Another cornerback?

That might be the knee-jerk reaction for Packers fans when they see 2018 NFL mock drafts connecting Green Bay to Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward, who flashed a 4.32 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine on Monday. Why the hesitancy? The Packers have spent a first-round pick on a defensive back eight times since 1991. Few if any have been hits.

New defensive coordinator Mike Pettine replaces Dom Capers in a show-me-something year for longtime coach Mike McCarthy, and that show must include a better pass defense. Green Bay allowed a 102 QB rating to opposing passers last season, the second worst in the league ahead of Cleveland. New general manager Brian Gutekunst could find help at cornerback via free agency with a big name such as Malcolm Butler. Or Green Bay could draft another cornerback, and in this case, Ward is the fit.

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Green Bay has the No. 14 pick, meaning Alabama's Minkah Fitzpatrick likely will be off the board. Iowa's Josh Jackson is another possibility, but in this case, it's smart to trust the pipeline.

Ohio State is "Cornerback U" right now, and that's been proven with first-round cornerbacks in three of the last four drafts in Bradley Roby (2014), Eli Apple (2016), Gareon Conley (2017) and Marshon Lattimore (2017), last year's AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Lattimore made an instant impact on New Orleans' defense last season.

Ward is two inches shorter than Lattimore but is a little faster. He had two fewer interceptions than Lattimore in his final season at Ohio State. Ward, however, had 15 pass breakups, which is six more than Lattimore had in 2016. Both played in a system that develops NFL-caliber cornerbacks who are ready to play right away.

Plus, Ward can hit. This might have been Gus Johnson's best call last season.

Still ... Another cornerback?

Ward might not sit well considering Green Bay recently spent first-round picks on defensive backs Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (2014) and Damarious Randall (2015), plus second-round picks on Kevin King and Josh Jones in 2017. King and Jones dealt with injuries last season, and Clinton-Dix has had an up-and-down career, and the Packers traded Randall to the Browns on March 9.

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A lock-down cornerback for the long term is missing. Ward can be that guy. If the Packers don't draft him, somebody else will, and that somebody could be the rival Bears. It also could be Titans, who recently hired former Ohio State defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs.

It's OK for the Packers to go back to the same well they tried in 1991, when they drafted Ohio State's Vinnie Clark in the first round. It was the first of several first-round picks spent on defensive backs.

YEAR PLAYER PICK 1991 Vinnie Clark 19 1992 Terrell Buckley 5 1993 George Teague 29 1995 Craig Newsome 32 1999 Antuan Edwards 25 2004 Ahmad Carroll 25 2014 Ha Ha Clinton-Dix 21 2015 Damarious Randall 30

WATCH: Ward edges out former Ohio State corners in 40-yard dash

Ward could bring that full circle. He would give Pettine another young defensive back to mold even if Gutekunst does seek help at the position via free agency. Green Bay can't get enough help in fixing that pass defense, which has been one of the team's biggest detriments over the last few seasons.

Another cornerback will help. And Ward, an all-weather talent, likely will be the best player available when the Packers get their turn to pick.

There should not be any hesitancy at all.