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The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers took a step to revamp their cornerback room this offseason when they signed Nate Hobbs to a four-year deal. The former Las Vegas Raider offers inside-outside versatility and will bring confidence and toughness to Green Bay’s secondary.
That was just the first domino to fall this offseason as the Packers could have a lot of new faces in that cornerback room.
Eric Stokes signed a one-year deal with the Raiders and the Packers continue to look to find a trade partner for Jaire Alexander. If the Packers can’t find a trade for Alexander, they’ll likely release him. The Packers also had Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell sign elsewhere in free agency.
The Packers will need to add bodies to that room to round out the depth chart. A potential Day 3 target for Brian Gutekunst is Bilhal Kone. The Western Michigan cornerback checks in at No. 35 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A native of Minnesota, Kone started his collegiate career at Iowa Central Community College before transferring to Indiana State. Kone played one season at Indiana State before transferring to Western Michigan for the 2023 season. During his first season with the Broncos, Kone recorded 42 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception and eight pass deflections. This past season, Kone recorded 70 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and nine pass deflections.
Kone is an instinctive cornerback who shows great understanding of route concepts and is quick to break on the ball. He has steady eyes and is like Dr. Strange, he has an innate ability to see plays before they happen. He baits quarterbacks into throws like a veteran. It's because of those instincts that he was able to record 17 pass deflections over the past two seasons on 70 targets.
"He possesses very good eye discipline and can often anticipate routes before they unfold," Steve Helwick, a reporter for SB Nation's Hustle Belt, said. "Kone didn’t light up the stat sheet in college with interceptions or pass deflections, which likely kept him off the All-MAC teams, but his coverage instincts were noted by scouts and landed him an NFL Combine invite. He is a very cerebral and aware player, understanding zones very well. Add these instincts to his height and speed — he ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the Combine — and Kone possesses plenty of ingredients to be an effective boundary cover corner at the next level."
To go along with his instincts, Kone is fluid athlete with the speed to make up for any missteps early in coverage. He has the footwork and change of direction skills to mirror receivers in coverage. He's not a sudden athlete by any means, but he by no means stiff. At the catch point, Kone does a good job of playing through the hands of the receiver to disrupt.
"He reads the opposing quarterback’s eyes quite well," Helwick said. "While he wasn’t one of the seven sub-40 corners in the Combine, he still attacks with tremendous speed, allowing his intellect to be put to good use on the field. In man coverage, he has quick reaction time and is adept at mirroring receivers step-for-step. He also predicts routes with precision, and that allowed him to register 17 pass breakups over the past two years at Western Michigan."
Kone is a willing participant in run support and actually recorded more run stops (19) than missed tackles (13) over the past two seasons.
Gutekunst spoke at the NFL Scouting Combine about how Jeff Hafley's defense may require cornerbacks who are instincitive and have good field vision. From Gutekunst:
Kone checks those boxes. In terms of Day 3 cornerbacks, Kone may be the most instinctive of the group. With his size (6-1, 190 pounds), instincts and quickness, Kone would provide quality depth behind Hobbs, Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon, and could ultimately challenge for reps on the boundary.
"One aspect that really intrigues me about Kone is his sheer potential," Helwick said. "Kone is somewhat of a late bloomer. He started at the JUCO level before transitioning to the FCS, and he only spent two years at the FBS level. While he didn’t qualify for any of the three All-MAC teams last season, he was one of four players from the entire conference to land a Senior Bowl invite due to the potential NFL scouts see in his game. His size, length, and coverage instincts make a compelling combination for a cornerback, and he’s only scratching the surface of his capabilities. In 2023, he was a reserve defensive back at Western Michigan before taking a giant leap to a viable full-time starter in 2024. He already possesses a great foundation as an athlete and exceptional knowledge for the game. With hands-on coaching, another leap could be in store in the future."
Since taking over in 2018, Gutekunst has drafted seven cornerbacks, with four of those picks coming on Day 3. As the Packers search for depth at cornerback this offseason, Kone could be the next Day 3 target for Gutekunst. With his instincts, Kone could be a natural fit in Hafley's system.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: CB Bilhal Kone is prospect for Packers to watch
Continue reading...
The Green Bay Packers took a step to revamp their cornerback room this offseason when they signed Nate Hobbs to a four-year deal. The former Las Vegas Raider offers inside-outside versatility and will bring confidence and toughness to Green Bay’s secondary.
That was just the first domino to fall this offseason as the Packers could have a lot of new faces in that cornerback room.
Eric Stokes signed a one-year deal with the Raiders and the Packers continue to look to find a trade partner for Jaire Alexander. If the Packers can’t find a trade for Alexander, they’ll likely release him. The Packers also had Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell sign elsewhere in free agency.
The Packers will need to add bodies to that room to round out the depth chart. A potential Day 3 target for Brian Gutekunst is Bilhal Kone. The Western Michigan cornerback checks in at No. 35 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A native of Minnesota, Kone started his collegiate career at Iowa Central Community College before transferring to Indiana State. Kone played one season at Indiana State before transferring to Western Michigan for the 2023 season. During his first season with the Broncos, Kone recorded 42 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception and eight pass deflections. This past season, Kone recorded 70 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and nine pass deflections.
Kone is an instinctive cornerback who shows great understanding of route concepts and is quick to break on the ball. He has steady eyes and is like Dr. Strange, he has an innate ability to see plays before they happen. He baits quarterbacks into throws like a veteran. It's because of those instincts that he was able to record 17 pass deflections over the past two seasons on 70 targets.
"He possesses very good eye discipline and can often anticipate routes before they unfold," Steve Helwick, a reporter for SB Nation's Hustle Belt, said. "Kone didn’t light up the stat sheet in college with interceptions or pass deflections, which likely kept him off the All-MAC teams, but his coverage instincts were noted by scouts and landed him an NFL Combine invite. He is a very cerebral and aware player, understanding zones very well. Add these instincts to his height and speed — he ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the Combine — and Kone possesses plenty of ingredients to be an effective boundary cover corner at the next level."
To go along with his instincts, Kone is fluid athlete with the speed to make up for any missteps early in coverage. He has the footwork and change of direction skills to mirror receivers in coverage. He's not a sudden athlete by any means, but he by no means stiff. At the catch point, Kone does a good job of playing through the hands of the receiver to disrupt.
"He reads the opposing quarterback’s eyes quite well," Helwick said. "While he wasn’t one of the seven sub-40 corners in the Combine, he still attacks with tremendous speed, allowing his intellect to be put to good use on the field. In man coverage, he has quick reaction time and is adept at mirroring receivers step-for-step. He also predicts routes with precision, and that allowed him to register 17 pass breakups over the past two years at Western Michigan."
Kone is a willing participant in run support and actually recorded more run stops (19) than missed tackles (13) over the past two seasons.
Fit with the Packers
Gutekunst spoke at the NFL Scouting Combine about how Jeff Hafley's defense may require cornerbacks who are instincitive and have good field vision. From Gutekunst:
Kone checks those boxes. In terms of Day 3 cornerbacks, Kone may be the most instinctive of the group. With his size (6-1, 190 pounds), instincts and quickness, Kone would provide quality depth behind Hobbs, Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon, and could ultimately challenge for reps on the boundary.
"One aspect that really intrigues me about Kone is his sheer potential," Helwick said. "Kone is somewhat of a late bloomer. He started at the JUCO level before transitioning to the FCS, and he only spent two years at the FBS level. While he didn’t qualify for any of the three All-MAC teams last season, he was one of four players from the entire conference to land a Senior Bowl invite due to the potential NFL scouts see in his game. His size, length, and coverage instincts make a compelling combination for a cornerback, and he’s only scratching the surface of his capabilities. In 2023, he was a reserve defensive back at Western Michigan before taking a giant leap to a viable full-time starter in 2024. He already possesses a great foundation as an athlete and exceptional knowledge for the game. With hands-on coaching, another leap could be in store in the future."
Since taking over in 2018, Gutekunst has drafted seven cornerbacks, with four of those picks coming on Day 3. As the Packers search for depth at cornerback this offseason, Kone could be the next Day 3 target for Gutekunst. With his instincts, Kone could be a natural fit in Hafley's system.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: CB Bilhal Kone is prospect for Packers to watch
Continue reading...
