The Green Bay Packers have made a habit over the last few years of trying to turn slot cornerbacks into outside ones, having some fans believe that they could always kick one back inside to solve any injury-related issues.
However, with the way the roster is currently built, adding another slot defender might be an overlooked need ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
After a rough rookie season, Javon Bullard took some huge leaps forward as Green Bay’s primary slot defender this past season. His passer rating
allowed dropped from 119.8 in 2024 down to 89.2, and he generally looked more confident triggering downhill in both coverage and run support.
The hope for the Packers is that Bullard can continue to develop and thrive in that slot role, allowing fellow second-year safety Evan Williams to play a more defined role behind Bullard in the secondary.
Still, even with the progress Bullard made in Year 2, the Packers might want to consider adding another slot, both for depth and competition purposes.
After releasing Nate Hobbs at the start of free agency, the Packers don’t have a backup to Bullard on the Ourlads unofficial depth chart, but the presumptive backup would be 2024 fifth-round pick Kitan Oladapo. That’s a big leap of faith if Bullard were to go down, because Oladapo has only played 137 career defensive snaps, and 116 of those came in a pair of meaningless Week 18 contests.
The Packers could also theoretically kick Keisean Nixon back inside to the slot, where he initially played in his NFL career. However, for as much as it frustrates some Packers fans, Nixon is currently the team’s No. 1 cornerback, and has looked like a much more effective player on the outside during his time in Green Bay.
The 2026 NFL Draft features a number of intriguing slot defenders, particularly on Day 2 and Day 3 when the Packers have their selections. Names like Arizona’s Treydan Stukes and Miami’s Keionte Scott could be starting-caliber enforcers in the slot, while Day 3 options like Oregon’s Jadon Canady or Jalon Kilgore out of South Carolina could be intriguing depth pieces.
Defensive line, EDGE, outside corner, and other positions might be bigger areas of need for the Packers. However, if a run on those positions happens before the Packers are on the clock, it might not be the worst idea to consider adding another slot defender.
