Any attempt to sugar coat the Green Bay Packers’ cornerback situation left a sour taste. Even after general manager Brian Gutekunst said back in January that he didn’t believe the position needed “wholesale changes,” it was evident that change was on the horizon.
Now, with that change arriving via both free agency and the draft, is Carrington Valentine on the outside looking in for 2026?
Gutekunst went out and inked veteran cornerback Benjamin St-Juste to a two-year deal in free agency. It was a team-friendly signing for a player coming off a strong year but in a reserve role with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Without a first-round pick at his disposal due to the Micah Parsons trade last offseason, Gutekunst wasn’t afforded the typical flexibility he’s had in other drafts. Without a first-round pick, Gutekunst used the Packers’ first pick, in the second round, on cornerback Brandon Cisse. He doubled up at the position with Alabama’s Domani Jackson in the sixth round.
While Jackson is a project and could be long-term developmental project, Cisse and St-Juste will have an immediate impact. Just how much of an impact they make could have major implications for Valentine, who may find his role diminished in 2026.
Valentine is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and there haven’t been any reports indicating contract negotiations are underway. That doesn’t mean the two parties haven’t had talks, but word of these things tends to leak.
Meanwhile, Cisse has agreed to his rookie deal and St-Juste is on a two-year deal.
If Green Bay wants to work out an extension with one of its cornerbacks, would it be Valentine or would it be Keisean Nixon, who is also in the final year of his deal?
It’s also worth remembering Tucker Kraft, Christian Watson, and Devonte Wyatt are also entering the final year of their deals. When ranking priority of who should be in line next for an extension, all three are above Valentine and Nixon. Kraft, Watson, and Wyatt should fall in the Get It Done As Soon As Possible category. Valentine and Nixon fall into the See If They Blow You Away In 2026 tier. If they don’t, it might be time to move on.
Valentine struggled throughout the season to wrap up tackles, which has been an ongoing issue for him.
On one hand, for being a former seventh-round pick, Valentine has perhaps slightly overachieved in terms of reliability and development. On the other hand, his game still leaves a lot to be desired, especially as a potential starter.
Even though he’s on an expiring deal himself — and even though many won’t want to hear this — Nixon is absolutely starting at cornerback for the Packers in 2026.
St-Juste, who was a starter three of his four years with the Washington Commanders, was a reserve option last year with the Chargers, but he could definitely usurp Valentine on the depth chart.
As is well known by now, the Packers tend to slow-roll their rookies, but there are always exceptions to the rule, and Cisse could be just that.
Gutekunst couldn’t help but gush about the selection of Cisse in the second round of the draft.
“He can get bigger and stronger,” Gutekunst said. “He was one of those players that we didn’t see being available when we were picking at 52. We’re sure happy that he did. We’re really happy he took the step and went to South Carolina last year and kind of (faced) better competition and really showed well this past year.”
Cisse faced some of the best competition in the country at the collegiate level playing in the SEC and could have a less bumpy transition to the NFL. Gutekunst made note of that, which bodes well for Cisse’s chances to get some run early.
Meanwhile, Valentine could be the odd man out who, at some point in the season, is relegated to a reserve role. He may be paired with Nixon in Week 1, but that could easily change.
Given his contract hanging in limbo, his play taking a dip, and no reports of extension talks, Valentine could soon find himself phased out of Green Bay’s Plan A.
