Packers: Jaire Alexander in top five of NFL.com CB rankings for 2021

A Pro Bowler last season, there’s no doubt that Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander has become one of the best in the league at his position.

Alexander was often asked to cover the number one wide receiver on the other side of the field, a matchup he often won no matter who he was up against.

We saw moments of All-Pro play from Alexander in his first two seasons, he just needed to put it together consistently over the course of a whole year. Well, in 2020, his third season, that’s exactly what he did.

With the 2021 season fast approaching, NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks has ranked the top five lockdown corners in the league. At number four is Alexander. Brooks wrote:

"“The feisty cover corner from Louisville has quickly joined the ranks of the elite since entering the league in 2018. Alexander displays outstanding instincts and awareness in coverage while challenging pass catchers to earn every yard on the perimeter. With an ultra-competitive demeanor and a fearless attitude, the Packers’ CB1 makes life miserable for quarterbacks searching for completions on his side of the field.”"

It’s hard to disagree with Brooks’ assessment or his top five rankings. Alexander is in good company with the likes of Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard also making the top five. There isn’t a lot between these great cornerbacks and you could make a case for any of them being at the top.

Quarterbacks tended not to throw in Alexander’s direction last season, a sign he regularly has great coverage and has earned the respect of his opponents.

And there’s a good reason for that. Throwing in Alexander’s direction isn’t usually a good idea. According to Pro Football Focus, he had a forced incompletion rate of 19.1 percent.

Alexander had 13 pass defenses in the regular season along with one interception. His interception numbers would be higher if QBs went his way more often. Take the NFC title game as an example, when he intercepted Tom Brady twice.

Alexander has become a game-changing talent for the Packers. He can shut down number one wide receivers and cut the field in half for opposing quarterbacks. He’s everything the Packers needed at the cornerback position and he’s become one of the best in the league.