On the second day of the NFL’s legal tampering window, the Green Bay Packers announced they are releasing veteran cornerback Nate Hobbs after only one season with the team. This move, confirmed by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, marks the official end of Hobbs’ stint in Green Bay and will be treated as a post-June 1 release, impacting the team’s salary cap considerations.
The Packers’ designation means they will incur $4 million in dead money for the 2026 league year but will gain $8.8 million in salary cap relief, based on data from Over The Cap. Dead money charges will remain $4 million for both 2027 and 2028, while cap savings will increase to $10.1 million and $10.7 million, respectively. Hobbs’ release comes as no surprise given his underwhelming performance in 2025, which led to him being benched in favor of rookie Carrington Valentine.
Although his time in Green Bay was disappointing, Hobbs remains a potential acquisition target for other teams, with the Miami Dolphins showing particular interest in the 26-year-old defensive back.
Miami Dolphins Could Reunite Hobbs with Former Packers Coach Jeff Hafley
One factor driving Miami’s interest in Nate Hobbs is their new head coach Jeff Hafley, who previously served as the Packers’ defensive coordinator during Hobbs’ tenure. Hafley now leads the Dolphins alongside new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, a Green Bay executive with more than two decades of experience. This leadership duo is likely to be welcoming to Hobbs as Miami looks to strengthen a secondary facing several free agency departures.
Miami’s need to revamp its secondary, especially within the slot cornerback role where Hobbs has historically excelled, aligns with their interest. Prior to the 2025 season, Hafley publicly praised Hobbs’ attributes, emphasizing his competitive nature and physical style of play.
“(Hobbs) is competitive, he’s tough, he is physical, he plays the game fast. You can tell he loves it. It just jumps off the tape,”
Hafley remarked through Packers Wire’s Zach Kruse.
“I don’t know if you guys watched any of it, but it certainly jumps off the tape the way the guy plays. And he’s been a great addition, and he does give you that versatility where you can move him around. And again, I’m a big fan of that.”
– Jeff Hafley, Former Packers Defensive Coordinator
Despite these endorsements, Hobbs struggled to establish himself in 2025, especially when transitioning to an outside cornerback role. His natural slot position was occupied by Javon Bullard, leaving little opportunity for Hobbs to regain form. Additionally, injuries limited Hobbs’ availability, causing him to miss six games during the season.
Throughout 11 appearances in Green Bay, Hobbs amassed 27 combined tackles, including two tackles for loss and two pass deflections. Though opposing quarterbacks completed only 65.5% of passes against him and he allowed just two receiving touchdowns, his passer rating when targeted was a concerning 111.1.
Hobbs’ Future: A Chance for Redemption with the Dolphins
Though his time with the Packers is widely considered a poor signing due to a lack of impact, Hobbs still has an opportunity to revive his career. Miami’s Dolphins, despite a less optimistic outlook for the 2026 season, could provide the setting for Hobbs to return to the performance level he demonstrated during his final season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024.
If Hobbs can recover his previous form, he could rebuild his market value and justify the four-year contract that fell short of expectations in Green Bay. For a player still young at 26, this potential second chance could influence not only his career but also how the Dolphins address their defensive backfield moving forward.
Source: The Packers are releasing CB Nate Hobbs.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 10, 2026
The Packers are releasing CB Nate Hobbs and a source said they're doing it with a post-June 1 designation.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) March 10, 2026
