The Green Bay Packers’ decision to prioritize signing a cornerback during free agency was a logical move. Given defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s emphasis on a formidable secondary as the core of a defense, combined with the ongoing uncertainty about All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander’s future, it was no shock that Green Bay acted swiftly in addressing this need.

Nate Hobbs, previously with the Las Vegas Raiders, found himself benefiting from the Packers’ requirements and available salary cap, as he inked a four-year deal valued at $48 million shortly after the onset of free agency. During the NFL Annual Meeting, Packers’ general manager Brian Gutekunst disclosed that Hobbs had been on Green Bay’s radar for a while.

“Richmond Williams on our pro staff does excellent work and has been advocating for him,” Gutekunst shared with reporters at the NFL Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach. “We just really believe he’s a versatile, comprehensive corner who can handle a variety of roles.

We appreciate his potential to play on the outside, even though he hasn’t done it extensively, but his capability to shift inside and cover different receivers, along with his playing style, is something that impressed us all.” At 25, Hobbs secures a $16 million signing bonus and is poised to step into a starting position in Hafley’s secondary this coming fall, irrespective of the Packers’ decisions in this year’s draft or Alexander’s eventual destination.

Over his initial four seasons, having been selected by the Raiders in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Hobbs has amassed 281 total tackles, picked off three passes, and recorded three career sacks. Gutekunst and the Packers are counting on him to be a crucial component in the defense’s ongoing improvement.