Packers’ Secret Meeting with Missouri’s Toriano Pride Jr. Reveals SHOCKING NFL Plans!

The Green Bay Packers are gearing up for the 2026 NFL Draft with a keen eye on strengthening their secondary. This focus comes in light of their recent acquisition of cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, which, while a positive move, does not fully address the team’s pressing need for depth in the cornerback position. Simply put, the Packers are searching for capable bodies to bolster this critical area of their defense.

Recent reports from Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated indicate that the Packers are actively pursuing potential candidates. Notably, they held a “formal meeting” with Missouri cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. during the NFL Combine. This meeting underscores the Packers' intent to explore options that could enhance their defensive lineup.

In terms of athleticism, Pride certainly makes an impression. His performance at the Combine included an impressive 4.32-second 40-yard dash, complemented by a 37.5-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot broad jump. These statistics culminated in a Relative Athletic Score of 8.33, highlighting his potential as a dynamic addition to the Packers’ roster. Throughout his college career, Pride primarily played as an outside cornerback, spending two years at Clemson before transferring to Missouri for another two seasons. While he does have some experience in the slot, his primary strength lies on the outside.

However, Pride faces scrutiny regarding his size. Measuring in at just over 5-foot-10 and weighing 185 pounds at the Combine, he falls into the 20th percentile for height and 19th percentile for weight among cornerbacks. In a league that often favors taller, heavier defensive backs, this could be a significant drawback. Nonetheless, this size concern may not be as decisive for the Packers now as it was in previous years. Under General Manager Brian Gutekunst, the team's approach to cornerback sizing has evolved, becoming more flexible compared to the past eras dominated by personnel leaders like Ted Thompson and Ron Wolf.

Pride's height is actually slightly above that of Jaire Alexander, who was drafted in 2018 and viewed as a “combo breaker” in terms of size for the Packers. Alexander's success has perhaps opened the door for smaller cornerbacks to be considered viable options in the team's strategy. Currently, Pride is listed as player number 356 on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board, indicating he may go undrafted or be selected late in the draft—potentially making him a candidate for the Packers to sign as an undrafted free agent.

As the Packers continue to evaluate their options ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, keeping track of their meetings with potential prospects like Pride will be essential. The evolving dynamics of the team's approach to cornerback size and performance could signal a shift in how they build their defensive unit moving forward. For fans and analysts alike, the coming draft promises to be a pivotal moment in shaping the future of the Packers' secondary.