Green Bay Packers: Is cornerback help on the way?

Dec 8, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Davon House (31) breaks up the pass intended for Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 43-37. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Green Bay Packers have had a lot go right for them in recent years, but one spot they could use an improvement is the cornerback position.

The Packers lost cornerback Davon House to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tramon Williams to the Cleveland Browns also via free agency.

With House, the Packers must replace 28 combined tackles, one forced fumble and one interception from last season.

House was originally a fourth-round selection by the Packers in 2011 (131st overall), and that choice turned into 99 combined tackles, two sacks and two interceptions over four seasons.

To replace Williams (who played mostly on the left side of the field), the Packers must find a player who can equal the 71 combined tackles and three interceptions that he collected in 2014.

Senior NFL Columnist Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com released his eighth NFL Mock Draft on Tuesday, and in that draft, he has the Packers selecting Connecticut cornerback Byron Jones with the 30th overall selection. He wrote the following on the cornerback:

"“They have to get help at corner with two losses in free agency. Jones is a heck of an athlete who helped himself with a great combine.”"

Prisco is correct as the Packers would help themselves by going with a cornerback at this position.

Earlier in his eighth mock draft, Prisco had Trae Waynes (Michigan State) at No. 11 to the Minnesota Vikings and Jalen Collins (LSU) at 20th overall to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The NFL columnist Prisco also has Marcus Peters (Washington) to the Pittsburgh Steelers at 22nd overall and Wake Forest’s Kevin Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens as the 26th selection.

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Though Jones was injured and played in just seven games this past season for UConn, he’s still a solid player to have on the roster for the fact he was really durable in the first three seasons of his collegiate career.

Jones played in 12 games in each of his first three seasons before his his left shoulder injury that cost him nearly half of his senior season. In his four seasons at UConn, Jones totaled 222 tackles (130 solo) and eight interceptions.

Bob Fox of BleacherReport.com, quoted NFL Scout Bob Landry in an article this week on Jones:

"“He’s explosive and fast. He’s got size and balance. He doesn’t play to that type of explosiveness. I had him as a 6.0. Mid-second-round value. That’s what he is … You are going to have a dozen or so players or more who are second-round grades who will go in the first round.”"

Aug 28, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Utes defensive back Eric Rowe (18) stops Idaho State Bengals wide receiver Broc Malcom (2) from running up the field during the second quarter at

Rice

-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

Another cornerback who the Packers should look at who isn’t ranked in the Top 5 is Eric Rowe of Utah, as he’s now being projected as a last first- or second-round selection.

While at the combine, Rowe ran a 4.45 40-yard dash and had a vertical jump of 39 inches.

Those are impressive numbers and could fit well with the Packers’ defense that didn’t play great in the playoffs, but good enough to get them one win in the second season. Rowe is an under-the-radar player who everyone should know more about once draft day arrives.

Bob Sturm of DallasNews.com wrote about what he saw in Rowe in a recent article this month:

"“I consider him more of a zone corner who is best with a cushion and then closing while peeking at the QB, but when he presses, he has some talents that shine through.”"

Rowe, who could also be a safety in the NFL, played in 12 games for the Utes in ’14. He collected 42 solo tackles (59 total) with three going for a loss. He also had one interception and 13 passes defended this past season.

Currently, the Packers have Tay Glover-Wright, Casey Hayward and Sam Shields listed as their cornerbacks on their roster.

Last year, the Packers selected Demetri Goodson from Baylor as the 197th overall selection in the sixth round.

Goodson finished with six tackles as a rookie, including three in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions. Goodson played in a total of six games for the Packers in ’14.

One way or another, the Packers are going to have to replace not just one, but two cornerbacks on their roster, and not just two run-of-the-mill type of players, but two quality players who they built up out of the draft.

These are just two players who could help make a difference with not only the Packers, but other teams in the league as well.

Maybe the Packers will be able to hit pay dirt once again in the draft production at the cornerback position in either the first round or sometime later in the draft, and if there was one team who I wouldn’t bet against to do so, it is the Packers and their front office.

Next: Green Bay Packers: Demetri Goodson a sleeper?

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