extensively and posting eight tackles in the Week 18 Minnesota game.