The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Green Bay Packers have two lockdown cornerbacks in Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes. With those two, the cornerback position figures to be a strength for Green Bay this upcoming season.
If Rasul Douglas isn’t re-signed there are major question marks about the depth behind Alexander and Stokes.
Even if Douglas is re-signed, the Packers will likely look to add at least one cornerback via the 2022 NFL Draft.
A player that Brian Gutekunst could target on day three of the upcoming draft is Matt Hankins. The Iowa cornerback checks in at No. 66 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown.
In 2018, Hankins recorded 48 tackles and three pass deflections. The following season Hankins recorded 58 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, nine pass deflections, and two interceptions.
In 2020, the Iowa cornerback recorded 41 tackles, six pass deflections, and picked off one pass.
This past season Hankins recorded 44 tackles, one tackle for loss, eight pass deflections, and three interceptions.
“There are a few different areas where Hankins has a leg up on other draft-eligible defensive backs,” Rob Donaldson, a contributor for Black Hearts Gold Pants, said. “His greatest strength has to be a toss-up between his agile, yet technical feet, his ball skills, his hip fluidity in regards to change of direction, or his overall positioning, which he’s really sharpened into an art form during his time at Iowa.”
Hankins is a seasoned cornerback with 36 career starts. He’s quick-footed and has natural body control in his pedal to stay in phase. He has a loose lower body to turn and run with wide receivers downfield. The Iowa cornerback does a great job of staying on top of routes.
Hankins does a good job of crowding the wide receiver at the catch point and is always searching for the ball. He has natural hands and if the ball is in his zone he’s likely going to make a game-changing play.
“Hankins’ ball skills are one of his greatest strengths, as he has great change of direction skills to work towards the football on off-target throws and has great eye discipline and read and react skills to get his hands on throws that are late to their target as well as general poor decisions from opposing quarterbacks,” Donaldson said. “In addition, Hankins is a guy who will finish the play when the opportunity is there, as he reliably catches interceptable passes and if the ball is placed in a spot to be contacted, Hankins is skilled at least getting a hand on the ball to force a difficult contested catch.”
Hankins doesn’t show much interest in run support. He tends to shy away from driving downhill to take on blockers. He’s passive when it comes to run support.
It’s not that he’s not a reliable tackler, because he is. He rarely gives up any YAC when he’s in coverage. It’s just he’s not a Jaire Alexander-type cornerback that’s going to drive downhill to blow plays up behind the line of scrimmage.
“Hankins’ run filling ability and physicality taking on blockers wouldn’t be considered part of his strongest areas,” Donaldson said. “That said, from a technical and understanding of assignment standpoint, Hankins does have a strong grasp on where he’s supposed to be and what he’s supposed to be doing in run support. Hankins’ issue in terms of run support almost entirely stems from the execution and physicality side of the job.”
Hankins played primarily on the boundary during his time at Iowa. However, he has the short-area quickness, instincts, and lateral agility that he could kick inside at the next level. Some teams may view him as a safety, like a former Iowa Hawkeye, Micah Hyde. That type of potential versatility would make him an attractive day three target for any NFL team.
“I’d be surprised if Hankins couldn’t make a borderline seamless transition to the inside for the Packers or some other NFL team if that’s what they prefer,” Donaldson said. “Not only do I think Hankins projects well in a slot role for an NFL team, but similar to former Green Bay Packers defensive backs Casey Hayward and Micah Hyde, Hankins’ exceptional ball skills, eye discipline, read and react skills and overall positioning lend him to being a multi-role sort of player who can transition from the slot to the outside and potentially even fill into a safety role as well.”
Fit with the Packers
With Alexander and Stokes in place, the Packers don’t have a “pressing” need at cornerback.
If Douglas isn’t re-signed the Packers will have to find a new No. 3 cornerbacks and could take a cornerback in the first three rounds to replace him.
Regardless of what happens with Douglas, Gutekunst will most likely draft at least one cornerback on day three of the draft.
With his experience and ball skills, Hankins would provide quality depth behind Alexander and Stokes.
“Given Hankins’ experience and refined technical skills, in my opinion, he projects as a player who will be ready to perform from day one as well as a player with a much higher ceiling than that of a baseline average NFL defensive back,” Donaldson said. “That’s quite the return value on a guy who’s being projected in that third-round to the seventh-round range.”
