In 2018, the Green Bay Packers decided to bank on a young cornerback named Jaire Alexander. He was a standout cornerback under Bobby Petrino at the University of Louisville. The Packers drafted Jaire with the 18th overall pick in ’18. Since coming to Green Bay, he’s been nothing but a model of consistency and shown leadership. The Packers’ defense has been the downfall of the team for the last few seasons. However, he’s been the shining point. This week, The Packers have rewarded Jaire with a contract extension that will keep him in Green Bay. A four-year deal worth $84 million.
Jaire is a top-five cornerback in the league today and he’s proven that with his play. The one thing I immediately notice when he’s playing is the patience he displays. Jaire will either play press or zone coverage and no matter the receiver he’s lined up against, he’s never doing too much to make a play because it’s almost as if he’s letting everything come to him. Also watching Jaire, he’s always in really good position. He just has the knack to place himself in the right spot to make a play on the ball which leads me to my next piece of the breakdown. This is a ball-hawk playing corner. He might not always get the interception, but trust me, he will make a play on the ball somehow and someway. Jaire isn’t just a guy who plays in the backend. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, he can come in on that corner blitz and get to the passer. Anything you ask of him, he does it. No questions asked. There are certain football players I refer to as “menaces”. Jaire is one of those guys and you must account for him.
He’s the Packers’ best defensive player. I always say each defense has that tone-setter and that’s number 23. Jaire has also been the Packers’ most consistent secondary player since the Charles Woodson days years ago. He’s as lockdown as they come. The 2020 season speaks for itself. When receivers lined up against Jaire, he was able to hold his own. Opposing number one receivers combined for just 14 catches and 143 yards altogether against the cornerback. He deserves every penny of this extension.
