The Green Bay Packers made eight picks during the 2019 NFL draft and signed several others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2019 season for all of the Packers’ top rookies.
Next up: cornerback Ka’dar Hollman, the 185th overall pick and the Packers’ first of two sixth-round draft picks in 2019:
Season stats
Hollman played in four games but didn’t produce a statistic. He had eight tackles and an interception during three preseason games. The Packers made him inactive for 14 of the team’s 18 total games.
Snap counts
Hollman was active and participated in games against the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and both games against the Detroit Lions. He played four snaps on defense (all against the Raiders in Week 7) and 33 special teams snaps, including a season-high 15 in Week 17 against the Lions. He made his NFL debut on special teams against the Cowboys in Week 5.
Best play
First NFL pick for @Versatiledarr! 🏈🙌#HOUvsGB #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/DMK9LdRSsr
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 9, 2019
In the preseason opener, Hollman jumped an intermediate pass from Texans quarterback Joe Webb and made the interception in front of receiver Vyncint Smith on the Packers’ first defensive series of the year.
Season recap, future outlook
The Packers’ depth at cornerback and surprising injury luck allowed Hollman to have a redshirt rookie season. He was active in only four games and played defensive snaps in just one game, limiting his exposure. The Packers were clearly comfortable with other young defensive backs playing roles on special teams, which kept Hollman from making the gameday 46-man roster the majority of weeks. However, the rookie did have an eye-opening summer and coaches often praised his potential as a press-man cornerback, so there’s reason to believe he’s still in the team’s long-term plans at the position. Hollman has the athleticism and demeanor to play in Mike Pettine’s defense, but there’s always a big adjustment to the pro game for young players, especially coming out of the MAC. He probably needed the year to get up to speed. Expect the Packers to add more competition at cornerback, but Hollman is a player to watch this summer. He could surprise if he’s comfortable with the scheme and the speed of the game in Year 2. Already 25 years old, the former Toledo star needs to show substantial development or risk losing his roster spot at camp. His background suggests he won’t go down without a fight.
Season grade
Sixth-round picks at deep positions rarely play in the NFL, and Hollman was no exception. He made plays at camp and during the preseason but wasn’t ready to contribute in any meaningful way as a rookie, even on special teams. He remained on the 53-man roster all year but his playing time was minimal and uneventful. The Packers will hope his year of development will translate into a big second-year jump. With only 37 total snaps as a rookie, his grade is incomplete. Grade: INC