Paul Bretl | 3/10/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — In addition to bolstering the offensive line with Aaron Banks, the Packers also signed cornerback Nate Hobbs to a four-year deal worth $48 million, including $16 million guaranteed, according to Tom Pelissero.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Hobbs about joining the Packers via Josina Anderson. “It has not sunk in yet. I’m still dumbfounded by the opportunity, and I am ready to get to work. Being with the #Raiders in that division and facing those quarterbacks, I feel like I’m ready for anything (in the NFC North) and I am going in with a lot of confidence. It prepared me for this.”
Hit like and subscribe to my YouTube Channel ‘The Paul Bretl Show’ for more Packers coverage.
Hobbs was a fifth-round selection by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2021 NFL draft. Over the last two years, in particular, Hobbs has primarily lined up in the slot, although he does have starting boundary cornerback experience, which includes playing 500 snaps there during the 2022 season.
In the run game, an important element to playing the nickel position, Hobbs has routinely graded out as one of PFF’s better cornerbacks in that respect. In coverage this past season, Hobbs had his best season statistically, allowing a completion rate of just 67% from the slot at 9.0 yards per catch with an interception and three pass breakups.
Out of 42 eligible slot defenders last season, Hobbs ranked 10th in yards per snap allowed. He also had the 11th best coverage EPA (expected points added) among all defensive backs who saw 40 or more targets in 2024.
“A slot corner with the ability to play outside,” wrote ESPN’s Matt Bowen. “Hobbs has the quickness and tackling ability needed to play inside the numbers. In four seasons, he has 3 interceptions, 13 pass breakups and 14 tackles for loss. He can be an upgrade for a team in search of a nickel defender in sub packages.”
Although Hobbs has been a nickel defender the past two seasons, Ryan Wood reported that the Packers will play Hobbs on the boundary. In addition to his past experience, he has a good size, listed at 6-1, and he’s a terrific athlete, posting an elite Relative Athletic Score of 9.61 during the pre-draft process.
Given the current state of the Packers’ cornerback room, which features a bevy of unknowns, Hobbs playing outside would make the most sense. However, I will guess that his versatility will be utilized within Jeff Hafley’s scheme, and where Hobbs lines up will be dictated by who the opponent is.
“I do think with what Jeff’s trying to do,” said Brian Gutekunst of the cornerback position at the NFL combine, “there’s a lot more vision and awareness and instincts out there than maybe we’ve played with in the past.
Whether it be through free agency or, perhaps more likely now, the draft, the Packers are not done adding to the cornerback position. But the addition of Hobbs does give them some needed stability on the boundary, with Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine as the two other options.
“I thought when we moved Keisean to the outside and he consistently played there, I thought he played really, really well,” Gutekunst said after the season. “Not only in coverage but as a tackler as well and run game. And I think when CV went out there, I think when both those guys were playing on the outside consistently, we just got more stable.”