Green Bay Packers Facing Thin Saints Cornerback Group
By Paul Bretl
One position group in particular that Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers could exploit on this New Orleans Saints team is cornerback–which is extremely thin at the moment.
Due to salary cap constraints, the Saints would release former starting cornerback Janoris Jenkins early on in the offseason. Prior to the draft, when Mike Triplett of ESPN asked Sean Peyton if there was a position or two that they “must” address, Peyton would identify cornerback as the big need.
In a recent article, Triplett would mention that the Saints tried to trade up almost 20 spots in the draft to select top corners Patrick Surtain II or Jaycee Horn–however, as we all know, that didn’t work out.
Then to the surprise of many, Patrick Robinson, who was competing for a starting role, would decide to retire during training camp, and Brian Poole was eventually placed on IR–only widening the void that New Orleans has at the position.
In fact, Katherine Terrell of The Athletic would call the Saints’ failure to better address the cornerback position the team’s worst offseason move.
Currently, on the Saints’ unofficial depth chart, they only have four cornerbacks listed, which includes Ken Crawley, Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, and Desmond Trufant. New Orleans will be acquiring Bradley Robey via trade from Houston, but he is suspended Week 1.
They also of course have some players on the practice squad — including old friends Ka’dar Hollman and Keivarae Russell — but those aren’t exactly players you want to be relying on heavily.
Lattimore is going to have his hands full with Davante Adams while Ken Crawley was listed on the New Orleans injury report on Wednesday after he did not participate with a hamstring injury–this is certainly something worth keeping our eyes on.
I did really like Paulson Adebo coming out of Stanford, but he’s a rookie going up against Aaron Rodgers and the 2020 No. 1 scoring offense. And Desmond Trufant, at 31-years-old, is not the same player that he once was as he really struggled last season in Detroit. Before signing with New Orleans recently, he was cut by Chicago, who have their own questions surrounding their cornerback depth.
The Saints also have Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and PJ Williams, both of whom are listed as safeties, but either can line up at cornerback. Even so, that doesn’t really change the overall concern surrounding this unit–especially against Green Bay.
These issues at cornerback could lead to a big day for Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers offense.
This is an offense that led the NFL in points per game scored last season and also ranked first by DVOA. While maintaining that level of production is never easy, this is a group poised to do so.
"“Third year in the offense really helps too,” Rodgers told Larry McCarren. “I remember my third year in the West Coast offense was when it really felt like I took off. I think you’ve seen a nice progression from Year 1 to 2 and now 2 to 3, things are completely sunk in, and I feel really at ease with the offense and what we’re trying to accomplish.”"
The reigning MVP is back under center, and he has a litany of pass-catching options to throw to. Of course, there is Adams, but also Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Randall Cobb, Robert Tonyan, Aaron Jones, and others.
Last season against New Orleans, and without Adams, Rodgers would complete 21 of his 32 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns. Lazard would also have a monster game, catching six of his eight targets for 146 yards and a touchdown—and these performances were against a better Saints cornerback unit than what they have now.
The recipe is there for Rodgers and Co. to have a big day in the passing game against these New Orleans cornerbacks. If the Green Bay Packers offensive line can give Rodgers the time he needs against this stout Saints’ pass-rush, then it could be a long day for those cornerbacks.