The Green Bay Packers used their top two picks in this year’s draft to strengthen at cornerback. They grabbed Jaire Alexander with their first-round pick, and it’s been so far so good for the Louisville product in Green Bay through two games.
Pro Football Focus has graded every first-round pick from this year through the first two games and Alexander has a grade of 73.7, the highest for any rookie cornerback (per Brian Jones of 247Sports):
Alexander has made a remarkably strong start to his career, and through two weeks, he owns the highest defensive grade among rookie cornerbacks. He’s played 105 of his team’s 143 defensive snaps, limited his opponents to an average just 3.5 yards after the catch per reception and has also notched three defensive stops.
PFF’s grading system seems to really like the Packers’ young corners. Josh Jackson, their second-round pick after Alexander, was also PFF’s highest-rated rookie corner in the preseason.
Alexander very nearly recorded his first career interception in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings. He picked off a Kirk Cousins pass in the fourth quarter which would have sealed the win for the Packers. Unfortunately for him and the team, his pick was taken away due to Clay Matthews’ controversial roughing the passer penalty and the two teams wound up tying.
It’s a promising sign that one of the Packers’ young corners has had such a strong start to his career. If the Packers are to achieve success this season, they’ll likely need Alexander to continue that fine play throughout the year.
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