Jaire Alexander (Photo by USA Today Sports Images)

Packers Training Camp Preview: Cornerbacks

In Part 9 of a series of Green Bay Packers training camp positional previews, it's a look at the cornerbacks.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Jul 22, 2023 8:26 AM EDT

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Last year, about 20 cornerbacks with 10-plus starts allowed a completion rate of less than 50 percent, according to Sports Info Solutions. That’s a high bar.

The Green Bay Packers have the players to clear that bar and shut down opposing passers. In fact, they could be the best of the best entering the 2023 season. Jaire Alexander allowed less than 50 percent in 2019, 2020 and his injury-abbreviated 2021. Rasul Douglas and Eric Stokes did it in 2021.

If Alexander plays to his usual form and if Douglas plays like he did down the stretch upon moving back to corner, the Packers could have the best tandem in the NFL. From there, it boils down to Keisean Nixon’s play as the starter in the slot and Stokes’ ability to rebound from a serious foot injury to provide high-quality depth.

With the stage set, here is our Packers training camp preview of the cornerbacks.

Projected Opening Depth Chart

Starters: Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas and Keisean Nixon (slot).

Backups: Corey Ballentine, Kiondre Thomas, Carrington Valentine, Tyrell Ford, Shemar Jean-Charles (slot) and William Hooper (slot).

Physically unable to perform list: Eric Stokes.

Position Group Ranking (out of 11)

Fifth.

Strength

Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas. There aren’t many better tandems than Alexander and Douglas, two corners with high IQs, high levels of competitiveness and sublime ball skills. With Alexander’s career-high five interceptions and Douglas snaring four, they were the only tandem in the league in which both players had at least four interceptions.

When it’s closing time, they slam the door and throw away the key. Three players had four interceptions in the fourth quarter last season. Two were Alexander and Douglas. (Dallas’ Daron Bland was the other.) Alexander might be a bit on the small side but he’s always been a fearless tackler; the shoulder injury that prematurely ended his 2021 season didn’t change his style of play. Douglas’ size comes into play as a tackler and on special teams.

The one small issue: Alexander is at his best in man and Douglas is at his best in zone.

Weakness

Maybe none. That will depend on how Keisean Nixon fares in the slot. Nobody knew Nixon could return kicks until he earned All-Pro honors last season. Nobody really knows how Nixon will perform as a full-time player on defense.

In three seasons with the Raiders, he started two games on defense. With Green Bay last year, he started four.

According to Pro Football Focus, Nixon when aligned in the slot allowed an 80.0 percent catch rate. Among the 39 defensive backs with at least his 145 coverage snaps from the slot, Nixon ranked 32nd in snaps per reception and 34th with 1.55 yards per coverage snap. That’s not good.

But the Packers might not have won at Tampa Bay without his performance in relief of an injured Alexander. He’s got the size to play the run and the quickness and confidence to play coverage.

“That’s one of my goals,” Nixon said of being an All-Pro on defense. “I got a lot of goals. At the end of the day, I just want to prove to myself that I am who I say I am, and wake up every day and be the same person, and just be consistent.”

Key Questions

1. Can Keisean Nixon thrive in the slot?

2. Will Joe Barry unleash Jaire Alexander? In 2022, led by his 184-yard onslaught against Green Bay in Week 1, Vikings star Justin Jefferson led the NFL in receiving yards. When the Packers crushed the Vikings in Week 17, Alexander matched Jefferson for most of the game and helped limit Jefferson to a career-low one catch.

Will that be the new Barry plan – put his best corner on the opponent’s best receiver? That would require playing almost all man coverage, which isn’t Barry’s way of doing business. Nor is it coach Matt LaFleur's preference, considering he's the guy who hired Barry.

3. What is Eric Stokes’ role? A first-round pick in 2021, he was one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, regardless of experience, as a rookie. According to Sports Info Solutions, he allowed a catch rate of just 46.2 percent and 5.3 yards per target. Among corners with at least 10 starts, those ranked sixth and fifth, respectively.

Last year, however, was a giant step in the wrong direction. SIS charged him with a 73.9 percent catch rate and 10.8 yards per target. He went from one interception and 13 pass breakups to zero interceptions and zero breakups. His season ended with foot and knee injuries at Detroit.

Stokes will open training camp on the physically unable to perform list. Even if healthy, he appears to be the odd man out of the lineup. Stokes is too talented to not play but, barring an injury, that might be the case.

4. Can Greg Williams replace Jerry Gray?: Gray, the longtime NFL cornerback and assistant coach, was revered by the players. “Coach OG,” as the players called him, took a bigger role with the Falcons and was replaced by Greg Williams.

Williams, who took an incredible path in coaching, spent the last four seasons as cornerbacks coach with the Cardinals. He was given the title defensive passing game coordinator by LaFleur.

“Where’s the benchmark, what can we improve on, what are your strengths and what are the things we need to improve on? Those are some of the things that Matt made a big point,” Williams said. “He wanted us to really pinpoint those things with some of the players that are coming back. It gives them something to work for. It puts the ball up high for them when you tell them you want to improve on these things because there’s always room for improvement.”

Biggest Battle

Depth. Assuming Nixon plays to expectations in the slot, the starting trio is set. Assuming Stokes is ready to roll for Week 1, which should be the case, he’ll be the next man up. So, that’s four spots. Corey Ballentine was re-signed in free agency to help on special teams. So, that could be a fifth spot.

Do the Packers need more than five? Rookie Carrington Valentine, who had some strong moments during the offseason practices, might be the front-runner for a potential sixth spot, though Kiondre Thomas had a strong training camp and preseason last year and stuck all season on the practice squad.

Star Search

Jaire Alexander is one of the best in the NFL. His coverage ability speaks for itself. His signature performance vs. Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson helped him to second-team All-Pro honors. According to PFF, he allowed 12 yards or less in six games. Three of those came during the Packers’ late-season run toward a playoff spot.

What’s impressive about Alexander is he’s just not some undersized ballhawk who has no interest in throwing his body in the fray. He’s a quality tackler who does not shy away from contact. Alexander plays, leads and inspires. The most-expensive cornerback in the NFL, Alexander has been worth every penny.

Don’t Forget About

Kiondre Thomas had about as good a preseason as you can possibly have last year. According to Pro Football Focus, he was targeted seven times and gave up one catch for 9 yards. It wasn't enough to make the roster but it was enough to give him a ticket to the practice squad and a return invite to training camp.

“Man, it’s just hard work and preparation,” Thomas, who played four games for the Chargers in 2021, said last preseason. “I feel like I didn’t play the way I needed to my rookie year. In the offseason, I got in the lab and put my head down and got back to work. That’s all I can really do. That’s all I know how to do.”

At 5-foot-11 3/4 and with 4.44 speed in the 40, he’s got the physical tools to make a run at a roster spot.