The Green Bay Packers selected Jaire Alexander with the 18th-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Here’s all you need to know about Alexander.
Strengths
Alexander has average size, but he can flat out fly. The junior out of Louisville should have no problem turning and running with just about any receiver in the NFL, showcasing both burst out of his stance and the ability to maintain top-end speed throughout a route.
The youngster also provides some versatility as someone who can both start immediately in a base defense and play on special teams. Due to his speed, Alexander should make a nice impact returning either kicks and punts.
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Weaknesses
The technique is something that needs to be worked on. It doesn’t take a ton of film study to realize that Alexander can play the man a little bit more with his hands than you would like to see. It’s also fair to say that with the right coaching, that shouldn’t be a problem down the line.
Lastly, Alexander doesn’t have the biggest frame. He could still fill out, but at 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, he could have some issues getting up in a bump-and-run technique. Only doing 14 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine is further evidence of that issue.
Grade
Grade: A
This grade not only factors in the kind of player that Alexander is expected to be, but the deft trading by Brian Gutekunst. Gutekunst was working his first NFL Draft and found a way to land an elite corner while adding the New Orleans Saints’ first-round pick in 2019.