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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 for a trade partner for Jaire Alexander. If the Packers can’t find a trade for Alexander, they’ll likely release him.
Brian Gutekunst could add a cornerback or two or maybe even three during the 2025 NFL Draft as they look to bolster the depth behind Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Hobbs.
Denzel Burke is a potential target early on Day 3 of the draft. The Ohio State cornerback checks in at No. 41 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A four-year starter for the Buckeyes, Burke recorded a pick-six and broke up 12 passes during his first season on campus. In 2022, Burke recorded three tackles for loss and five pass deflections. In 2023, Burke recorded three tackles for loss, one interception and nine pass deflections. This past season he recorded 48 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions and two pass deflections.
“He exudes confidence,” Tim May, a reporter for Lettermen Row, said. “Even when he had the tough game -- really, one quarter -- in the Buckeyes' first meeting with Oregon last season, he bounced back in the second meeting he got even.”
Burke is a seasoned cornerback. He started 51 games, which was the program record for starts by a defensive back. He plays with a veteran-like savvy. He shows excellent field awareness and has a high football IQ. He has controlled feet in his backpedal. Burke has good reactionary quickness and does a good job of timing up his punch.
Burke is a scheme-versatile cornerback. He has experience playing man and zone coverage. He does a good job of being physical in press coverage to throw off the timing of the wide receiver. He's much more comfortable with the action in front of him. He has a quick trigger and shows good route recognition.
A cornerback has to have a quick memory and confidence. During Ohio State's regular season matchup against the Oregon Ducks, Burke had a rough day. According to Pro Football Focus, he gave up 162 yards in coverage and two touchdowns. He looked leaps and bounds better when the Buckeyes met the Ducks again in the College Football Playoffs.
"He's one of those rare birds who can mirror a receiver's movements in man-coverage situations," May said. "That doesn't mean he always gets it right, but most of the time he does. He can be bold, but he picks his spots. He seemed quite flexible, too, when Ohio State occasionally rolled into zone coverages this past season."
Burke is a pesky run defender and is not shy about sticking his nose up in support. In fact, he's fearless coming up in run support. After whiffing on 16 tackles the past two seasons, Burke has cleaned up his technique and was tagged with four missed tackles this season.
"You know that adage for a running back if you can't or won't pass protect, you can't or won't play? At Ohio State, a corner who won't roll up and attack the run isn't going to play much," May said. "He and Davison Igbinosun were quite effective this past season. Burke was banged up at times his second and third seasons, but when fully healthy he was effective in coverage as well as run support."
During his time with the Buckeyes Burke logged 368 snaps on special teams, including a career-high 119 snaps this past season. Given his willingness to do the dirty work against the run, Burke could provide an immediate impact on special teams.
With Nixon, Hobbs, Valentine and even Javon Bullard in place, the Packers have the makings of a solid cornerback room. That group is neither great nor terrible. Gutekunst needs to continue to add talent to that room.
Adding a player with Burke's experience, instincts, and toughness in the fourth round would be great value. He'd provide quality depth and could step in and handle starting reps if something were to happen to any of the preferred starters.
"I have a bias because I like the man a lot," May said. "He has a strong upside and does not back away from a challenge. He has the smarts to sniff out things most of the time, and he has the quicks to attack. I figure general managers can do one of two things in regards to settling on Burke: Watch the second quarter against Oregon in the first meeting and back off, or step and flip the switch after watching him excel in the whole game against Oregon in the Rose Bowl while also watching him throughout the Buckeyes' four-game unprecedented run to the College Football National Championship vs. the top competition college football had to offer."
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 41, Ohio State CB Denzel Burke
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 for a trade partner for Jaire Alexander. If the Packers can’t find a trade for Alexander, they’ll likely release him.
Brian Gutekunst could add a cornerback or two or maybe even three during the 2025 NFL Draft as they look to bolster the depth behind Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Hobbs.
Denzel Burke is a potential target early on Day 3 of the draft. The Ohio State cornerback checks in at No. 41 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A four-year starter for the Buckeyes, Burke recorded a pick-six and broke up 12 passes during his first season on campus. In 2022, Burke recorded three tackles for loss and five pass deflections. In 2023, Burke recorded three tackles for loss, one interception and nine pass deflections. This past season he recorded 48 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions and two pass deflections.
“He exudes confidence,” Tim May, a reporter for Lettermen Row, said. “Even when he had the tough game -- really, one quarter -- in the Buckeyes' first meeting with Oregon last season, he bounced back in the second meeting he got even.”
Burke is a seasoned cornerback. He started 51 games, which was the program record for starts by a defensive back. He plays with a veteran-like savvy. He shows excellent field awareness and has a high football IQ. He has controlled feet in his backpedal. Burke has good reactionary quickness and does a good job of timing up his punch.
Burke is a scheme-versatile cornerback. He has experience playing man and zone coverage. He does a good job of being physical in press coverage to throw off the timing of the wide receiver. He's much more comfortable with the action in front of him. He has a quick trigger and shows good route recognition.
A cornerback has to have a quick memory and confidence. During Ohio State's regular season matchup against the Oregon Ducks, Burke had a rough day. According to Pro Football Focus, he gave up 162 yards in coverage and two touchdowns. He looked leaps and bounds better when the Buckeyes met the Ducks again in the College Football Playoffs.
"He's one of those rare birds who can mirror a receiver's movements in man-coverage situations," May said. "That doesn't mean he always gets it right, but most of the time he does. He can be bold, but he picks his spots. He seemed quite flexible, too, when Ohio State occasionally rolled into zone coverages this past season."
Burke is a pesky run defender and is not shy about sticking his nose up in support. In fact, he's fearless coming up in run support. After whiffing on 16 tackles the past two seasons, Burke has cleaned up his technique and was tagged with four missed tackles this season.
"You know that adage for a running back if you can't or won't pass protect, you can't or won't play? At Ohio State, a corner who won't roll up and attack the run isn't going to play much," May said. "He and Davison Igbinosun were quite effective this past season. Burke was banged up at times his second and third seasons, but when fully healthy he was effective in coverage as well as run support."
During his time with the Buckeyes Burke logged 368 snaps on special teams, including a career-high 119 snaps this past season. Given his willingness to do the dirty work against the run, Burke could provide an immediate impact on special teams.
Fit with the Packers
With Nixon, Hobbs, Valentine and even Javon Bullard in place, the Packers have the makings of a solid cornerback room. That group is neither great nor terrible. Gutekunst needs to continue to add talent to that room.
Adding a player with Burke's experience, instincts, and toughness in the fourth round would be great value. He'd provide quality depth and could step in and handle starting reps if something were to happen to any of the preferred starters.
"I have a bias because I like the man a lot," May said. "He has a strong upside and does not back away from a challenge. He has the smarts to sniff out things most of the time, and he has the quicks to attack. I figure general managers can do one of two things in regards to settling on Burke: Watch the second quarter against Oregon in the first meeting and back off, or step and flip the switch after watching him excel in the whole game against Oregon in the Rose Bowl while also watching him throughout the Buckeyes' four-game unprecedented run to the College Football National Championship vs. the top competition college football had to offer."
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 41, Ohio State CB Denzel Burke
Continue reading...
