The San Francisco 49ers have signed former Green Bay Packers cornerback Nate Hobbs to a one-year contract, according to reporter Jordan Schultz. Hobbs was just officially waived by the Packers on Wednesday, so the deal came together quickly.
Hobbs was primarily a slot back with the Las Vegas Raiders, and when Hobbs signed, the expectation was that he would fulfill his four-year, $48 million contract in Green Bay. Instead, a series of knee injuries derailed his 2025 plans, leading some to question whether the Packers ever had a fully healthy Hobbs at any point last season.
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There’s also the matter of his transition from slot back to outside cornerback. All of Green Bay’s outside cornerbacks have struggled at different points this season, including Hobbs. Before his final injury, Hobbs had been rotating with Carrington Valentine at outside cornerback opposite Keson Nixon. In the limited snaps Hobbs has played in the slot, with 2025 second-round safety Javon Bullard primarily playing a slot role in the Packers defense, Hobbs has looked good as a defensive back in that area. Under former defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Green Bay rarely had two slot defenders on the field at the same time (except for a Hail Mary-type scene at halftime), so once Evan Williams won the starting safety job from Bullard, it was difficult for the team to get Bullard to play with Hobbs without Hobbs at outside cornerback.
My guess is Hobbs will continue to play at that position. Hopefully he’ll be healthier than he was in his brief stay in Green Bay.
