The Green Bay Packers are coming off of a season in which they exceeded all expectations. Their success on both sides of the ball can be attributed to strong leadership from team captains, as well as a drive to improve each other for the long-term benefit of the young core of players. This sentiment was emphasized over and over by veterans in the locker room who recognized that the young core of Packers has the potential to do something special.
Packers Draft for the Future
In order to maintain progress while also building for the future, it is important to have a successful draft every year. While this may seem like an obvious fact, many teams have mortgaged their future for immediate, one to two year championship windows. The Packers have never bought into this strategy, and it has paid off. Although Super Bowls have been hard to come by since 2011, the Packers have been the most consistent NFC North team, winning eight division titles since 2010.
Consistent success in the NFL Draft is often found when you draft positions that aren’t in immediate need, but rather in positions where good players can take rookies under their wing and guide them to a higher level. The elimination of high expectations reduces the likelihood of players collapsing under the cloud of being labeled a draft bust. We have seen this in action dozens of times in Green Bay; most notably in reference to the newest star quarterback, Jordan Love.
While the draft choices usually are not very popular, drafting for the future in a key position that isn’t an immediate need can help guarantee a smooth transition between players once the veteran’s time is done, and eliminates panic when looking for a replacement.

Why Should the Packers Target a CB in the Draft?
The 2024 NFL Draft is loaded with talent. There is a lot of promise in players on both sides of the ball, but most of the attention has gone towards the offensive stars like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Marvin Harrison Jr. While it is understandable why teams might start crawling over each other to move up the draft board to snag one of these flashy offensive players, teams like the Packers can sit comfortably where they are at and find real value on the defensive side of the ball in the first round.
One of the biggest needs for the Green Bay Packers is finding a cornerback to pair with Jaire Alexander. In the past year, Alexander missed time with two different injuries and a suspension for ‘conduct detrimental to the team’ towards the end of the regular season. When he’s on the field, he’s one of the best corners in the league. However, when he misses time, the Packers have been left with a combination of Carrington Valentine, Keisean Nixon and Corey Ballentine. While that trio showed up when needed, they’re not the long-term solution at cornerback.
In the 2024 NFL Draft, there are five players at the cornerback position slated to be potential first round draft picks. Rumors have been swirling for weeks regarding which cornerback will be the first off of the draft board on April 25th, and there still isn’t a clear cut number one option. Cooper DeJean, Nate Wiggins, Kool-Aid McKinstry, and even Terrion Arnold all have the potential to be the first defensive back off the board. Regardless of who goes first, or even second, there will be one available for the Packers at pick #25.

Upcoming Urgency for the Packers Defense
It is imperative that the Packers choose a cornerback because if they don’t they will enter free agency with a clear gap on their defense. A gap that teams will have no problem exploiting when the season begins in 2024. When you have a talented, young roster, you need to do whatever it takes to fill in gaps as quickly as possible. If your young roster is being exploited defensively, you put pressure on your offense to do more, which can ultimately lead to costly, season-ending mistakes.
Choosing a 1st round cornerback to learn from Jaire Alexander would be one of the smartest draft night choices the Packers could make. While it may not be the splashiest or the most popular move, it is one that makes the most sense for the future of the Green Bay Packers.
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