As the pre-draft process kicks into high gear, the Green Bay Packers are getting a closer look at some intriguing prospects-not from the stands, but from the sidelines. Two members of the Packers’ coaching staff are getting hands-on experience at college all-star games this week, and that kind of access can quietly shape draft-day decisions come April.
Quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion will be calling plays for the West team in the East-West Shrine Bowl later tonight, but the more intriguing Packers connection might be happening down in Mobile, Alabama. That’s where quality control coach Jamal Lett is working with the defensive backs for the National team at the Senior Bowl.
Green Bay has long valued the inside intel that comes from coaching prospects during these showcase games. Getting to see how a player prepares, how he responds to coaching, and how he fits into a professional structure can often make the difference between a name on a draft board and a name called on draft night.
So, who’s Lett working with? And more importantly, who might catch the Packers’ eye?
Cornerbacks to Watch
Lett’s group includes seven corners, and based on the consensus draft board, two of them-Colton Hood (Tennessee) and Chris Johnson (San Diego State)-are expected to be long gone before the Packers make their first pick at No. 52 overall. In fact, current projections have eight corners coming off the board before Green Bay even gets a chance to make a selection.
That doesn’t mean the cupboard is bare, though. The remaining five corners bring a mix of traits, but if you know how the Packers draft, you know size matters-especially at corner.
Chandler Rivers (Duke), listed at 5’9”, and Jalen McMurray (Tennessee), weighing just 179 pounds, fall short of Green Bay’s historical thresholds. Since 2005, the average corner drafted by the Packers has measured around 6’0” and 195 pounds. That’s not a hard-and-fast rule, but it’s a strong trend.
So, who fits the mold?
- Hezekiah Masses (California) - 6’0.5”, 180 lbs
- TJ Hall (Iowa) - 6’0.5”, 188 lbs
- Charles Demmings (Stephen F. Austin) - 6’1”, 191 lbs
Demmings, in particular, checks a lot of boxes from a physical standpoint. Hall also fits the prototype and comes from a program known for developing tough, disciplined defenders.
Masses has the height, but at 180 pounds, he’s right on the edge of what Green Bay has historically tolerated in terms of weight. Under both Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst, the Packers haven’t shown a tendency to draft corners that light.
Still, if Lett sees something in Masses during the week-his instincts, his footwork, his ability to compete in one-on-ones-that could be enough to override the scale.
Safety Depth and Day 3 Possibilities
On the back end, the Packers’ safety room is already fairly stocked. Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, and Kitan Oladapo are all under contract, and there’s still a chance Zayne Anderson could return in 2026. But Green Bay typically carries five safeties, especially because of how heavily they lean on the position in special teams coverage units-particularly punt and kickoff.
That opens the door for a Day 3 addition, and the three safeties Lett is working with all bring the kind of size and physicality the Packers value:
- Bud Clark - 6’1”, 185 lbs
- Deshon Singleton - 6’2.5”, 212 lbs
- VJ Payne - 6’3”, 210 lbs
Those are NFL-ready frames, and all three could carve out a role on special teams while developing behind the starters. Singleton and Payne, in particular, bring that downhill presence Green Bay likes in box safeties who can also contribute in coverage units.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just a feel-good coaching opportunity for Mannion and Lett. It’s a strategic advantage. When draft boards are stacked and the margins between prospects are razor-thin, having firsthand knowledge of how a player practices, learns, and responds to coaching can be a tiebreaker.
For a franchise that prides itself on building through the draft-and doing it with precision-these all-star weeks are more than just scouting events. They’re auditions, and the Packers are sitting in the director’s chair.
Keep an eye on how these names perform throughout the week. Because when April rolls around, don’t be surprised if one of the players coached by Jamal Lett in Mobile ends up wearing green and gold.