Jaire Alexander is first-team All-Pro snub

Third-year corner Jaire Alexander was an AP All-Pro second-team selection on Friday. But he deserved more.

On Friday, former Louisville Cardinal and current Green Bay Packer Jaire Alexander was presented with second-team All-Pro honors by the Associated Press. The panel of voters consists of 50 media members across the NFL landscape that all vote on who they think the best-of-the-best is at each position.

Only two corners can make first team and two can make second team. The first team consists of Dolphins corner Xavien Howard and Rams corner Jalen Ramsey.

Howard had the most interceptions (10) since Antonio Cromartie did so in 2007 and he was deservedly the leading vote-getter with a nearly unanimous 47 out of 50 votes.

Then, things got interesting. Ramsey and Alexander each had just one interception in 2020, but were both known for their abilities to completely lock down top receivers man-to-man week in and week out.

Ramsey ended up with 25 votes – vaulting him to first-team status. Meanwhile, Alexander came in third in the voting with 18 votes.

You can find the complete voting totals throughout the league here.

Why did Jaire get snubbed?

While Ramsey and Alexander were comparable by stats and their ability to shut down some of the game’s best receivers, Ramsey likely earned the nod simply due to his overall resume within the league.

Ramsey was drafted in the top-10 in 2018 and has often been a huge name in the sport because of his trash talking and the blockbuster trade in 2019 that sent him to the Rams from the Jaguars. Ramsey is simply the “bigger” name.

Ramsey is deserving of being an all-pro in some form, but Alexander proved that he can operate on an island and be one of the most effective players in the league from the outside or the slot at just 5’10”.  His 18 pass break-ups led the league and Pro Football Focus graded him out as the best corner in the league in 2020.

This only proves that Alexander is getting closer. His name is known. Smart people in the league and those who cover it understand just how good he is as a player. Unfortunately, Ramsey’s history and his longer legacy withstanding likely prevented Alexander from first-team honors in 2020 despite similar production.

2021 could be Jaire’s year. His own legacy is growing in the NFL and he has already gotten All-Pro nods before his second NFL contract. He is destined for even more such honors before long.

His best path to first-team is likely going to have to be through more interception production or simply repeating his performance in 2020 with the hopes that voters are understanding what they are seeing from the soon-to-be 24-year old.

With Green Bay entering the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the NFC, Alexander will have the opportunity to silence those that failed to vote for him.

Rest assured, Alexander would trade one less accolade for a Super Bowl ring.