Packers Add Nate Hobbs; Where Will He Play?

What They're Saying

SB Nation's Jon Meerdink on Hobbs' role: "Across his first, third, and fourth years in the NFL, he logged more than 1,500 snaps as a slot defender. It was only in his second season that he lined up primarily outside. That’s probably an indication of where the Packers will likely use him, but it’s admittedly a bit of a murky picture. Keisean Nixon has played extensively in that role in Green Bay, though he did it less in 2024. But one of the big reasons he was there less was because 2024 second-round pick Javon Bullard was primed to play in the slot."

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

Nixon shifted from the slot to primarily outside in Week 5 last season. Then he briefly moved back inside across three late-season weeks.

Bullard ran primarily at safety to open the season, then moved to the slot when Nixon took over for a struggling Eric Stokes on the outside. Bullard sat out weeks 15 and 16, when Nixon jumped back into the slot.

All this is to agree that it's a murky situation. Nixon and Hobbs stand near-identical in size. Both measured 6 feet tall at their Combines, with Nixon five pounds heavier. Nixon's also a little faster.

Perhaps that -- plus his outside play last year -- positions Nixon as the outside guy and Hobbs as the slot. Or maybe Green Bay's ready to unload CB Jaire Alexander, start both guys outside, and let Bullard take over the slot.

The situation will bear watching as we try to assess each player's value. Whoever winds up in the slot among the trio will likely lead the way among them in our 2025 IDP rankings.

Hobbs has been a nice fantasy producer when healthy but missed 4+ games each of the past three years.

Hobbs' departure leaves just another opening in a Raiders defense that has also lost S Tre'Von Moehrig and LB Robert Spillane at the start of free agency.