Three days of Green Bay Packers training camp are in the books and cornerback Carrington Valentine has reinforced his status as the default CB3. It’s only a minute sample size, of course, and the team hasn’t even moved to padded sessions yet. Nonetheless, it’s encouraging to see the former 232nd overall pick put down some roots in a cornerback group that will need meaningful contributions from a slew of less than household names.
Carrington Valentine starts strong in Green Bay Packers training camp
Writing for Packers Wire, Mark Oldacres observed that Valentine has already picked off a pair of passes in the early going. Stats don’t much much in training camp, but it’s a reflection of Valentine’s keyed-in performance thus far, which included matching up well with standout rookie receiver Matthew Golden. Each player has impressed so far in camp.
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The Packers are counting on Valentine to backup Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs on the depth chart, or take the field with them in nickelback formations. While he is still developing his overall tools, he already has a place on an NFL field due to his coverage skills.
Says Oldacres, “Arguably Green Bay’s most gifted cover corner, Valentine is showing signs of hitting his upside in coverage specifically, although proving he is reliable enough in defending the run will still be crucial for him to truly become a full time player.”
Valentine enjoyed a decent chunk of playing time last season as a sophomore, taking advantage of Jaire Alexander’s extended injury absence to amass 546 snaps. He notched the first two interceptions of his career and earned a PFF grade of 70.4, which ranked in the 80th percentile of qualified cornerbacks.
With Alexander released and Eric Stokes leaving in free agency, Valentine will have an even greater opportunity in 2025. The players behind him on the depth chart are fringe reserves, draft picks, or ex-receivers (Bo Melton). The job behind Nixon and Hobbs is his to lose. If the latter hits the injured list again – Hobbs missed 17 games across his last three seasons in Las Vegas – Valentine could step into an elevated role.
Promoting him naturally at some point, injuries or not, might not be such a bad thing.
For his part, Oldacres is pretty high on Valentine’s potential. “Entering year three in the NFL and soon to turn 24, Valentine is probably the best bet to lift the ceiling of Green Bay’s cornerback group as a whole.”
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