Louisville Football: Green Bay Packers, Jaire Alexander Q+A

Jaire Alexander was the first Louisville football player selected in April’s 2018 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. We connected with Dairyland Express to discuss his fit, expectations and much more!

We’re just a little over two weeks removed from the 2018 NFL Draft, in which we saw Jaire Alexander selected 18th overall by the Green Bay Packers, a team desperate for help at the cornerback position.

After dominating at Louisville during his three years, Alexander is now ready for a new challenge. For months we heard Jaire Alexander would be a third rounder, maybe a second rounder at best. Then the 5’11 corner went out and destroyed the combine, running a 4.48 – 40 yard dash, looked like a first rounder at his pro day, all causing his stock to soar sky high.

On draft night many believed the junior would hear his name somewhere in the 10-15 range, and could even be the first defensive back selected. While that didn’t end up being the case, Alexander landed in a perfect spot with the Green Bay Packers.

Yes, there is a large contingency of Packers fans here in the Ville, but many aren’t too familiar with what role Alexander might play during his rookie season. For that, we brought in Packers expert Brian Sampson, who covers the team for FanSided’s Dairyland Express.

We chatted with Sampson about Alexander’s fit inside of new Packers DC Mike Pettine’s scheme, what role he may play in his rookie season, and much more!

BRL: How does Jaire Alexander fit in with Mike Pettine’s new defensive scheme?

BS: In previous roles as the defensive coordinator, Pettine loved to run a blitz-heavy scheme that relied on man to man coverage in the secondary. Based on Alexander’s history in man to man, he should be able to relay that experience into a head start going into training camp. Green Bay has also lacked a playmaker in recent seasons and Alexander will hopefully fit that bill. The Packers desperately need someone who can flip the script and stop the bleeding and big chunk plays they’ve been accustomed to giving up in recent years.

BRL: What role will Jaire Alexander play in his first season with the Packers?

BS: It’s expected he will almost exclusively play in the slot during his time in the NFL. At 5-foot-10, he’s a bit on the smaller side and that’s okay for Green Bay. At this point, they mostly need talent in their secondary no matter the position. Last year’s second round pick, Kevin King, will play the outside along with the newly signed Tramon Williams. That should open up the slot to be exclusively Alexander’s.

BRL: What has been the reaction from the fans after the drafting of Jaire Alexander?

BS: Fans are still trying to wrap their heads around everything that happened in the first round. First, Green Bay saw two dream targets, safety Derwin James and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, fall to them at No. 14. Both guys were huge targets of the Packers heading into the draft. Then, Green Bay received a too good to be true trade offer from the New Orleans Saints in order to move back to the No. 27 pick but also pick up a 2019 first in the process. THEN, they moved back up the draft four picks later and selected Alexander at 18 and missing out on their other two prospects. Overall, Packer fans are okay with the pick, as long as Alexander produces on the field.

BRL Who will Jaire Alexander be competing with for snaps during his rookie season?

BS: Alexander’s main competition for snaps will likely come from former second round pick Quinten Rollins. Rollins is heading into his fourth year in the NFL and has struggled to adjust after playing college basketball at the University of Miami Ohio. Rollins is talented, however, and could push Alexander if he figures things out this year. The more likely scenario sees Alexander impressing from the jump and winning the “starting” job in the nickel package.

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The Packers rookie mini camp has gotten underway, and through the first few days Jaire Alexander has gotten rave reviews. The former Louisville star has reportedly spent a lot of time inside during mini-camp, which seems to be the spot he’ll see the most amount of spot this season, as Brian Sampson noted earlier.

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There’s also been a lot of talk of the quick connection between Alexander and  fellow corner and second round pick Josh Jackson

Mike Spofford of the Packers website wrote about the chemistry between the two players, and how that connection may help them become the next great Green Bay duo.. Alexander told Spofford,

"“That’s my boy. We’re definitely here just to work hard. We came in together so we want to make sure we work hard and just push each other and push everybody else around us…“It’s cool to see him lined up across from me. We’re both putting in work fighting for the same thing.”"

While there’s been plenty of talk of the Packers going against the grain and drafting a smaller corner, most of that has been put to bed with the performance of Alexander against the team’s two wide receiver draft selections, both of which are taller receivers.

The Packers once instituted  the “Terrell Buckley rule” where team management vowed not to take a corner that was undersized. Terrell Buckley, a former top five selection in the NFL by the Packers, and onetime member of the Louisville coaching staff that has experience being around Alexander, said size has nothing to do with success.

Alexander also had this message for Packer fans;

Louisville fans already know the type of player that the Packers are getting in Jaire Alexander. During his three years on campus, he became known for his elite ball and cover skills, as well as his trash-talking, and supreme swag.

Alexander is going to bring a new style to the Packers defense, one that is greatly needed. Along with second rounder Josh Jackson, the Packers secondary should be able to go from one of the worst in 2017 to one of the most improved in 2018.

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What a fun season it should be for Louisville fans with new Cards in the pros Jaire Alexander, Lamar Jackson and Geron Christian all looking to play prominent roles in their first seasons in the NFL.