Brian Gutekunst Breaks Silence on $48 Million Green Bay Packers Signing
The Green Bay Packers’ focus on acquiring a cornerback in free agency was a logical move, especially considering defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s emphasis on strong secondary performance as a fundamental aspect of the defense.
With ongoing questions about All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander’s future, it was expected that the Packers would act quickly in addressing this need. They successfully signed former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs to a four-year contract worth $48 million shortly after the start of free agency, making him a key target in line with their requirements and available salary cap space. During the NFL Annual Meeting, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst mentioned that the team had been eyeing Hobbs for a considerable amount of time.
“Richmond Williams on our pro staff does a great job and has been pushing (for him),” Gutekunst told reporters at the NFL Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach. “We just really thought he’s a really versatile all-around corner, can do everything. We really like his ability to play on the outside, which he hasn’t done a ton of, but the ability to move him inside and match different receivers, and his play style I think is one of the things that really stood out to all of us.”
Hobbs, 25, cashes in a $16 million signing bonus and likely walks into a starting role in Hafley’s secondary this fall, regardless of what the Packers wind up doing in this year’s draft or where Alexander winds up.
Through his first four seasons, since being chosen by the Raiders in the fifth-round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Hobbs has produced 281 total tackles, intercepted three passes and logged three career sacks.
Gutekunst and the Packers are banking on him playing a vital role in the defense’s continued ascension.
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