GREEN BAY, Wis. \u2013 With the season on the line, Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine weren\u2019t up to the task.<\/p>\n
After inadequately staffing the cornerback position last offseason, that position remains a key area of need for the Green Bay Packers ahead of this week\u2019s Scouting Combine. In a pre-Combine mock draft<\/a>, Justin Melo of NFL Draft On SI sent Arizona State cornerback Keith Abney II to the Packers with their second-round pick.<\/p>\n Green Bay\u2019s fourth-quarter collapse in the playoff loss to the Bears \u201cmagnified their need for a cornerback, as Caleb Williams threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns. Keith Abney’s competitive spirit would fit nicely. Abney accumulated 21 career pass breakups at Arizona State and had at least one interception in every season.\u201d<\/p>\n Abney was among 10 prospects to watch<\/a> for the Packers at this week\u2019s Scouting Combine.<\/p>\n Listed by the school at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds but at 6-foot and 190 pounds by other sources, including NFL.com, the tale of the tape will determine whether Abney will be a consideration for general manager Brian Gutekunst if available with the 52nd overall pick. The Packers don\u2019t necessarily covet tall cornerbacks but they have no taste for short ones. Jaire Alexander is the shortest drafted by Gutekunst at 5-foot-10 1\/4.<\/p>\n Abney was a two-year starter for the Sun Devils with five interceptions, 21 passes defensed and two forced fumbles during that span.<\/p>\n He earned some first-team All-American honors in 2025, when he allowed 32-of-72 passing (44.4 percent) for 321 yards with zero touchdowns, two interceptions and a 46.1 passer rating, according to Pro Football Focus. Plus, he was an efficient tackler with just two missed tackles. He was guilty of 13 penalties the last two seasons (six in 2025).<\/p>\n \u201cKeith Abney is a dreamer,\u201d ASU defensive backs coach Bryan Carrington said<\/a>. \u201cHe is a guy that has high goals, high expectations. He’s a big critic of himself and he’s always looking for any and all opportunities to get better. He’s a student of the game and always trying to find indicators or a way to get an upper hand on his opponent, even if that’s watching extra film in the afternoon, at home. He’s a football junkie.\u201d<\/p>\n Abney is unranked at NFL.com and just outside the top 10 cornerbacks for ESPN\u2019s Mel Kiper, but is the No. 36 overall prospect at PFF.<\/p>\n Abney is the No. 52 overall prospect, according to The Athletic\u2019s Dane Brugler<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAbney has only average size but plays bigger (and more competitively) than he looks,\u201d he wrote. \u201cHe is a little bit of a wild defender, which NFL route runners will take advantage of while he matures. But his fluid change-of-direction skills help him play sticky in coverage.\u201d<\/p>\n