The Green Bay Packers may be staring at a reset in their secondary, and it’s no longer a backburner issue. The defense has leaned on Jaire Alexander for years, but that chapter’s closing. What’s next? Maybe a playmaker from Duke.
If PFSN’s latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft plays out the way Mark Stolte predicts, Green Bay might already have their guy.
Why Could Chandler Rivers Be the Ideal Scheme Fit for the Packers in 2026?
The Packers aren’t exactly strangers to using high picks on defensive backs. Recent results haven’t been ideal, though. Now, they’re projected to grab Chandler Rivers, a Duke corner who might not be flashy, but he fits the system like a glove.
Stolte’s prediction slots Rivers to Green Bay at No. 24 overall in the first round, and the rationale tracks. The Packers don’t play much man coverage. They ran the ninth-least man and the eighth-most zone in the league. Rivers excels in zone coverage, and the numbers back it up.
“Chandler Rivers fits the mold. Though a bit undersized, he ranked 44th out of 533 defenders in passer rating allowed in zone,” Stolte noted. “He also showed solid ball skills with three interceptions and five pass breakups. Even more impressive, Rivers was only flagged once across 2023 and 2024.”
Not bad for a 5-foot-10, 180-pound corner who doesn’t rely on brute force.
“While Buffalo is in position to ignore the cornerback market, the Green Bay Packers are not. After losing Jaire Alexander, they must find a reliable zone corner for the outside. While man coverage is great, they run the ninth-least man and the eighth-most zone,” Stolte wrote.
What Do Chandler Rivers’ Career Stats and Background Show About His 2026 NFL Draft Potential?
Take a closer look at what Rivers brings to the table. It’s not just about coverage metrics. He’s been productive from Day 1. In 39 games at Duke, Rivers totaled 164 tackles, 13 for loss, five interceptions, and 21 pass breakups. He also earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2024.
You won’t see how smooth he looks on tape in the stat sheet. Rivers has great footwork and the awareness to read route concepts before they fully develop. Plus, he’s not some one-dimensional football guy either. In high school, he finished second in the state championship in the long jump and helped lead his basketball team to two state titles.
He’s got range and instincts, and most importantly, he fits what Green Bay’s defense asks of its corners. Whether he ends up in a Packers uniform or not, Rivers is shaping up to be a name we’ll be hearing a lot more of this draft cycle.
