This is the eighth installment in a nine-part series examining the Green Bay Packers’ strengths, flaws, and offseason strategy at each position. Today we’ll look at the defensive backs.
The remaining positional overviews are listed below.
Looking back
Green Bay’s defense was mediocre all around, which finally cost coordinator Joe Barry his job. If there was one region that struggled more than the others, it was the secondary.
The Packers were impressively ninth in passing yards allowed per game (206.8). Green Bay had only seven interceptions, matching the 2018 club for the fewest in a season since at least 1940.
“I believe the back end is where we weren’t as consistent as we needed to be, and I’d like to shore that up,” Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “There will probably some moving pieces there going into next year.”
Jaire Alexander, the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, had his poorest season on the field in six years and was also a problem off the field. Alexander appeared in only seven games due to back and shoulder problems, and his performance was remarkably uneven. Alexander was also suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team.
Alexander played well after his suspension and had his only interception of the season in Green Bay’s playoff victory against Dallas.
“I think there is a lot of good that actually came out of that,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said about Alexander’s suspension. “It was challenging. It was rough on him, me, and our team.
“But I appreciate how he responded; that’s life. You have two options: jump into the tank or strive to learn, grow, and be better for it. And I believe he has taken that approach.”
Eric Stokes, Green Bay’s first-round draft pick in 2021, has struggled with injuries throughout his career. Stokes appeared in only three games due to foot and hamstring ailments and concluded his second season on the injured reserve list (hamstring).
With Stokes out, rookie seventh-round draft pick Carrington Valentine performed admirably, but he allowed receptions on 35 of the 61 throws he attempted (57.3%).
The safety group of Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, Rudy Ford, and Anthony Johnson was average at best. The Packers have already nullified the remaining year of Savage’s contract, as well as that of nickel corner Keisean Nixon, indicating that change is on its way.
