Nate Hobbs’ Future in Green Bay: A Costly Gamble or a Necessary Hold?
We’re officially in the thick of roster decision season, and for the Packers, that means navigating some hard truths. While some potential departures-like Elgton Jenkins, Rashan Gary, or even Josh Jacobs-might be understandable from a cap standpoint, others are a little murkier. And that brings us to Nate Hobbs.
If you were hoping for a dramatic roster shakeup, Hobbs probably isn’t going anywhere. And depending on how you look at it, that’s either a disappointment or a necessary evil.
Let’s break it down.
The Contract and the Concerns
When the Packers signed Nate Hobbs to a four-year, $48 million deal last spring, it raised some eyebrows. This was a player who had never been a full-time starter with the Raiders and had yet to play a full season without being sidelined by injuries. Still, Green Bay saw enough potential to hand him a hefty $16 million signing bonus, with another $10.25 million guaranteed.
Fast forward one season, and unfortunately, the concerns have proven valid. Hobbs appeared in just 11 games in 2025 and finished the year on injured reserve.
The injuries weren’t a fluke either-his aggressive style of play, while admirable, may have contributed to his early-season setbacks. It’s a double-edged sword: the Packers have needed more physicality on defense, and Hobbs brought it, but at a cost.
Now, heading into Year 2, Hobbs’ cap hit is set to more than double. The question is: can the Packers justify keeping him around?
What Hobbs Brings to the Table
Let’s start with the upside, because there is some.
Hobbs has legitimate inside-outside versatility. During his time with the Raiders, he showed he could handle both the boundary and the slot, and his best work came as a slot corner.
That makes it all the more curious that the Packers barely used him there in 2025. He only logged double-digit snaps in the slot in two games.
Part of that was due to Javon Bullard’s emergence, but still-it’s surprising that a player with Hobbs’ track record in the slot didn’t get more run there.
He also brought a physical edge to the secondary. Hobbs isn’t afraid to stick his nose in the run game or lay a hit, and that mentality has been in short supply in Green Bay’s defense in recent years.
There’s value in that, especially for a team that’s often labeled as soft. But again, that same aggression may have contributed to his inability to stay on the field.
The Numbers Tell a Rough Story
Here’s where things get tough.
When Hobbs was on the field, the results weren’t pretty. Even before his second injury sidelined him from Weeks 10 to 13, he had already lost his starting role to Carrington Valentine-a player who had his own share of struggles in 2025.
Statistically, Hobbs was one of the weakest links in the Packers’ secondary. Opposing quarterbacks completed 17 of 25 passes against him for 239 yards and two touchdowns.
That’s a 68% completion rate and a passer rating of 125.3-worst on the team. Only two players, both front-seven defenders, gave up more yards per completion than Hobbs (14.1).
Among 255 NFL defenders who logged at least 245 coverage snaps, only 22 allowed a worse passer rating-and five of those were linebackers.
That’s not the kind of company you want to keep as a cornerback.
Financial Reality Check
The financial side doesn’t look much better. Hobbs has already pocketed $16 million in signing bonus money, and he’s due another $6.25 million roster bonus early in the league year.
That’s over $22 million in bonuses alone for a player who’s played fewer than 12 games in green and gold. Add in his per-game and workout bonuses, and the Packers are looking at a hefty bill for minimal return.
And yet, cutting Hobbs doesn’t offer much relief. Releasing him would save the team only about $1 million in cap space. That’s not exactly a game-changer, especially when it would leave the Packers right back where they were a year ago-thin at cornerback and scrambling for answers.
The Packers’ Cornerback Conundrum
This is where things get complicated. The Packers aren’t in a position to overhaul their cornerback room.
They’re short on bodies, thin on proven talent, and staring down what looks like a multi-year rebuild at the position. And if there’s one thing GM Brian Gutekunst has shown, it’s that he doesn’t like being forced into a corner-especially when it comes to roster construction.
Letting Hobbs go now would mean Gutekunst has to draft a corner, sign a free agent, or both. That’s not ideal, especially with other roster holes to fill and limited cap flexibility. So while Hobbs hasn’t lived up to his contract, the Packers may not have much choice but to ride it out a little longer and hope for a turnaround.
The Bottom Line
Nate Hobbs was expensive, injured, and ineffective in 2025. There’s no sugarcoating that.
But cutting him doesn’t solve the Packers’ problems-it just creates new ones. With limited savings and few alternatives, Green Bay may have to see what they can get out of Hobbs in Year 2.
Maybe he stays healthy. Maybe he gets more time in the slot, where he’s thrived before. Maybe he becomes the physical, versatile corner the Packers envisioned when they signed him.
Or maybe he doesn’t. But for now, the Packers seem willing to find out.