Report: Green Bay Packers Formally Met With Under The Radar CB At NFL Combine
The Green Bay Packers are actively searching for ways to reinforce their secondary ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Even after acquiring Benjamin St-Juste to bolster the top of the depth chart, the front office recognizes a pressing need for capable, athletic bodies at the cornerback position.
Green Bay Packers Formally Met With CB Toriano Pride Jr.
To address this need, the organization is casting a wide net. During the NFL Combine, the Packers held a formal meeting with Missouri cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. While he currently sits lower on consensus draft boards, his specific athletic traits make him an intriguing prospect.
An Explosive Athletic Profile
Toriano Pride Jr. used the NFL Combine to showcase elite physical tools. He turned heads by blazing through the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.32 seconds. He paired that straight-line speed with notable lower-body explosiveness, recording a 37.5-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot broad jump. These excellent testing numbers earned him a strong Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 8.33.
However, scouts consistently point to his physical frame as his primary limitation. Pride measured just over 5-foot-10 and weighed 185 pounds at the Combine. These measurements place him in the bottom 20th percentile for cornerbacks in both height and weight. Despite his incredible speed and jumping ability, his smaller stature naturally raises questions about his ability to battle larger, more physical wide receivers at the professional level.
Fitting the New-Look Defense
The Packers are transitioning to a new defensive identity under defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. This scheme requires defensive backs who possess the raw speed to recover quickly and the agility to handle complex coverage assignments.
Pride spent four years playing major college football, splitting his time evenly between Clemson and Missouri. He predominantly played as an outside cornerback during his collegiate career, though he occasionally took reps in the slot. His 4.32 speed makes him an asset in coverage recovery, allowing him to stay in phase with speedy receivers down the field. If he transitions full-time to the slot in the NFL, his quickness and competitive nature could make him a valuable rotational piece in Gannon’s system, providing essential depth when injuries inevitably strike the secondary.
Shifting Draft Priorities in Green Bay
Historically, the Green Bay front office strictly adhered to specific size thresholds for defensive backs. Under former regimes, a cornerback weighing 185 pounds would likely drop off the team’s draft board entirely.
However, current general manager Brian Gutekunst has demonstrated far more flexibility regarding cornerback size. Gutekunst previously selected Jaire Alexander, who stands just a fraction of an inch shorter than Pride. The front office now prioritizes dynamic athletic traits and functional speed over rigid height and weight requirements.
Furthermore, this formal meeting provides a clear window into Green Bay’s late-round draft strategy. Currently, draft analysts project Pride as a late-round selection or a high-priority undrafted free agent. By using one of their limited formal combine interviews on a player projected to go late in the draft, the Packers are signaling a clear intent. They want to identify high-upside, elite athletes to fill out the bottom of the roster and contribute on special teams.
A Name to Watch Late in the Draft
While Toriano Pride Jr. may not hear his name called during the premier rounds of the draft, his meeting with the Packers proves he is firmly on their radar. His elite speed and explosive testing numbers make him exactly the type of developmental athlete Green Bay loves to bring into training camp. As the later rounds unfold, fans should watch closely to see if the Packers decide to take a chance on this dynamic Missouri defender.
