Andrew Buller-Russ
Last year, just before the 2025 NFL season kicked off, the Green Bay Packers took a swing for the fences, trading their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to the Dallas Cowboys for superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons. The move paid immediate dividends, helping the Packers hold four of their first five opponents to 18 points or less.
While injuries, including to Parsons, played a huge factor in the Packers losing the final four games of the regular season plus their lone playoff game, Green Bay has spent the entire offseason roster-building. The question is, has Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst done enough?
Not according to one anonymous NFL executive who spoke to The Athletic, warning Packers fans that they “should be worried” about the cornerback position.
“I’m a little worried about them,” one exec said. “Taking a step back, it’s depending on how some of the guys they already have develop: Jordan Love, Matthew Golden, Christian Watson. They lost a ton on defense in free agency. I’d be worried about the corner position.”
The Packers are indeed relying heavily on their internal development, which has been a common theme for Green Bay throughout the franchise’s history. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and his corresponding staff have done a fine job developing talent, and now they’ll hope to see their secondary take another leap.
The Packers’ top draft selection, South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse, will play a big factor in Green Bay’s defensive success. But unlike other teams’ top picks, Cisse wasn’t a first-round selection. Fifty-one other players were drafted before him, but that doesn’t mean Cisse can’t be an impact defender who earns a starting role, even as a rookie. Yet, some NFL execs clearly have their doubts.
Related: 2026 NFL Power Rankings: Evaluating Worst, Best Teams After NFL Draft
