Packers Prospects: 5 Cornerbacks to Know in the 2024 NFL Draft
The Packers could be in the market for a cornerback early in the upcoming draft.
By markoldacres
Cornerback is a strong position in this year’s draft, and Green Bay could have interest in taking one early, with the strength of the group behind Jaire Alexander questionable.
Like any other position, the Packers have certain measurables they want cornerbacks to hit for them to consider drafting that prospect.
Under Brian Gutekunst’s tenure, ignoring Shemar Jean-Charles, who it is well known did not adhere to their usual thresholds, the Packers have not drafted a corner shorter than 5’10.2” or lighter than 193 lbs. Similarly to receivers, they generally like their corners bigger.
Here are five cornerback prospects who fit the traditional size and athleticism mold the Packers look for:
Quinyon Mitchell - Toledo
With other corners like Cooper DeJean and Kool-Aid McKinstry yet to test, Mitchell is by far the top corner in the class who has already proven himself a Packers type. Unfortunately, his rise throughout the draft process may mean he is out of their reach at pick 25.
He blazed a 4.33 40 at the combine, helping him to an ‘elite’ speed Relative Athletic Score (RAS). He also achieved a ‘good’ explosion score and has good size, too at 6’0”, 195 lbs.
His tape is excellent, with the only question being level of competition. If Mitchell is available when the Packers pick in the first round, they may just sprint the card to the podium.
Max Melton - Rutgers
The brother of current Packers receiver Bo, Melton had an exceptional workout in Indy, earning a ‘great’ speed score with a 4.39 40 and an ‘elite’ explosion score.
At 5'11” on the nose and 193 lbs, he fits the bill as the type of corner the Packers look for, and they should get all the information they need on the former Rutgers corner from his brother.
Melton is another player who has shot up mock draft boards as the pre-draft process has gone on, and could be in play on day two for Green Bay.
Jarrian Jones - Florida State
Jones is another strong day two option who showed out at the combine. His scores for speed and explosion were both elite. He ran a 4.38 40 and jumped nearly 40 inches in the vert.
His movement skills are evident on tape, and Jones plays smart and with great effort. He needs to refine his footwork and play with more balance, and has experience playing both outside and in the slot.
Jones is an under the radar name to watch on the second day of the draft.
Khyree Jackson - Oregon
Jackson is a supersized corner at 6’3.6” and 194 lbs. His 4.50 40 is fine, albeit nothing to shout about, but he registered a ‘great’ explosion score to ease any concerns about his athleticism.
His frame is a real asset and allows him to shrink the target quarterbacks have to throw at, as well as helping him win at the catch point.
There are unrefined elements of Jackson’s game, and he may always struggle a bit with the NFL’s speediest wideouts, but his unique profile makes him an intriguing early day three option.
Marcellas Dial - South Carolina
Dial looks plenty athletic on tape and proved it at the combine with a 4.46 40 which helped him achieve a ‘great’ speed score. He also managed an ‘elite’ explosion score.
At 190 lbs he is a touch lighter than Green Bay usually likes, but a few points should not be an absolute dealbreaker.
There is some debate over whether Dial will end up as a safety at the next level, but he could be a worthwhile day three pick either way.
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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres
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Comments (24)
T7Steve
March 19, 2024 at 02:26 pm
Unbelievable speed and size. Stick with Melton 'cause he can live with his brother and learn the NFL ways faster. I bet they pushed and improved each other all their lives.
Packer_Fan
March 19, 2024 at 04:02 pm
The only cornerbacks that will be selected will be day 3 picks. Think... The Packers have all the same cornerbacks that they had at the end of the season, Six guys. but I could see adding a day three pick to develop.
Leatherhead
March 19, 2024 at 05:25 pm
I've noticed that. Alexander, Stokes, Nixon, Valentine, Ballentine, and two guys named Anthony Johnson. If the top 4 stay healthy, we're in business, but you can never have too many quality cover guys. Adding one more to the gameday roster would really help.
I like Melton and I could see us taking him at #88 or so.
TKWorldWide
March 19, 2024 at 07:53 pm
Plus save on Melton Mortgage Money!
GregC
March 19, 2024 at 02:57 pm
I saw a mock draft yesterday that had the Packers taking Ennis Rakestraw, at 183 pounds and not particularly fast, in the first round. Hard to believe. These five all look like more realistic choices.
splitpea1
March 19, 2024 at 03:45 pm
Why these five, with the exception of Melton? There are a lot of good prospects between Mitchell and Melton, such as Arnold, Kool-Aid, Tampa, and Rakestraw--all of whom have played against top competition. I was sort of intrigued by Sainristil, but re-signing Nixon erased that possibility.
I do like Melton, though. He'll need some development, but we can probably bridge the gap with a player like Ballentine, who didn't perform badly when he was out there.
I really hope we'll not be concentrating so much on combine measurements with this position group, but more on technical skills and physicality when actually out on the field.
LLCHESTY
March 19, 2024 at 04:07 pm
Rakestraw is out if you look at the Packers thresholds. Too small and too slow. Good tackler but not all that great in coverage.
Since TT became GM Shemar Jean-Charles is the only DB they've drafted under 190 lbs. I think they might go under that a bit this year because there's a few players between 185 and 190 that otherwise are right in their wheelhouse. But I seriously doubt they'd go under 185.
Tundraboy
March 19, 2024 at 11:11 pm
And Tackling!
LLCHESTY
March 19, 2024 at 03:59 pm
Khyree Jackson didn't play a lot of slot snaps at Oregon but might be better suited to move inside in the NFL. Not a great 40 but his 10 yard split was tied for 5th among CBs at the combine. That, along with his jumps and length point to a guy that could fair well inside.
Elijah Jones played for Hafley at BC and should have been included in this list. A little lighter than the Packers normal threshold but had outstanding jumps and good long speed. Probably goes in the 4th or 5th round.
https://twitter.com/MathBomb/status/1767900921340862740?t=XS5mxchx9ajELZ...
Coldworld
March 19, 2024 at 05:10 pm
Jackson is a gamble. Great burst, physical, he seems to be projected outside but lacks top end speed. He’s also notably stiff. He has tended to be grabby, possibly partly due to struggles to adjust. That lack of fluidity hiders his ability in man coverage and is probably why most see him as an outside type when his body and athleticism point to inside. I’d pass.
With the exception of Melton and maybe Mitchell, all of these should be firmly day 3 picks. Mitchell goes higher only on his RAS, he’s going to need some work but he has the tools. Dial had a very slow 3 cone, but might actually be a good day 3 flyer on a physical slot corner. The higher RAS guys are as raw and Jones is a similar but less explosive raw athlete to Robert Rochelle, a PS pickup (originally a 4th rounder) whom we resigned today.
Coldworld
March 19, 2024 at 06:10 pm
I’m going to throw out a draft for once. Why? Largely because it didn’t exactly go my way yet felt relatively realistic in the dilemmas it threw up and also throws out a few names worth discussing later, I think:
31. Graham Barton OG Duke. Simply the BPA by some way and at a position of need.
41. Zach Frazier OC West Virginia. Well if the gods want OL, this is a gift I’m going to double dip to take.
58. Trevin Wallace LB Kentucky
88. Cole Bishop. S Utah.
91. Jaden Hicks S Washington State
126 Jaylan Ford LB Texas.
162. Isaac Guerendo, RB Louisville
169. Brevyn Spann-Ford TE Minnesota
202. Edefuan Ulofoshio. LB Washington
211. De'Corian Clark WR UTSA
219. Austin Reed QB Western Kentucky
245. Sundiata Anderson, EDGE Grambling State
255. Frank Crum OT Wyoming
Just for fun. I traded back three times, not my initial plan. The picks up to 91 are probably recognizable. Ford is a bigger run-stopping ILB option. Guerendo was simply the best option available at that point. OTs and RBs just fled from my picks. After that it’s:
A big blocking first TE with upside in Spann-Ford,
a big wingspan, rangy cover ILB in Ulofoshio.
A big, fast, physical perimeter WR who can play X and has decent route polish to provide a backup for Watson in that role in De’Corian Clark.
And at the back end, a relatively raw QB with some upside and fire, an athletic speed rusher and an athletic OT to develop.
Alberta_Packer
March 19, 2024 at 06:41 pm
CW, the most realistic draft I've seen to date. Plus very Gutie-centric - as we know that he is very likely to make trade(s) and select; a WR, QB and someone off the radar screen. My only question is the quantity of picks - 13. Would this be too much of an infusion of young players?
Coldworld
March 19, 2024 at 07:05 pm
I like competition, not just to get winners but to allow if some busts. Some of these are possibly PS candidates in my mind potentially, but that’s needed these days. We have numbers to fill and the FA pool is thinner than I like. So I’m comfortable getting my competition via the draft.
RBs that I liked flew off earlier, big run on OTs at the top and then a second one on day 2. None of my personal favorites fell to close me in the early rounds, so I had to make do. Also there weren’t for once improbably bizarre fallers. It’s that that made it interesting to me and thus I posted it, which I normally don’t do.
Alberta_Packer
March 19, 2024 at 08:47 pm
I am a believer in diverse asset allocation - which is the approach I took with this Draft -relative to the Packers roster. Thus my allocation plan - of the 11 picks draft capital - are as follows:
O-line - 3 picks (3)
CB-Safety - 3 picks (2)
LB-Edge - 2 picks (4)
RB - 1 pick (1)
WR/TE - 1 pick (2)
QB - 1 pick (1)
Interestingly your draft had somewhat a similar allocation (in brackets) - but based on 13 picks. Curious that you didn't select a CB but ultimately we follow the Board - not the other way around.
Also, after seeing your mock, 13 picks would not seem too many. Still I wonder about roster displacement- with that many picks - making a young team even younger. Perhaps too young? Nevertheless, better to have too many picks than too few.
T7Steve
March 20, 2024 at 07:28 am
I think he's counting on Gute trading back to earn those other 2 picks, as he usually does.
stockholder
March 19, 2024 at 06:57 pm
Watch Barton right foot Projection IOL/C
Frazier - No way another C
Cole Bishop - Best Pick/ Need
Jaden Hicks - Not a strong tackler -
Playing downhill is strength @91 works
Try this if Gute is a man of his word.
25 Cooper DeJean DB. Iowa.
41 Payton Wilson ILB NC.
58 Javon Bullard. S Georgia
88 Christian Jones. OT Texas
91 Jaylon Wright RB Tenn.
125. Javon Soloman Edge Troy.
168 Beaux Limmer. IOL Ark.
201. Tanor Bortolini. IOL WI
219. Jawon Briggs. DT. Cinn.
245. Ryan Watts. DB. Texas
255. Jase McCLellan RB Al
Coldworld
March 19, 2024 at 07:07 pm
Cherry picking drafts aren’t very helpful, or, to me, interesting.
I posted mine because it was steadfastly not letting it turn into a wish list, and thus was something other than my list of preferences. No apologies on a C and an G though, just not the order I expected.
stockholder
March 19, 2024 at 07:32 pm
I didn't cherry pick.
Even if DeJean is Gone.
Nubin should be the pick.
Sure Tackler - Old school football.
Perfect SS. much like X
Sets the draft and Replaces Owens or Ford.
Lions will take him.
Bullard was the senior Bowl best safety.
Also plays the slot. Yes over CB.
LLCHESTY
March 19, 2024 at 07:21 pm
You bitch about Coldworld taking two centers and then take two centers? 🤣🤣🤣
stockholder
March 20, 2024 at 05:49 am
I think he's just trying to make Gutey look good.
No way he takes two centers.
If Gutey takes those picks
he'll be doing what Sherman did
when replaced by TT.
DRAFTING POORLY.
LLCHESTY
March 19, 2024 at 07:11 pm
De'Corian Clark had another knee surgery again in November after a complete knee tear in '22. It was expected to be a 10 month recovery. I think he returned to school.
Leatherhead
March 19, 2024 at 09:09 pm
Well, we agree on Graham Barton. He gives you a backup at every spot and a good lineman for the Love Window. I know you're a fan of shuffling the line around, and I'm kind of wondering if the Packers will leave Jenkins and Tom where they're at, or move them around and draft to fill in the gaps.? Tom to Center and draft a a RT?
Coldworld
March 20, 2024 at 12:49 am
It’s possible. It’s also possible they swap them. Now it’s the off season I lean towards looking for a C and leaving Tom at T as the ideal solution.
PackEyedOptimist
March 20, 2024 at 04:24 am
Nice Mock CW. I too try to do realistic drafts; I even ignore some of the "players available" who I think are ridiculous drops.
Adding Barton and Frazier would be a huge boost to this OL room. Lots of people want an OT, but they've forgotten that Elgton Jenkins was a pretty good OT just a couple years ago.
I like Trevin Wallace too, though I haven't picked him that high.
Bishop is a pure Gute pick, with his high RAS.
With Jackson, Dillon, and Wilson, Guerrendo might be the best-possible RB to draft this year.
We don't need Spann-Ford, but he might well be the BAP at some point. I like him.
Ulofoshio is the kind of player who ends up being a "surprise star."