Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander is on the cusp of being recognized as one of the NFL’s top players at his position.
In polling of 50 personnel in the NFL done by ESPN, Alexander landed just outside the top 10 and was named as an honorable mention pick at cornerback.
By this time next year, Alexander – an athletic, confident and energetic corner who doesn’t back down from the challenge of covering No. 1 receivers – could find himself considered among the league’s best at the position.
A first-round pick of the Packers in 2018, Alexander continued ascending during his second season, tallying 17 pass breakups and a pair of interceptions over 16 games in 2019. He allowed completions on just 53.6 percent of passes and a passer rating of 85.3 into his coverage. At Pro Football Focus, his coverage grade improved from 73.0 as a rookie in 2018 to 76.7 in 2019, which ranked in the top 15 of qualified cornerbacks last season.
The Packers appear to have hit a homerun on Alexander, who was Brian Gutekunst’s first draft pick as general manager. The former Louisville star has provided the Packers defense with a disruptive outside cornerback who could provide a foundational piece of the passing defense for years to come.
Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire ranked Alexander among the NFL’s top 11 in zone coverage. Last season, PFF highlighted Alexander as having the potential to be the league’s “next great shutdown corner.”
Alexander needs to cut down on some of the big plays he allowed in 2019, and he’ll need to take advantage of more takeaway opportunities in 2020, but all the tools are in place for him to become an impact player at one of the game’s most valuable positions.
League-wide recognition and respect are ramping up for Alexander. The praise is worthy, but can he take advantage of an opportunity to stamp his name as one of the league’s best young coverage players in 2020?
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