What a Packers cornerback looks like: The importance of body density

The Green Bay Packers’ scouting system has been in place since Ron Wolf came to town in 1991 and has been passed down to Ted Thompson and then Brian Gutekunst. This continuity in draft philosophy has led to an advanced understanding outside the building of what Green Bay wants from prospects in terms of physical dimensions and athleticism at various positions. At cornerback for example, the average player drafted since Thompson took over in 2005 has measured 5-11.

7, 194 pounds with 31 ¼” arms. The lowest marks they have drafted in that time are 5-10. 2 for height, 183 pounds for weight and 30 ¼” arms.

Generally, it is fair to judge a corner’s fit with the Packers based on those numbers. There is more to it though. It is not just a case of clearing the floors in both height and weight, it is about the relationship between the two, and specifically body density.

Any scout will tell you a lot of their job is about body shaming. They are looking at how well prospects are put together. Different players with similar measurements can look very different.