At one point this spring, the Packers even trotted wide receiver Bo Melton out onto the practice field to take reps at cornerback, in Alexander’s absence.

Against that backdrop, it almost doesn’t matter that Alexander was limited to appearing in seven games apiece over the past two seasons.

However, there might be an answer to the Packers’ need at corner, a position with an outsized impact in coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme, who could wind up as an upgrade over what Green Bay had been getting from Alexander the past two seasons.

If the Packers are looking to add another cornerback, after signing Nate Hobbs early in free agency, 25-year-old Asante Samuel Jr. could be an ideal fit for Hafley’s system and to provide playmaking upside in the secondary.

ESPN’s Matt Bowen lists Samuel Jr. as the No. 3 ranked remaining free agent.

“Samuel has a playmaking mentality at cornerback,” Bowen writes for ESPN. “With the foot quickness and sudden closing speed to break on the ball. A shoulder injury limited Samuel to four games last season, but he has six interceptions and 26 pass breakups in his four years with the Chargers.”

Back in 2023, opposing quarterbacks only had an 87.3 passer rating when throwing Samuel’s direction, and opposing receivers averaged just under 11 yards per reception on those routes, according to Pro Football Focus.

Signing a cornerback with Samuel’s traits to an affordable, prove-it type of deal could be the kind of move that alters the trajectory of the entire defense.