49ers Sign $4.5 Million Free Agent Released by Packers

San Francisco adds cornerback Nate Hobbs to bolster secondary.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 10:49am

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The San Francisco 49ers have signed cornerback Nate Hobbs to a one-year, $4.5 million contract just days after he was released by the Green Bay Packers. Hobbs, a 26-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Raiders before joining the Packers in 2025. While his time in Green Bay was hampered by injuries, the 49ers are hoping to get the best out of Hobbs as they look to improve their secondary.

Why it matters

The 49ers are looking to build on their success from last season and make a deep playoff run. Adding an experienced cornerback like Hobbs, who has shown flashes of potential in the past, could be a key move to bolster their defensive backfield.

The details

Hobbs, a fifth-round pick by the Raiders in 2021, has played in 51 NFL games over his four-year career, making three interceptions, forcing three fumbles, and recording 281 tackles. In 2025 with the Packers, he played in 11 games but was limited by injuries, making just 27 tackles and two pass breakups. The 49ers are hoping a change of scenery and a more prominent role in their defense can help Hobbs return to the form he showed earlier in his career.

  • The Packers released Hobbs earlier this week.
  • The 49ers signed Hobbs to a one-year, $4.5 million contract on Thursday night.

The players

Nate Hobbs

A 26-year-old cornerback who was released by the Green Bay Packers and has now signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco 49ers

An NFL team looking to build on their success from last season and make a deep playoff run.

Green Bay Packers

An NFL team that released cornerback Nate Hobbs earlier this week.

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What they’re saying

“The 49ers are signing cornerback Nate Hobbs to a one-year, $4.5 million deal in free agency only a few days after Green Bay released Hobbs.”

— Tom Pelissero, NFL Network Reporter (NFL Network)

What’s next

The 49ers will look to integrate Hobbs into their defensive scheme and hope he can return to the form he showed earlier in his career.

The takeaway

This signing represents a low-risk, high-reward move for the 49ers as they look to bolster their secondary and make a deep playoff push. If Hobbs can stay healthy and regain his early-career form, he could be a valuable addition to their defense.