2018 NFL Draft Grades: Packers get an A for Jaire Alexander after second trade of first round
The Packers move down, then up before landing a new cornerback for their defense
With the No. 18 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Packers selected Jaire Alexander, cornerback out of Louisville after a trade with the Seahawks.
Draft tracker: Get grades for every pick
Grade: A
Pete Prisco: They get a smooth cover player who plays with a swagger. They wanted a corner and get a darn good one.
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Scouting report
Chris Trapasso: Exceptional mirroring skills. Ultra aware in zone. Drives rapidly on the football and is aggressive at the catch point. Plays bigger than his smaller stature. Can thrive in any type of coverage due to football IQ and athleticism.
Fantasy impact
Jamey Eisenberg: The Packers traded up with the Seahawks to select Alexander, and he fills a huge need at cornerback. Given his position, and he could start or be the No. 3 cornerback along with Tramon Williams and Kevin King, he has minimal Fantasy value in re-draft IDP leagues. In rookie-only dynasty leagues with IDP options, Alexander is only worth drafting with a late-round flier. Alexander does make the Packers DST better.
NCAA recap
A three-star prospect from Charlotte, N.C., Rocky River High School, Alexander had been committed to South Carolina but flipped to the Cardinals after an official visit in early December. He was an early enrollee with the Cardinals and made an immediate impact during that spring campaign. He played in 12 games with one start as a true freshman and finished with 19 tackles and one interception. He was the team's top punt returner at 9.7 yards a kick. In 2016, Alexander became one of the top cornerbacks in the country. He was named second team All-ACC and developed into one of the most physical and top cover cornerbacks in the country. Alexander started all 13 games and led U of L with five interceptions. He finished with 39 tackles, 14 pass break ups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. As a punt returner, Alexander averaged 16.2 yards on 20 returns, including a 69-yard punt return against Florida State.
Heading into the 2017 season, Alexander was considered one of the top players in the secondary but was limited because of injuries. He suffered a sprained knee late in the first half of the opener against Purdue when he attempted to return a blocked field goal. Alexander missed the next four games and then returned for two games, to record five tackles for the Cardinals. He missed another game with the knee injury and one more with a broken hand before returning for the final three regular-season games when he had 14 tackles and one interception. Alexander's father said on Dec. 20 that he received a second-round draft grade and wasn't in a hurry to make a decision on his future. But two days later he announced he was entering the draft and would skip the TaxSlayer Bowl where Louisville played Mississippi State.















