The game-sealing play against San Diego was great, but rookie cornerback Damarious Randall has been solid regardless of when he’s been on the field this season.
Although he doesn’t have a pick yet, Randall does have 18 tackles and seven passes defended.
Then there’s this.
Packers 1st rounder Damarious Randall has allowed a catch rate of 41.9%, the second lowest in the entire NFL. pic.twitter.com/LEQeDzpG4W
— PFF (@PFF) October 23, 2015
Look, you probably know how we feel about Casey Hayward.
Just a guy.
It’s not the Hayward is playing badly, but Randall is not only the future, he appears to be the present.
The Green Bay Packers have traditionally worked rookies into the lineup slowly, even those we all knew upgraded their position.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix didn’t get his first start until the Packers’ seventh game, last season. Clay Matthews didn’t start until the fourth game of his rookie season, in 2009.
Perhaps the Packers won’t start Randall at all this year. However, it certainly makes a lot of sense for them to make a move coming out of the bye.
Randall and Shields are the guys on the outside for the foreseeable future in Green Bay. Hayward has always been better in the slot, anyway.
We say give Randall the nod and move Hayward to nickel.
It’s not only best long-term, it’s what’s best for the team now.