Starting 5 - CB

[tynimiller]

Can someone explain to me just how we are slotting Nixon and Hobbs in at outside corner over the guy who arguably has been our best outside corner last season and a bit outside when Ja is out???

Valentine.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Can someone explain to me just how we are slotting Nixon and Hobbs in at outside corner over the guy who arguably has been our best outside corner last season and a bit outside when Ja is out???

Valentine.

Good catch. One suggestion is to start Valentine and Hobbs outside, Nixon in the slot, and have Bullard as a slot backup or safety backup, with McKinney and Williams as the starting safeties. That makes it hard to get 2nd round pick Bullard more snaps. Personally, I'm not convinced Nixon has starter-level talent in the backfield. I may be on an island with that opinion.

I think Nixon has played slot, but I'm not sure. Hobbs has played some slot as well, but seems better suited to outside.

 

[tynimiller]

Good catch. One suggestion is to start Valentine and Hobbs outside, Nixon in the slot, and have Bullard as a slot backup or safety backup, with McKinney and Williams as the starting safeties. That makes it hard to get 2nd round pick Bullard more snaps. Personally, I'm not convinced Nixon has starter-level talent in the backfield. I may be on an island with that opinion.

I think Nixon has played slot, but I'm not sure. Hobbs has played some slot as well, but seems better suited to outside.

Outside of one season Hobbs has lived in the slot primarily.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Outside of one season Hobbs has lived in the slot primarily.

Good to know, thanks. I certainly hope he can excel in GB, much as McKinney did last year after escaping from the Giants.

It does present a challenge for MLF and Hafley - where to play Bullard? It didn't seem that he was used much last year. I thought he was drafted as a safety, but it seems slot is where he is targeted. And Williams had a stellar rookie year at S. Bullard may end up being a very useful depth player at both slot and S.

Well there is plenty of opportunity for someone in the CB group to step up, especially now that JA is out of the picture.

 

[El Guapo]

Time to re-write the record books: https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profo...iver-bo-melton-playing-cornerback-in-minicamp

 

[Thirteen Below]

Good to know, thanks. I certainly hope he can excel in GB, much as McKinney did last year after escaping from the Giants.

The difference is, though, that McKinney already excelled in New York - he was a Top 5 safety in 2023. Hobbs was good when healthy, and may very well do better in our D than with the Raiders.

I think Nixon has played slot, but I'm not sure. Hobbs has played some slot as well, but seems better suited to outside.

I spent some time on Raiders forums after we signed him, and they almost universally say the same thing about him - "Very good slot corner, QBs don't like to throw at him. Tough, aggressive tackler, but gets toasted outside because he lacks downfield speed and is stiff in the hips". It's pretty rare that I see an entire forum almost unanimously say the exact same thing about a player, but the consensus is strong that he belongs in the slot.

However, a few fans did say that it might be their system. They didn't elaborate on why, but speculated that if he were used differently, he might have done better.

Hie misses a lot of games, but not as many as Alexander. His last 3 seasons, he's averaged fewer than 12 games, and while he played 16 his rookie year, he had a significant injury that year too but played through it because he was scared of not making the team. The injuries seem to almost all be ankle injuries, except for a broken hand one year and missing a game for covid.

It does present a challenge for MLF and Hafley - where to play Bullard? It didn't seem that he was used much last year. I thought he was drafted as a safety, but it seems slot is where he is targeted. And Williams had a stellar rookie year at S. Bullard may end up being a very useful depth player at both slot and S.

Good idea, that may be a really good role for him. You're right, he was drafted as a safety, but we seem to be well-stocked at that position now, and he may have a hard time beating Williams out for a starting spot.

 

[Heyjoe4]

The difference is, though, that McKinney already excelled in New York - he was a Top 5 safety in 2023. Hobbs was good when healthy, and may very well do better in our D than with the Raiders.




I spent some time on Raiders forums after we signed him, and they almost universally say the same thing about him - "Very good slot corner, QBs don't like to throw at him. Tough, aggressive tackler, but gets toasted outside because he lacks downfield speed and is stiff in the hips". It's pretty rare that I see an entire forum almost unanimously say the exact same thing about a player, but the consensus is strong that he belongs in the slot.

However, a few fans did say that it might be their system. They didn't elaborate on why, but speculated that if he were used differently, he might have done better.

Hie misses a lot of games, but not as many as Alexander. His last 3 seasons, he's averaged fewer than 12 games, and while he played 16 his rookie year, he had a significant injury that year too but played through it because he was scared of not making the team. The injuries seem to almost all be ankle injuries, except for a broken hand one year and missing a game for covid.


Good idea, that may be a really good role for him. You're right, he was drafted as a safety, but we seem to be well-stocked at that position now, and he may have a hard time beating Williams out for a starting spot.

Thanks 13. Yeah Ty also confirmed that Hobbs has played primarily in the slot. If he has limited bend ability, the slot is better for him. So that likely leaves Nixon and Valentine starting on the outside. With the exception of Hobbs, Gluten is mostly running back the starters from last year.

 

[gopkrs]

Thanks 13. Yeah Ty also confirmed that Hobbs has played primarily in the slot. If he has limited bend ability, the slot is better for him. So that likely leaves Nixon and Valentine starting on the outside. With the exception of Hobbs, Gluten is mostly running back the starters from last year.

Yes. it sounds like, because of his tackling, he would be better in the slot. But we seem to be short on corners with a few who look to be capable in the slot. If he does get beat deep a lot; he would need help or be willing to give up the 10 yard out. Not ideal.

 

[El Guapo]

It just highlights that we lack good, outside CBs. We appear to be good down the middle. Hafley will have to work his magic to prevent teams from amplifying this problem. However, a good OC should be able to scheme good WRs into one-on-one situations.

 

[milani]

Which five DBs do you think we will open the season with against the Lions? (assuming a nickel package)

Maybe one that is not on the roster yet.

 

[Curly Calhoun]

Maybe one that is not on the roster yet.

Green Bay has about 35 mil in cap space right now.

My guess is that they will see how it goes with the guys already on the roster, and if they need to go out and get someone, they have the flexibility to do it.

Not a bad situation.

 

[El Guapo]

I thought that our 2025 cap is down to $12M after swallowing the entire Jaire contract?

 

[Pkrjones]

I thought that our 2025 cap is down to $12M after swallowing the entire Jaire contract?

GB is taking on JA's entire $17.6mil dead money, but are still saving $7mil on the '25 cap ($35.5mil available). Per article below this means they're no longer OVER the '26 cap.

Packers will take on all of Jaire Alexander’s dead money on 2025 salary cap, per report

For whatever reason, the Packers decided to accelerate the entire $17 million into this season’s books rather than spreading it out.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[OldSchool101]

GB is taking on JA's entire $17.6mil dead money, but are still saving $7mil on the '25 cap ($35.5mil available). Per article below this means they're no longer OVER the '26 cap.

Packers will take on all of Jaire Alexander’s dead money on 2025 salary cap, per report

For whatever reason, the Packers decided to accelerate the entire $17 million into this season’s books rather than spreading it out.

sports.yahoo.com

Yes. The silver lining with this whole J’aire thing. I didn’t want to lose him, but fiscally it’s probably the right thing to do. That’s a big swing in financials, now we’ll have to sign a Rookie class next season and practice squads both years and leave some leftovers for emergency. Yet we should see an increase next season in cap also. We’re not in some lucrative position adding in 2026, but were more normalized.

Looking into next season there is a group of teams sitting sweet like Pittsburg, Las Vegas or the Chargers. Also on the flip side there’s a group with some hard negative cap. We are neither but what’s good is this 1 player loss gets us fiscally sound.

 

[Curly Calhoun]

I thought that our 2025 cap is down to $12M after swallowing the entire Jaire contract?

According to Over The Cap, it's $35,502,327 for 2025:

NFL Salary Cap Space | Over The Cap

NFL salary cap space estimates for all 32 teams

overthecap.com

Perhaps that is incorrect, but that's what it indicates.

Then there is this:

Cheese Curds, 6/16: What to do with $35 million of salary cap space?​

The first part of the answer is to sign Zach Tom to an extension.

Monday Cheese Curds: What to do with $35 million of salary cap space?

The first part of the answer is to sign Zach Tom to an extension.

www.acmepackingcompany.com

 

[El Guapo]

I did find some articles from NBC and CBS Sports saying that the cap was $29M but would drop due to swallowing the entire hit in 2025, but most of the main sites (as you pointed out above) seem to say that we essentially saved $24M while taking a $7M hit for the signing bonus in 2025...so we gained cap space.

 

[OldSchool101]

I did find some articles from NBC and CBS Sports saying that the cap was $29M but would drop due to swallowing the entire hit in 2025, but most of the main sites (as you pointed out above) seem to say that we essentially saved $24M while taking a $7M hit for the signing bonus in 2025...so we gained cap space.

If I recall we were sitting just shy of $30mil a month ago. So we netted $6m+ and cleared his 2026 Sunk off the books. That sure helps.

It’s a calculated risk but with his injury history he’s just not worth it. We were not the only ones. Even the Raiders fans with all their 25-26 cap were somewhat split 60-40 I read. Many didn’t want the lockerroom antics mixed with injury concerns from what I read.

 

[milani]

If I recall we were sitting just shy of $30mil a month ago. So we netted $6m+ and cleared his 2026 Sunk off the books. That sure helps.

It’s a calculated risk but with his injury history he’s just not worth it. We were not the only ones. Even the Raiders fans with all their 25-26 cap were somewhat split 60-40 I read. Many didn’t want the lockerroom antics mixed with injury concerns from what I read.

I think Gute is planning for a stronger roster in 26 than in 25.

 

[lambeaulambo]

this thread did not age well for some lol. NOW list them!

 

[Thirteen Below]

I think Gute is planning for a stronger roster in 26 than in 25.

That was my first reaction, too. It sounds like Gute is preparing for some of the younger players to take big steps forward this year, and wants to be in a position to lock them up early in the 2026 offseason. He's preparing himself to be proactive, rather than playing from behind with so many young players having the potential to really shine in 25.

There's a little risk here, but he seems to feel he is not going to need the cap space this year, but that it would be more crucial next year. Could be a very clever strategy.