Analyst Pitches Packers To Sign Former All-Pro Before Camp

With just about a month until training camp gets underway, the Green Bay Packers don’t have glaring holes on their roster. Starting spots will be up for grabs during training camp, but there isn’t a pressing need.

All of the biggest needs were addressed by general manager Brian Gutekunst in free agency and the draft. Some depth issues could arise, but that is what the offseason practices and workouts are for; to identify those issues.

If the Packers are going to make a move and bring in a veteran free agent before training camp, one position could use some experience; cornerback. That is why Aaron Schatz of ESPN has urged the team to sign former All-Pro and Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore.

“Here’s another team with questions at their second outside cornerback position. Eric Stokes is penciled in to start opposite Jaire Alexander, but Stokes has played only 12 games in the past two seasons due to different injuries, including ankle and hamstring problems. The Packers need a backup for Stokes with more experience than Corey Ballentine or Carrington Valentine. Gilmore, 33, still has something left in the tank and would be valuable to the Packers even if he couldn’t beat out Stokes for the starting spot in training camp,” Schatz wrote.

Keisean Nixon will hold down the slot cornerback job. His versatility could shine more this season now that the Packers have addressed their issues at safety, adding Xavier McKinney in free agency. Three draft picks were used on Javon Bullard, Evan Williams and Kitan Oladapo as well, who can help out in slot coverage duties.

Green Bay is very content with the cornerback group that they have put together. Jaire Alexander is a bonafide star when healthy, as he produced the highest coverage grade in the NFL from 2020-2022. Eric Stokes should be motivated after the fifth-year option on his rookie contract was declined this offseason.

Health is the biggest concern with this group. If Alexander or Stokes go down, the only other cornerback depth on the roster beyond Corey Ballentine and Carrington Valentine is rookie seventh-round pick Kalen King.

Bringing in someone as talented and experienced as Gilmore would put the coaching staff at ease. He can fill several roles in the secondary and would be an elite insurance policy behind Stokes and Alexander.

In an ideal world, those two remain healthy and start the entire season on the boundary. But, as the Packers learned last season, things happen. They need to be prepared for those things, whatever they may be, and Gilmore would help them in that regard.

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