Packers: Jaire Alexander signs four-year, $12.1 million contract

First-round pick Jaire Alexander has signed his contract with the Green Bay Packers.

Alexander has made his deal official in Green Bay.

The Packers traded twice before selecting Alexander with the 18th overall pick in last month’s draft, and they now have him under contract for the next four years.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network had the details of Alexander’s deal with the Packers.

As he was a first-round pick, the Packers will have the benefit of a fifth-year option. If Alexander plays well in his first three seasons, it’s likely the team will exercise his fifth-year option, ensuring he’s with the team for another year before potentially hitting free agency.

Alexander — along with cornerback Josh Jackson, the team’s second-round draft pick who is yet to sign his contract — will be tasked with fixing Green Bay’s secondary.

Cornerback has long been an issue for the Packers.

Not re-signing Casey Hayward proved to be a mistake, as Hayward has since earned two All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors with the Los Angeles Chargers.

It was also a bad decision to let Micah Hyde leave last season. The talented defensive back plays both safety and corner. A five-interception season earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl and a second-team All-Pro selection last year.

The Packers’ top two draft picks in 2015 — Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins — didn’t pan out as the team had hoped. Randall played well late in 2017, but was traded away for a backup quarterback this offseason. Rollins has been hit by injuries.

Losing Sam Shields in 2016 due to injury was also bad news for Green Bay’s pass defense. Now healthy, Shields is a member of the Los Angeles Rams.

Alexander and Jackson are important pieces to rebuilding the weakest area on the roster.

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Alexander is now officially signed. Hopefully he’ll have a few All-Pro selections to his name by the time he’s in need of a new deal.