The Green Bay Packers have released cornerback Nate Hobbs just one year after giving him a lucrative $48 million deal in free agency.
Hobbs, 26, became the Packers' highest-paid cornerback after playing out his rookie deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. However, after starting just five of his 11 games in 2025, Green Bay is sending him back to the market, NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday.
The Packers signed Hobbs to be their top cornerback, but the results could not have been much worse. Hobbs was only on the field for roughly half of the team's defensive snaps and allowed a gaudy 125.3 passer rating when targeted, according to Pro Football Focus. Only Trevon Diggs, who appeared in two listless games for the team, allowed a higher passer rating for Green Bay.
Hobbs ended the season allowing 17 receptions on his 25 targets for 239 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He managed just two pass breakups and zero interceptions while allowing 14.1 yards per catch.
Hobbs becomes the third high-profile veteran the Packers have released in the 2026 offseason ahead of free agency. Green Bay previously severed the contracts of cornerback Diggs and center Elgton Jenkins.
The Packers' release of Hobbs comes one day after they agreed to give Benjamin St-Juste a two-year, $10 million deal in free agency. St-Juste appeared in 16 games for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025 primarily off the bench, but he started 42 games in his three previous seasons with the Washington Commanders.
Green Bay now has five cornerbacks under contract for the 2026 season, not including hybrid safety Javon Bullard, whom the team has used as its main slot defender.
