The Green Bay Packers added several new faces to their cornerback room this offseason. They drafted Brandon Cisse and Domani Jackson, while signing Benjamin St-Juste during free agency to add experience to the group.
Green Bay’s cornerback room will need to be much better to make a Super Bowl push this season, especially during the first four games, when Micah Parsons will likely be unavailable. With that in mind, and considering the names currently available, how should they structure their secondary entering Week 1?
Cornerbacks
Realistically, four players are competing for those starting spots in Green Bay’s base defense: Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Benjamin St-Juste, and Brandon Cisse. The Packers have typically been cautious about giving rookies major responsibilities immediately.
I would like to see Cisse on the field early. However, the more realistic expectation is that he gradually earns a larger role and eventually works his way into the starting lineup throughout the season.
There are plenty of Packers fans who would prefer to see Keisean Nixon focus primarily on returning kicks again, especially considering he was playing at an All-Pro level in that role before taking on larger responsibilities at cornerback. Still, barring an injury or something unexpected during camp, Nixon is going to be in the starting lineup in Week 1.
The NFL has become a passing league, which means Green Bay is going to spend a lot of time in nickel packages. When that happens, Javon Bullard can move closer to the line of scrimmage to handle nickel duties, which is probably where he will make the biggest impact. That also could create an opportunity for Carrington Valentine to see the field more often in obvious passing situations, even if he is not one of the primary starters in base defense.
Safeties
There should not be many mysteries at safety. Xavier McKinney already has as many All-Pro selections as seasons played in Green Bay. Meanwhile, Evan Williams was playing at an All-Pro level for stretches last season as well. It was important for him to solidify his role on the back end of the defense because it gives Green Bay the flexibility to move Javon Bullard closer to the line of scrimmage.
There’s definitely a balance here between upside and patience. A part of me would like to see Cisse involved immediately, especially after what happened with Edgerrin Cooper and Evan Williams, who arguably deserved larger roles much earlier than the Packers offered them.
Still, I can understand why Green Bay may choose a slower path with Cisse. Throwing a rookie corner into heavy responsibilities immediately can backfire, and the coaching staff will likely want him to earn snaps step by step instead of forcing the process too quickly.
So, if I were putting together my ideal lineup right now, it would be Nixon and Cisse on the outside, with Javon Bullard handling the nickel role. At safety, I would go with Williams and McKinney. Furthermore, I’m not ready to put St-Juste ahead of Nixon yet, considering he just arrived, while Nixon already knows the system.
As for what I think will actually happen, I expect Nixon and St-Juste to open the season as the starters on the outside, with Bullard working in the nickel role. On the back end, Williams and McKinney should be the starters at safety.
I just have a hard time seeing Carrington Valentine opening the year in the starting lineup unless he completely transforms his tackling this offseason. Maybe Brandon Cisse forces his way into a larger role early in the season. Still, barring injuries, I would be surprised if Green Bay opens Week 1 with anything much different from this setup.
