The Most Important Packers: No. 24 — CB Benjamin St.-Juste
The Green Bay Packers endured a highly disappointing 2025 season, finishing 9-8-1 despite acquiring star Micah Parsons and having a top roster. They blew a 21-3 Wild Card lead against Chicago, losing 31-27, and ended the year with five straight losses. The team developed a troubling pattern of collapsing from double-digit leads, a statistical anomaly. Entering 2026 with the league's fourth-longest losing streak, and hampered by free agency and no first-round pick, the Packers face an uphill battle. Cornerback Benjamin St.-Juste, signed from the Chargers after a strong 2025 season, is highlighted as a crucial addition. St.-Juste, ranked highly by PFF, brings size and competitiveness, and is expected to contend for a starting role, offering hope for a struggling secondary.
The Green Bay Packers were arguably the most disappointing team in football last year. And perhaps no one did less with more than Packers’ coach Matt LaFleur.
Green Bay headed into the 2025 season with one of the NFL’s top rosters, then traded for star defensive end Micah Parsons 10 days before the year began. Suddenly, Packer Nation was dreaming of their first Super Bowl appearance since 2010.
Instead, Green Bay went a remarkably unsatisfying 9-8-1 overall and was the NFC’s No. 7 seed for a third consecutive year. The Packers then blew a 21-3 halftime lead in the Wild Card round against Chicago, gave up 25 fourth quarter points and eventually suffered a shocking 31-27 loss to the arch-rival Bears.
“No way you should lose games in this league when you’re up that much,” running back Josh Jacobs said.
Green Bay, which began the year 9-3-1, finished the season with five straight losses. The Packers now enter 2026 with the league’s fourth-longest losing streak.
Collapsing late in games was the story of Green Bay’s 2025 campaign.
Green Bay had double digit leads in the final minutes twice against Chicago and also vs. Cleveland and somehow went 0-3 in those games. The Packers’ odds of losing all three contests were 1-in-250,000, yet they somehow did it.
“That (expletive), it’s starting to get damn-near embarrassing,” safety Javon Bullard said.
Rebounding won’t be easy as the Packers were hit hard in free agency and didn't have a first round draft pick.
Green Bay’s first training camp practice is July 29. Between now and then I will count down the ‘30 Most Important Packers’ heading into the 2026 campaign.
At No. 24 is cornerback Benjamin St.-Juste.
St-Juste played 356 total snaps with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025, with a high of 40 snaps in the final regular season game of the year. Opposing quarterbacks completed just 19 of 40 passes for 205 yards when throwing at St-Juste last season and had a passer rating of 60.9.
According to Pro Football Focus, St.-Juste had an overall grade of 75.6, which ranked 12th out of 114 qualifying cornerbacks. His PFF coverage grade of 77.1 ranked ninth among 114 qualified cornerbacks, while his run-defense grade of 66.8 ranked 37th at the position.
Green Bay signed St. Juste to a two-year, $10 million free agent contract after the season ended.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound St-Juste was a third round pick of Washington in 2021 and spent four years with the Commanders. He then spent the 2025 campaign with Los Angeles.
St-Juste has started 47 of 70 career games in his five NFL seasons and has played in 49 of 51 games the last three seasons.
St-Juste played in 54 games with 45 starts with Washington. After a promising start to his career, St-Juste struggled with penalties and allowing big plays during his final two seasons.
St-Juste’s best season in Washington came in 2023 when he started 16 games, had 17 passes defensed and forced two fumbles.
Green Bay’s second cornerback — opposite Keisean Nixon — will be one of the more intriguing battles of training camp.
St.-Juste was one of the Packers’ key free agent signings. Green Bay used a second round draft pick on cornerback Brandon Cisse. And holdover Carrington Valentine made 11 starts last year, but struggled mightily.
“Excited about the group,” Packers cornerbacks coach Daniel Bullocks said. “Seeing the DBs, especially the corner room and the safety room, there’s a lot of talent in that room.
“We added competition to that room drafting two corners in the draft and going to get a free agent in St-Juste. You look at the guys that’s already there in Nixon and CV, there’s already talent there in that room, then you look at the safety position too as well with X and Evan and Bull, it’s a talented room and I’m excited to work with them guys.”
“I am excited about the player. We've gone against him when he was in Washington, certainly what he put on tape last year with the Chargers, I thought was impressive. So, you know, he's a really intelligent guy, so I'm excited about him. Obviously, you can't coach that size and length that he possesses, so he'll definitely be in the mix.” — Packers coach Matt LaFleur on St. Juste
“As a defensive back, being competitive and ready to win one-on-one battles every play is essential. I think that is what the Packers are looking for and what I bring.” — St. Juste on what he brings the Packers