Green Bay Packers Select Jaire Alexander On A Wild Draft Night

Speed trumped size.

Potential bested production.

And injuries be damned.

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst had a wild first draft, trading back from pick No. 14 to No. 27 and then back up to No. 18. When Gutekunst was through maneuvering, he selected Louisville cornerback Jaire Alexander with his first-ever first round pick.

The undersized Alexander (5-10, 195) left Louisville after an injury-plagued junior year that limited him to six somewhat ugly games. But Alexander ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds, is a converted wide receiver with terrific ball skills and had a terrific sophomore season that Green Bay is hoping is the norm.

“He’s very physical, very aggressive,” Gutekunst said of Alexander. “When you have a corner that lacks great height like that, sometimes you start to say, “Is he just a nickel? Can he play inside? Play outside? I think all of our staff, personnel staff and coaching staff, felt really good about him playing inside and outside. He’s a dynamic explosive athlete.”

Green Bay’s secondary was an area of immense need.

In 2017, the Packers set franchise records for futility in opponents’ passer rating (102.0) and completion percentage (67.8%). Green Bay also ranked 22nd in total defense last year and 26th in scoring defense.

Alexander will be expected to help shore up those areas immediately.

“Very few corners when they play the game when the ball’s in the air can you feel them close space. He’s one,” Packers director of college scouting Jon-Eric Sullivan said. “When you watch him play, you can feel him close space when the ball’s in the air, both playing forward and backward. The kid can run.

“On top of that, he’s quick and he can change directions and do those things. We’re just excited about the skill-set as a whole. We think he has the make up to be a high-caliber player.”

Alexander played at an extremely high level as a true sophomore in 2016. That season, Alexander had five interceptions, including two of Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.

In 2017, though, Alexander suffered a knee sprain in the regular season opener while returning a blocked field goal. Alexander missed the next four games and the majority of Weeks 6-8. Alexander broke his hand in practice before Week 9, then played the final three games.

Alexander tried gutting it out with a knee brace early, then fighting through his hand injury late in the year. But he wasn’t the same player he’d been in 2016.

“2016 was definitely a better year,” said Alexander, who also is a terrific punt returner. “I was fully healthy the whole season. (2017) took a little turn, but again, I still had a solid year only giving up five passes. Like I said I was getting targeted by not many people that were catching passes. (2016) was definitely my solid year, but ’17 I thought was pretty good as well.”

Despite the injuries, the Packers had Alexander rated as the No. 2 corner on their board, ahead of players like Central Florida’s Mike Hughes and Iowa’s Josh Jackson.

Green Bay could have stayed put and taken Alexander, or a player like Florida State safety Derwin James or Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds at pick No. 14.

But the Saints offered their 2018 first round pick (No. 27) and their 2019 first rounder to move up to No. 14. Gutekunst said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to acquire two first round picks, then he gave up first- and third round picks to Seattle to trade back up to pick No. 18.

“It was just too good to pass up, quite frankly,” Gutekunst said of trading with New Orleans. “Those first round picks don’t come around very often. We just thought it was in our best interests to do that. We were going to get the same valued player, in my mind, once that trade came up.”

Alexander seems almost certain to start his career in the slot, where he can use his speed and quickness to try and take away the middle of the field. Whether or not Alexander’s size limitations prevent him from ever moving outside remains a question mark.

Alexander is extremely competitive, likes to talk on the field and plays with a swagger that Green Bay’s defense has been missing for quite some time.

“He’s a really versatile, talented, confident player – and tough,” Gutekunst said. “I think his play style is kind of what we wanted to find in a player.

“I liked his aggressiveness, liked his competitiveness. He plays with a passion for the game. He’s certainly not afraid to accept challenges.”

Now, Alexander’s challenge is to help fix Green Bay’s suspect defense.