The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2026 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers figure to be in the market for cornerback help this offseason. This past season, the trio of Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Natt Hobbs combined for one interception.
It's a group that needs an infusion of talent. A potential target is Malik Muhammad. The Texas cornerback checks in at No. 70 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A four-star recruit from Texas, Muhammad recorded one interception and four pass deflections during his first season on campus. In 2024, he recorded eight pass deflections and one tackle for loss.
In 11 games this past season, Muhammad recorded 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and four pass deflections.
"For the past two seasons, Muhammad served as an island corner of sorts in the Texas defensive scheme," Thomas Jones, a reporter for the Austin Statesman, said. "He gave up a few more plays this past season than he did as a sophomore, but Texas also left him one-on-one more often. His ability to lock down a receiver gave the Texas secondary plenty of flexibility."
A former three-sport athlete, including track, Muhammad is a fluid athlete and possesses the long speed to stay attached on vertical routes. The Texas cornerback has loose, swivel hips and is able to flip his hips without slowing down. He's listed at 5-11, 183 pounds and has 32-inch arms, and he uses that length to disrupt the timing of routes. While his ball production doesn't jump off the page, he doesn't panic when the ball is in the air and does a good job of challenging wide receivers at the catch point.
"For a player listed at 6 feet and around 185 pounds, Muhammad is really, really long," Jones said. "His wingspan looks freaky on the field, and I'm curious to see how he measures at the NFL Combine. He knows how to use that length, too. He'll almost lure a quarterback to test him and use his reach to break up the pass."
While Muhammad isn't going to outmuscle anybody, he's a willing participant in run support. He uses his wingspan to get his arms on ball carriers and was tagged with just five missed tackles this past season. He's able to get wide receivers to the ground to limit YAC damage.
"He's a willing tackler, which is often enough considering how the game is played at the NFL level," Jones said. "He's not going to deliver highlight hits, but he rarely misses tackles. Sure, there are a lot of ankle tackles, but at least Muhammad gets them to the ground."
Fit with the Packers
At the Senior Bowl, Muhammad weighed in at 183 pounds. That may be a little too 'light' for Green Bay's liking. They typically like their cornerbacks to be 190-plus pounds. It will be worth monitoring Muhammad's weight at the NFL Scouting Combine later this month. However, it's not like Muhammad is a small on the value menu at McDonald's. He is right on the cusp of that weight threshold and checks all the other boxes.
"He has the potential to emerge as a lockdown corner and reminds me of Baltimore's Nate Wiggins," Jones said. "Muhammad hasn't shown much versatility since he rarely covered the slot in the Texas scheme, but he's comfortable running with receivers and using the sideline to his advantage."
The Packers have young, promising players at every position on the defensive side of the ball, except for cornerback and defensive tackle. It's time for Gutekunst attack those two positions.
With his twitchy athleticism and long arms, Muhammad could be a potential target for the Packers in the third or fourth round, as they search for building blocks at the cornerback position.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 70, Texas CB Malik Muhammad