Two projected draft pick CBs, Hezekiah Masses of Cal and TJ Hall of Iowa, could move the needle this week.
Later tonight, Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion will be calling plays for the West team’s offense in the East-West Shrine Bowl, but he’s not the only Packers coach who is getting a coaching opportunity in the college all-star circuit this offseason. At the Senior Bowl, which started practices on Tuesday, Green Bay will be represented by quality control coach Jamal Lett, who is coaching defensive backs for the National team.
The Packers have said in the past that the intel they get from this hands-on experience of coaching a player can make them more comfortable about turning in a pick for the player on draft week.
So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the defensive backs that Lett will be coaching, along with their ranking on the consensus draft board.
Cornerbacks
- #33 Colton Hood, Tennessee
- #41 Chris Johnson, San Diego State
- #101 Chandler Rivers, Duke
- #138 Hezekiah Masses, California
- #226 TJ Hall, Iowa
- #238 Jalen McMurray, Tennessee
- #376 Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin
Both Colton Hood and Chris Johnson are expected to come off the board before the Packers go on the clock with their first pick of the 2026 draft, the 52nd overall selection. As of now, eight cornerbacks are expected to be taken before Green Bay gets its first crack at a selection, per the consensus draft board.
From a size perspective, both Chandler Rivers (measured at 5’9”) and Jalen McMurray (179 pounds) are far too small to be Packers selections, historically. Green Bay is known for wanting size at the cornerback position. Since 2005, their average draft pick cornerback has been around 6’0” and 195 pounds.
So, if you’re keeping an eye on guys here, I’d pay attention to Hezekiah Masses of Cal (6’0.5”, 180), TJ Hall of Iowa (6’0.5”, 188) and Charles Demmings of Stephen F. Austin (6’1”, 191). Even then, Masses is really a borderline case, as Green Bay hasn’t taken a corner as light as him under either Ted Thompson or Brian Gutekunst.
Safeties
- #63 Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
- #160 Bud Clark, TCU
- #173 Deshon Singleton, Nebraska
- #196 VJ Payne, Kansas State
- #337 Wydett Williams, Mississippi
Green Bay returns Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard and Kitan Oladapo at safety this year, with the potential for a Zayne Anderson reunion still possible in 2026. The team might not be in the safety market at all, but if Anderson doesn’t return, it’s possible that the Packers could take one of these safeties on Day 3 of the draft. Green Bay likes to carry five safeties, as they use the position the most on the special teams units they value the most (punt and kickoff).
There are no size questions with any of these safeties, so Bud Clark (6’1”, 185), Deshon Singleton (6’2.5”, 212) and VJ Payne (6’3”, 210) could all fit the mold of a Day 3 Packers selection.
Category: General Sports
