With free agency in full swing and the draft fast approaching, the Packers will be considering how to address their glaring need at cornerback. Kevin King is a free agent, leaving Josh Jackson as the presumptive starter across from Jaire Alexander. On Tuesday, the Packers tendered the RFA Chandon Sullivan, who will likely return to play slot corner in 2021. Whilst they might want to address the position in the first round, there is also some value to be had later on in the draft. Here are four players that Green Bay could target in the mid-rounds.
Kelvin Joseph, Kentucky
Joseph is easily one of the most polarising prospects in this year’s draft. At times he has received first round hype, whilst others see him firmly as a Day 3 type of prospect. Wherever he ends up going, he is a player that will be on the Packers’ radar. 2020 was his first season as a starter and he held up very well against a tough SEC-only schedule. His game against Alabama was particularly impressive, as he didn’t allow a single catch on his three targets. Joseph offers genuine quickness and some of the best footwork in this class. His hips are fluid and he is excellent at changing direction and making breaks on the ball. These are all traits that would fit well in the Packers’ defensive scheme.
Despite a lack of starting experience, Joseph shows natural ability when it comes to ball skills. He had five forced incompletions on his 34 targets this season, four of which were interceptions. He has shown himself to be a solid tackler too, with just three misses on 37 attempts this season. That said, there is a reason Joseph is likely to be available in the mid-rounds. His route anticipation skills are still developing and he is still raw when it comes to processing in coverage. There are also some question marks about his reasons for transferring from LSU in 2019. Details are lacking, but there are allegations of a failed drug test that teams will need to do their due diligence on.
Thomas Graham Jr., Oregon
Graham is one of a number of players that the Packers have met with during the pre-draft process. He was a starting boundary corner for the Ducks from his freshman season in 2017, before opting out this season. He has been consistently productive throughout his college career and many expected him to declare for last year’s draft after a stellar performance in the Rose Bowl. Graham has quick feet and excellent change of direction ability, two things that are essential in a two-high zone system like the Packers will be running. His technique is excellent and he showcases great instincts.
Graham also ticks the ball production box. He posted 32 forced incompletions on his 226 career targets and in 2018 he ranked fourth in the nation with 18. The biggest concern with Graham is his athleticism, particularly his sub-par speed. This will limit his effectiveness on deep routes, and in man coverage, where he struggles to stick with quicker receivers. That said, it shouldn’t be an issue in Joe Barry’s defense, which asks its corners to primarily cover the short areas of the field. If the Packers can look past this, they would be getting themselves a player with boundary/slot versatility and three years of solid starting tape.
Trill Williams, Syracuse
Syracuse’s secondary is full of talent and Trill Williams is one of the best. Like Graham, he is one of a number of cornerbacks who have met with the Packers in the pre-draft process. He is an interesting prospect to evaluate, primarily because he played out of position in college. Syracuse played him mostly in the slot, despite him profiling as a prototypical boundary corner. Williams is 6’2″ and 198 lbs, with elite athleticism and physicality to his game. He’s comfortable in zone coverage and has the tools to be effective in man coverage too.
Williams was targeted 21 times this season, allowing just 14 receptions for 133 yards. The good news for the Packers is that his best college reps have actually come as a boundary corner in zone coverage. The bad news is that he’s barely played that role since his freshman season, with just four snaps on the boundary in 2020. Williams’ lack of a defined position is a problem. Given his size and traits, he is unlikely to stick in the slot in the NFL. Outside corner makes a tonne of sense, but we haven’t seen him play there enough to be certain. That said, teams will be willing to take a chance on a player with his combination of traits in the mid-rounds.
Camryn Bynum, California
Bynum is not one of the biggest names in this class, but he could be a perfect fit in the Packers’ defense. Bynum is a protoypical Cover-2 corner, with excellent short area quickness and a good feel for zone coverage. Cal’s defensive scheme asked him to play a tonne of reps in zone and this experience would allow him slot right into the Packers’ defense. He is also battle-tested, as a four-year starter with almost 200 career targets. Bynum has allowed a completion rate of just 55.4 per cent across his career, with 26 forced incompletions.
The Packers will love Bynum’s combination of size, instincts, and experience and there are few corners that can match him in these areas. He is also an incredibly physical player who excels in run defense. The problem for Bynum is his lack of speed and he struggles when tasked with playing in man coverage. He’s also not going to offer much as a press corner at the line. Similarly to Thomas Graham, these issues should be mitigated by the Packers’ defensive scheme and he offers real value for a Day 3 pick.
