FOX Sports Wisconsin's Paul Imig provides complete coverage of the Packers and the 2015 NFL Draft in his 14-part preview. You can find the entire series here.
TODAY'S POSITION: Cornerbacks
Importance (1-to-10 scale): 7
On the roster
The expectation going into this offseason was that the Packers would re-sign either Tramon Williams or Davon House. As long as one of them remained in Green Bay, it would avoid cornerback becoming a need position in the 2015 draft. Well, Williams is now with the Cleveland Browns and House is a Jacksonville Jaguar.
Even with Williams and House gone, the Packers could still field a very solid starting duo at outside cornerback. Sam Shields is a proven starter who's entering the second year of a four-year, $39 million deal. Last offseason, by giving Shields that much money, Ted Thompson essentially chose him a year ahead of time over Williams and House. Casey Hayward had a fantastic rookie season in 2012, an injury-plagued 2013 and an effective season -- albeit in a somewhat limited role -- in 2014. With Hayward set to hit unrestricted free agency in 2016, now is the time for Green Bay to figure out what it truly has in Hayward. Can he be as good on the outside in a full-time role as he's been in the slot? Hayward has the talent and the ball skills to be a better cornerback than Shields and Williams ever could be.
With the quick learning curve shown by Ha Ha Clinton-Dix last season, there's no longer a need for Micah Hyde to play safety. Hyde is a good nickel corner and would now get more of a chance to be in that role with Hayward moving outside.
If the Packers don't use a high draft pick on a cornerback, the trio of Hayward, Shields and Hyde has the potential to be a very good group.
The question with the roster as it stands before the draft is with depth. Green Bay has Demetri Goodson, whose rookie season was a disappointment. Goodson will turn 26 before training camp begins, so he doesn't have as much time to grow before reaching what should be the prime years of his career. Due to Hyde's limited speed, an injury to Hayward or Shields would likely force Goodson to outside cornerback. Do the Packers feel Goodson would be ready for that type of role, even if it is just for a few games? It'd be a fairly big leap of faith. Tay Glover-Wright and Kyle Sebetic round out the back of the depth chart.
Last five cornerbacks drafted
2014 -- Demetri Goodson, Baylor: sixth round (197th overall) -- still with Packers
2013 -- Micah Hyde, Iowa: fifth round (159th overall) -- still with Packers
2012 -- Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt: second round (62nd overall) -- still with Packers
2011 -- Davon House, New Mexico State: fourth round (131st overall) -- signed with Jacksonville as unrestricted free agent in March 2015
2008 -- Pat Lee, Auburn: second round (60th overall) -- out of the NFL
Philosophy at the position
Thompson has drafted a cornerback in each of the last four years. Don't expect that to stop now, especially with it becoming a bigger need than it's been in a while.
Whichever cornerback Green Bay drafts, no matter what round it's in, that player doesn't have to come in and start Day 1. That's a luxury that most teams with a need don't have.
The question for Thompson in this year's draft isn't whether he adds a cornerback to the mix. It seems all but certain that he will. It's about how high he goes after a cornerback. Drafting a cornerback in Round 1 would put more pressure on that player to become a starter quickly, whereas a Round 2 or 3 pick could more easily evolve at a steady pace like Hayward has. That will be one of the more interesting angles to follow with the Packers throughout draft weekend.
Day 1 name to remember (Round 1)
Marcus Peters, fourth-year junior, Washington (5-11, 197 pounds; age 22)
Based on talent alone, Peters would be among the first 15 players drafted this year. But talent isn't the only factor in evaluation for teams, and it's why Peters will have to wait until late in the first round (or maybe early in the second round) to hear his name called. NFLDraftScout.com summarized Peters' character concerns well by describing it as a "history of selfish immaturity and insubordination" after he was dismissed from the Washington program last season. Red flags, indeed. Would the possible reward outweigh the risk for Green Bay at No. 30? Peters is ranked as the second-best cornerback (behind only surefire top-15 pick Trae Waynes) by Joel Klatt of FOX Sports. Peters could be a lockdown cornerback in the NFL. He could also be more trouble than he's worth for a disciplined Packers team. It will make for an interesting decision for Thompson if Peters is still on the board late in the first round.
Day 2 name to remember (Rounds 2-3)
P.J. Williams, third-year junior, Florida State (6-0, 194 pounds; age 21)
Opinions are somewhat split on Williams. He's ranked third among cornerbacks by Klatt but seventh by NFLDraftScout.com, which gives Williams a second-round grade. Williams is among a handful of cornerbacks who could get drafted anywhere from early-second round to early-third round. It's for that reason that Thompson might wait until No. 62 overall -- or even No. 94 -- for one of these cornerbacks to fall. Whether it's Williams, Jalen Collins, Steven Nelson or Quinten Rollins, Green Bay could add high-quality talent to its cornerback room on Day 2 of the draft.
Day 3 name to remember (Rounds 4-7)
Craig Mager, fifth-year senior, Texas State (5-11, 204 pounds; age 22)
Mager received a fourth-to-fifth-round grade from NFLDraftScout.com. He's been a full-time starter (a total of 48 games) the past four seasons, recording eight interceptions. Mager would give the Packers a game-ready cornerback who shouldn't require extended development if asked to contribute as a rookie. A player like that has value for Green Bay on Day 3, especially if the position wasn't addressed with an earlier pick.
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