Re-sign or Let Go and Prediction: Packers CB Corey Ballentine

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 27: Corey Ballentine #35 of the Green Bay Packers looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field on November 27, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 27: Corey Ballentine #35 of the Green Bay Packers looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field on November 27, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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The Green Bay Packers have 14 of their own unrestricted free agents to address during NFL free agency.

Over the next few weeks, my “Re-sign or Let go & Prediction” series is back, where I will be taking a look at each of the Packers’ unrestricted free agents, and examining why Green Bay may try to re-sign them, why they would let them walk, and then I’ll make a prediction.

Next up is cornerback and special teamer Corey Ballentine. If you’ve missed any of the other articles in this series, you can find them all below.

Keisean Nixon

Justin Hollins

Allen Lazard

Dallin Leavitt

Robert Tonyan

Eric Wilson

Mason Crosby

Marcedes Lewis

Dean Lowry

Randall Cobb

Why the Packers would re-sign Corey Ballentine

There are really two reasons that the Green Bay Packers would bring back Corey Ballentine. The first is that from Week 10 on, he was a core member of the special teams unit, with a fair amount of playing time coming on four different phases of special teams. Despite ranking 18th on the Packers in snaps, Ballentine finished tied for sixth in solo special teams tackles, according to PFF ($$).

The other reason that Green Bay would re-sign Ballentine is that he is a cornerback, a position where the Packers need depth. The Packers still, of course, have Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Rasul Douglas, but we do not know how much time Stokes will miss.

Other options on the roster currently include Shemar Jean-Charles, who was often inactive once he returned from injury, two practice squad players in Kiondre Thomas and Benjie Franklin, along with Tyrell Ford from the CFL, who was signed to a futures deal in January. Ballentine played in total over 400 defensive snaps with the New York Giants during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Ballentine will be an inexpensive option, something that Green Bay will have to be mindful of, playing on a deal in 2022 that cost the Packers less than $1 million. A reasonable price to pay for someone who could be a core special teams player, even if he never sees a snap on defense.

Why the Packers won’t re-sign Corey Ballentine

Ultimately, this decision likely comes down to how Rich Bisaccia and Matt LaFleur viewed Ballentine’s contributions on special teams. His most extensive action on defense in 2022 — 12 snaps — came in Green Bay’s blowout win against Minnesota and included Ballentine getting beat for a touchdown. My guess is that it isn’t the Packers’ intention to have him on the field defensively. So if he was viewed as being just a guy on special teams, Green Bay very well could look elsewhere to fill that role.

Prediction: the Packers re-sign Corey Ballentine

In all honesty, I don’t feel very strongly either way. However, he was a regular on the special teams unit during the second half of the season and made some plays. Ballentine also plays a position where the Packers could use more bodies, and he won’t cost much.