New England Patriots receive high grades in 2018 NFL Draft first round
Green Bay Packers No. 18: Louisville CB, Jaire Alexander
The Packers wasted little time moving back up the first round after trading back from No. 14. The Packers acquired the 27th pick from the New Orleans Saints in that deal and parlayed that into a deal with the Seattle Seahawks to move up to No. 18.
In addition to the 18th pick, the Packers also received the No. 248 pick. Green Bay sent the No. 27 pick, No. 76 and No. 186 to Seattle. With the 18th pick, the Packers selected Louisville cornerback, Jaire Alexander.
This was a good move by the Packers. With the trades they made they acquired a future first round pick and still filled a need this year without reaching. Alexander was expected to go in this range of the first round and improves a secondary that was in need of a talent upgrade.
Green Bay signed veteran Tramon Williams, but that wouldn’t have been enough, especially after they traded Damarius Randle to the Cleveland Browns earlier this offseason. Alexander will help offset that loss and should step right into the lineup along last year’s second-round pick, Kevin King.
The one knock against Alexander is his size. He measured in at only 5’10, but he plays bigger than that. He is a willing run defender and is a playmaker as well. Alexander is a good pick for a Packers secondary that battled inconsistency and injuries last season. The selection of Alexander, combined with the haul in the other drafts, warrants a high grade.