The Kansas City Chiefs could use some slot help. The Green Bay Packers might have just gifted them a nice fit.
The Packers decided to release cornerback Nate Hobbs on Tuesday, a move that made sense after the signing of free agent CB Benjamin St-Juste on the first day of legal tampering ahead of free agency. Hobbs is now free to sign with another team, and that should make the Chiefs happy—even if it just shifts the market a bit in their favor as buyers for some slot help.
Hobbs joined the Packers last spring on a massive four-year deal worth up to $48 million. After a year, however, they've admitted defeat and moved on to St-Juste, which is largely based on Hobbs' failures to be anything meaningful on the outside. Green Bay appeared to project Hobbs' upside to be greater than it was, but despite the lack of versatility desired, he remains a solid option for teams willing to keep him inside.
Nate Hobbs has been set free after just one year in Green Bay, but his limitations should be okay for what the Chiefs would ask him to do.
Hobbs should be familiar to Chiefs fans after watching him play four seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders—a twice-played annual rival in the AFC West. He has 21 pass deflections and 3 interceptions in the last five years, so the ball skills might be lacking. However, Hobbs is quite sticky inside, and he's exhibiting a knack for blitzing in the past. Perhaps that's a nice draw for Steve Spagnuolo.
The Chiefs need help across the entire secondary after watching four defensive backs leave the roster in the last week. The blockbuster trade of Trent McDuffie to the L.A. Rams created the biggest void, given his standing as the best slot defender in the league. However, further free agent losses suffered on Monday featured safety Bryan Cook and cornerbacks Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams.
The Chiefs have Kristian Fulton and Nohl Williams as potential starters outside. Chamarri Conner has played at nickel corner before, but he's in over his head when tasked with the responsibilities. Kevin Knowles is intriguing, but the depth chart is far too thin to rely heavily on the parts already in place. That's what makes Hobbs enticing.
The Chiefs aren't limited to Hobbs on the market. Things can change at a moment's notice, but the market also has options like Roger McCreary or Chidobe Awuzie, which means Hobbs might not even be the favored candidate. But he should be an interesting candidate, and the more options that are available, the better it is for interested buyers.