Five Packers we should be thankful for in the 2020 season

3. Jaire Alexander

Jaire Alexander is ascending to stardom in the NFL. He came to the Packers as a part of the 2018 draft class. He was their first-round pick and he has made the Packers look like geniuses for taking him.

In his rookie season, Alexander played in 13 games, starting 11 of them. He had a pick and 11 passes defended with two forced fumbles. I think during his rookie season, we all knew that he had a chance to be one of the best in a few years.

Last season, Alexander really took the role of CB1 on the Packers defense. He started all 16 regular-season games and was almost always on the opponent’s top receiver. He added another couple of interceptions, but he should have had about three or four more. He dropped a few that he probably should have caught. If there is a knock on Alexander, it’s that he needs to come up with some of the interceptions that he lets slip through his hands.

This season, Alexander has been absolutely lights-out. He has shut down a few elite receivers this year, most notably the Falcons’ Calvin Ridley, who was coming into Lambeau Field on a hot streak in Week 4. With Alexander covering him, Ridley had zero receptions for zero yards. Absolutely shut down. With how the defense has been playing this season, having Jaire shutting down opposing receivers has been very much needed.

At just 23 years old, Alexander is still young. Before Jaire came to Green Bay, cornerback was a kind of a joke. It wasn’t that long ago the Packers had LaDarius Gunter coving Julio Jones in the NFC Championship game. Jaire has brought the Packers’ pass defense back to relevance.