GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers set out to add depth and competition to their cornerback spot and took the first step toward that Tuesday, agreeing to sign Benjamin St-Juste to a two-year, $10 million contract, a source told ESPN.
On the same day, Green Bay informed cornerback Nate Hobbs that he would be released.
A source told ESPN that Hobbs would be designated as a post-June 1 cut, meaning the Packers will gain $8.38 million in salary cap space this season. A regular release would have netted the Packers just $838,000 on this year's cap.
St-Juste, 28, was the first outside free agent the Packers acquired since the free agent negotiating period opened Monday.
Cornerback is one of the spots where general manager Brian Gutekunst said he wanted to add depth this offseason. The Packers return starters Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine but had a decision to make on whether to retain Hobbs, a free agent they signed last offseason. Hobbs was owed a $6.25 million roster bonus if he was on the team on the fifth day of the league year later this month.
Hobbs spent only one season with the Packers after he signed a four-year, $48 million contract as a free agent last offseason. The Packers paid him $17.88 million last season to play just 358 defensive snaps over 11 games in part due to recurring knee injuries and in part due to performance.
After four years with the Washington Commanders, St-Juste played last season for the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year, $2.5 million deal. He played in 16 games -- with two start -- but played only 35% of the defensive snaps. He was a core special teams player, appearing on 67% of all special teams plays.
For his career, the 6-foot-3 and 200-pound St-Juste has appeared in 70 games with 47 starts (45 on which were for the Commanders). He has two career interceptions (one in 2023 and one last season) and 41 career pass breakups.
