The Green Bay Packers head into this offseason with a clear sense of where they need to improve, and most of that focus is on the defensive side of the ball. Yes, the Packers fielded a top-ten defense last season, but anyone who watched closely knows that ranking doesn’t tell the full story-especially when it comes to the cornerback group and defensive line depth.
Let’s start with the cornerbacks. The expectation going into 2025 was that Keisean Nixon would step into the CB1 role, flanked by Carrington Valentine and Nate Hobbs on the outside.
On paper, it looked serviceable. In reality?
Not so much. Hobbs, a big free-agent signing, couldn’t stay healthy and underwhelmed when he was on the field.
Valentine struggled in coverage, giving up seven touchdowns and allowing a passer rating north of 105. Nixon, despite earning a Pro Bowl nod and logging 17 pass breakups, was far too inconsistent.
He gave up six touchdowns and was often targeted in big moments. He’s a solid rotational piece-maybe even a high-end CB2-but he’s not the lockdown guy Green Bay needs on the boundary.
Then there’s the defensive line. The loss of Devonte Wyatt to injury exposed a lack of depth up front.
While his return helps stabilize things, the Packers still need more reliable rotational pieces to keep the front fresh and effective over a full season. But if we’re ranking priorities, cornerback is clearly the more pressing concern.
That brings us to an intriguing trade scenario that’s been floated: the Packers potentially targeting Tyson Campbell, the former Georgia standout who split time between the Jaguars and Browns last season. At 25, Campbell is still young and has already shown flashes of being a high-level starter.
After a rocky stint in Jacksonville-where he allowed a 106.4 passer rating and three touchdowns in just five games-he rebounded nicely in Cleveland. In 12 games with the Browns, he allowed only three touchdowns and held opposing quarterbacks to an 84.8 passer rating.
That’s a noticeable improvement, and it suggests the change of scenery helped him reset.
With Cleveland bringing in a new coaching staff this offseason, Campbell’s future with the team is a bit murky. If the Browns decide he’s not part of their plans moving forward, he could become a valuable trade chip-and Green Bay should absolutely be in the conversation if that happens. New Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon has a background in coaching defensive backs, and pairing him with a player like Campbell could unlock another level in the young corner’s game.
But here’s where things get tricky: draft capital. The Packers are still feeling the ripple effects of the Micah Parsons blockbuster, which cost them their first-round picks in both 2026 and 2027.
Without those premium assets, Green Bay is going to be extra cautious with what little draft currency they have left. Even if Campbell could be had for a mid-to-late round pick-say, a fourth or fifth-it’s hard to see GM Brian Gutekunst pulling the trigger unless the value is undeniable.
So while Campbell would be a great fit and a much-needed upgrade in the secondary, the reality is the Packers may have to look elsewhere. Whether that’s through the draft, free agency, or a more affordable trade target, one thing is clear: Green Bay can’t afford to roll into 2026 with the same cornerback group and expect better results. If they want to take that next step and make a serious postseason push, the secondary needs a reboot-and soon.