Giants Country

Another Cornerback? If Giants Could "Steal" this Packer, Why Not?

Jaire Alexander is one of the NFL's top cornerbacks these days, and if the Giants could "steal" him from the Packers, just imagine how he'd change the defensive secondary.

Brandon Olsen

Another Cornerback? If Giants Could "Steal" this Packer, Why Not?
Another Cornerback? If Giants Could "Steal" this Packer, Why Not? /
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As we count down to training camp, the Giants Country editorial team went through the rosters of each of the Giants' 2023 regular-season opponents and selected a player that, if the Giants could acquire for the upcoming season, they absolutely should.

Who did we pick from each team? Stay tuned--and yes, for the NFC East teams, we picked two players since the Giants play them twice.

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Jaire Alexander, Cornerback

Height: 5-foot-10 | Weight: 196 lbs.
College: Louisville | Exp.: 7
Career Stats: 10 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 1.5 sacks, 244 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 1 safety

If given the opportunity to steal one player from the Green Bay Packers, there are plenty of options. The Giants could take interior offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins, dynamic playmaker Christian Watson, elite pass-rusher Rashan Gary, or just take defensive lineman Kenny Clark and strengthen what is arguably the best defensive line in football already and just allow that group to make up for any weaknesses the team may have.

The best option, however, has to be Jaire Alexander, an elite cover man at just 26 years old with a contract that keeps him with the team through 2027.

Since getting drafted, Alexander has been a two-time Second-team All-Pro (2020 and 2022) after missing most of the 2021 season with a shoulder injury suffered in Week 4 that kept him out of action until the Divisional Round loss to the 49ers. When healthy, there’s no doubt that Alexander is a top-ten cornerback in the NFL.

While standing 5-foot-10 isn’t ideal for playing the boundary, Alexander has proven that it’s not an area of concern for him. He consistently lined up against opposing teams' top receivers and still allowed a passer rating of just 66.2 while intercepting five passes and allowing just two touchdowns in 2022 en route to his second Pro Bowl berth.

MORE "STEAL A PLAYER" ENTRIES

Week 1: Micah Parsons | Week 2: Budda Baker | Week 3: Fred Warner | Week 4: Tariq Woolen | Week 5: Tyreek Hill | Week 6: Stefon Diggs | Week 7: Terry McLaurin | Week 8: Garrett Wilson | Week 9: DE Maxx Crosby | Week 10: WR CeeDee Lamb | Week 11: P Tress Way | Week 12: RB Rhamondre Stevenson 

Where Would He Fit In?

It’s no question that if Alexander were a Giant, he would instantly be the best cornerback on the roster. That isn’t a knock against Adoree’ Jackson at all--Alexander is just one of the best cornerbacks on the planet right now, and when he’s allowed to operate in man-to-man coverage, he thrives.

Under Wink Martindale, Alexander would get to line up against an opposing team's top wide receiver and try to erase them from the game plan. While Alexander would be the best cornerback on the roster, Jackson is still plenty talented to give the Giants the versatility to either have both corners shadow an opposing receiver or just line up on the outside--and whoever lines up opposite them gets blanketed.

Alexander would also allow Martindale to be even more creative as a mad scientist blitzer with his elite speed and quickness. Alexander has 14 pass-rush attempts in his career so far and has seven pressures, including two sacks on those attempts.

While obviously, the primary goal of a cornerback isn’t to be used as a pass-rusher, Martindale did use cornerbacks on blitzes 58 times during the 2022 season, so it would be something asked of him.

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Brandon Olsen
BRANDON OLSEN

Brandon Olsen is the founder of Whole Nine Sports, specializing in NFL Draft coverage, and is the host of the Locked On Gators Podcast. 

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