ESPN SHOCKER: Packers Finally FIX Their Biggest Weakness—But One Massive Mistake Could Still Derail the Entire Season!

The Green Bay Packers don’t always receive favorable coverage from ESPN, but this time even many Packers fans may find themselves agreeing with the network’s assessment. In a recent breakdown of Green Bay’s offseason, ESPN identified the team’s best move and biggest mistake—and both decisions strike at the heart of what could define the Packers’ 2026 season. According to ESPN, Green Bay’s smartest move was finally attacking the cornerback position after it repeatedly cost them games throughout 2025. The collapse became impossible to ignore after the playoff loss to Chicago, where breakdowns in coverage and poor communication helped turn a winnable game into a devastating defeat. General manager Brian Gutekunst responded by signing Benjamin St-Juste and using his top draft selection on Brandon Cisse, creating immediate competition in a secondary that desperately needed help. With Micah Parsons expected to miss a significant chunk of the early season, those additions suddenly look even more important. Green Bay can’t rely on its pass rush to save the secondary anymore, meaning young players like Cisse may be asked to contribute far sooner than originally expected. Fortunately for the Packers, many inside the organization believe Cisse’s ceiling is far higher than where he was selected in the draft.

The evidence supporting ESPN’s argument is hard to ignore. Last season, Green Bay generated pressure at a respectable rate but still struggled badly in pass coverage. Opposing quarterbacks consistently found open receivers, and costly mistakes in crucial moments became a recurring theme. Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon showed flashes but failed to provide the consistency expected from starting cornerbacks. The playoff loss against Chicago became the perfect example of those issues, as blown assignments and missed responsibilities helped Caleb Williams capitalize on opportunities throughout the game. That’s exactly why Green Bay attacked the position so aggressively during the offseason. St-Juste arrives with experience in zone-heavy systems similar to Jonathan Gannon’s defense, while Cisse is viewed as a long-term answer capable of eventually becoming the team’s top cornerback. If even one of those moves works out, the Packers’ defense could look dramatically different by the second half of the season.

But while ESPN praised Green Bay’s work in the secondary, it also identified what may become the organization’s biggest offseason mistake: failing to do enough along the offensive line. And that’s where concerns start to grow. Despite investing heavily in veterans and hoping for internal improvement, the Packers enter the season relying on a group that struggled throughout much of 2025. Injuries prevented the preferred starting lineup from spending meaningful time together, the running game often failed to generate space before contact, and several linemen posted disappointing individual performances. Aaron Banks received a massive contract despite inconsistency, while questions remain about whether the current group can adequately protect Jordan Love and create running lanes for Josh Jacobs. Green Bay added only limited depth during the draft, leaving many observers worried that one or two injuries could expose a serious weakness. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, that’s a dangerous gamble.

Another major storyline quietly came to an end when the NFL officially declined to hold a Supplemental Draft, effectively shutting down Brendan Sorsby’s path into the league. The Texas Tech quarterback had been repeatedly linked to Green Bay throughout the offseason, with several analysts suggesting the Packers could be interested because of their history of developing quarterbacks behind established starters. However, Sorsby’s gambling-related controversy ultimately proved too significant. The NFL cited integrity concerns and a lack of justification for holding a special draft, leaving Sorsby and his legal team scrambling for alternatives. While the Packers were never considered favorites to land him, the decision removes one of the offseason’s most unusual storylines and allows Green Bay to focus entirely on the roster already in place.

As training camp approaches, the Packers find themselves facing a fascinating reality. They appear to have solved one of their biggest defensive problems by overhauling the cornerback room, but questions surrounding the offensive line remain very much alive. If the secondary improves and the offensive line exceeds expectations, Green Bay could emerge as one of the NFC’s most dangerous teams. If those protection issues continue, however, even Jordan Love and a talented group of skill players may find it difficult to reach the level required to compete for a championship. The pieces are there—but whether they fit together may determine the entire season.