With the news that the Green Bay Packers have officially made star cornerback Jaire Alexander available for trade, general manager Brian Gutekunst is facing an uphill climb in getting his secondary ready to contend for a championship this fall.
The record-breaking $279.2 million salary cap will give the Packers, who were already financially healthy, some extra power on the free-agent market. However, Alexander is the biggest name available in a relatively underwhelming class. That creates a dire situation for an organization hoping to take the next step in Year 3 with Jordan Love, following a season defined by an inability to finish big games against the conference’s elite.
Green Bay is reportedly frustrated with Alexander’s availability over the past few seasons. In addition to being injury-prone, they also took issue with his tolerance for playing through ailments. If they see it as a long-term issue, moving on and rebuilding the position now makes sense rather than being caught flat-footed mid-season.
The Packers took Alexander 18th-overall in 2018, and he was the drafted and developed solution to a barren cornerback room that had held back some great teams during Aaron Rodgers’ prime. After he signed a four-year, $84 million extension that reset the market, the Packers will look for someone to take on his final two seasons. Alexander's contract will inhibit them from yielding significant draft compensation in return.
Intriguing names ranging from D.J. Reed to former Packer Rasul Douglas abound. Therefore, it feels likely that they will bring in at least one veteran, and cornerback has vaulted to the top need ahead of draft season.
Green Bay will host this year's draft, a massive accomplishment for departing president Mark Murphy. The potential availability of big names on the edge-rushing market, such as Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby, has led many to speculate whether the Packers will even make a Day 1 selection on their home turf. Gutekunst told reporters that Murphy has not directed him to keep the pick. Still, it would feel out of character for the organization to part with it.
That brings us to the cornerback market, where one player projected for the middle part of the first round stands out: Texas’ Jahdae Barron. The 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner, given to the best defensive back in the nation, proved that he can do it against the best of the best. His dominant campaign, which included 47 tackles and five interceptions, gave him the edge over big names like Ohio State's Caleb Downs of Ohio State and Georgia's Malaki Starks.
Barron’s scouting report characterizes him as an instinctual player, a key intangible at the position. He's also known for his physicality and ball skills. While a 4.43 40 time doesn’t eclipse the speedsters like Alexander and Eric Stokes that Gutekunst has targeted in the first round, it ain’t slow.
Coming out of Texas as a senior, Barron has the experience that could make for a relatively smooth transition to the NFL. Because of the personnel situation, any cornerback Green Bay selects in the first round will be asked to do some heavy lifting, in stark contrast to the slow development processes that Lukas Van Ness, Jordan Morgan, and Rashan Gary before them have been on.
As teams familiarize themselves with the prospects at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, names will start moving up and down the board. All of the hard work is done. They’ve put their games on tape against at least some elite competition. These next couple of months are all about the intangibles.
In the media’s case, that can have much to do with electric 40 times and other feats of strength and athleticism. While that stuff carries weight, teams can conduct meetings and interviews to gauge football IQ, character, and a player’s fit within their system. Barron gives the impression that he will be one of those players who continues to rise.
When discussing the mentality of playing cornerback, Barron told reporters he asks himself, Can I be committed to the process without being emotionally attached to the result?
His entire session was impressive, but that line captures so much intelligence and maturity.
Looking around the league, you will see many players with natural talent. It isn’t always the case that that talent lands with high-character guys. Teams often have to tolerate players like Antonio Brown and George Pickens, to name just a couple, to field the best team possible to compete for a championship.
The opportunity for the Packers to land Barron in this draft as a key part of rebuilding the cornerback room isn’t just about getting an elite playmaker out there. It's also about investing in a future star who is a refreshing contrast to Jaire Alexander mentally, whose antics the team eventually got tired of.
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