It’s much less of a statement to bench a former seventh-rounder than a recently signed $48 million free agent addition, but that doesn’t make it the right move.
The Green Bay Packers insist Nate Hobbs can line up in the secondary, but they quickly learn what the Las Vegas Raiders already knew: He should play almost exclusively in the slot. Manning the position is sophomore Javon Bullard, who has progressed admirably after struggling in coverage as a rookie.
Bullard rightfully has a stranglehold on the starting role, forcing the Packers to either leave Hobbs on the edge or bench him outright. They opted for the former, but that means Carrington Valentine, a better coverage corner, is out of the lineup.
The Packers’ stubbornness in the secondary continues to haunt them.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-rounder, a major free agent acquisition, or an undrafted rookie. All that matters is putting your best players on the field and giving your team a better chance of winning.
Matt LaFleur takes this mindset on offense. That’s why Rasheed Walker, a former seventh-round pick, remained the starting left tackle ahead of Jordan Morgan, who the Packers selected 25th overall a year ago. Performance and production should take priority over project status or number of millions on contract.
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Still, the Packers don’t appear ready to make a change, with defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley saying, “I believe he’s going to come out and take a step forward this week.”
But Valentine outdoes Hobbs, and it’s not even close.
The former seventh-rounder has Pro Football Focus’ 16th-best coverage grade among cornerbacks. Quarterbacks completed just 56.3 percent of passes against him, and they only targeted him 16 times on 131 coverage snaps.
With Hobbs out due to injury, the Packers trusted Valentine to hold his own against anyone. And he delivered. In week one, it took an Odell Beckham-style one-handed catch in the end zone by Isaac TeSlaa to finally beat him. Valentine couldn’t do anything: he had almost perfect cover.
Four days later, he faced Terry McLaurin, limiting him to one catch for seven yards on four targets.
In a worrying contrast, Hobbs ranks 119th among cornerbacks in PFF’s coverage rating, giving up 13 catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns, a passer rating of 127.1, in five games.
Quarterbacks are starting to force their way through more often — he’s been targeted 16 times over the past three games, allowing 173 of the 180 yards he’s given up this season. Meanwhile, the number of Valentine’s Day snaps went from 76 in Week 1 to just three in Week 7. That’s the most undeserved benching imaginable.
Hobbs looks out of himself on the boundary – he’s given up too many game-changing plays, including a 35-yarder on 3rd-and-14 last week.
But he can play in the slot machine. According to PFF (h/t Zach Kruse of Wire Packers), Hobbs has not allowed a single catch on a target in 25 slots this season. But with Bullard playing so well inside (he ranks No. 3 in the NFL in yards allowed per target), the Packers remain committed to adding a big free agent on the border.
Forget the $48 million the Packers gave Hobbs in free agency, or that Valentine is a seventh-round pick. The Packers’ best starting trio is Valentine and Keisean Nixon on the edge, and Hobbs or Bullard in the slot.
Playing Hobbs on the outside continues to hurt this secondary. While Green Bay could still look for reinforcements at the trade deadline, Hafley must first make Valentine a full-time starter.
