Overview
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 192 pounds
School: Louisville Cardinals
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.38 seconds
Bench press: 14 reps
Vertical jump: 35 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet, 7 inches
Three-cone drill: 6.71 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 3.98 seconds (third-best at 2018 NFL Combine)
Jaire Alexander 2018 NFL Draft Profile
A high school football ironman who played on both sides of the football, Jaire Alexander put up impressive stats at both cornerback and wide receiver as a senior at Rocky River High School in the Charlotte area. Not only did he tally four interceptions and 10 passes defended that year. He also racked up over 1,100 yards receiving while catching 18 touchdown passes. Collegiate programs saw potential on defense, and he committed to Louisville as a top 100 prospect in the nation at corner.
Alexander played in 12 of 13 games (one start) as a true freshman, missing one due to injury. He also contributed on special teams, leading the team with 223 punt return yards which ranked fifth in the ACC in 2015. He saved his best defensive performance for last, accounting for 10 of his 19 tackles on the year in the Cardinals’ 27-21 win over Texas A&M in the Music City Bowl. But that was just an inkling of what he was capable of as he demonstrated the following season.
Lamar Jackson certainly garnered the headlines in 2016, and rightfully so as he won the Heisman Trophy and had Louisville in the national title discussion for most of the year. But Alexander played a major role as well. His five interceptions led the team and were second in the ACC behind only Florida State’s Tarvarus McFadden. It led to him earning second-team all-conference recognition. Nagging knee and hand injuries limited his effectiveness as a junior. But he still started six games, registering an interception and a sack before declaring for the draft on December 22nd.
Strengths
- instinctual corner who reacts and adjusts in coverage;
- anticipates and closes down short perimeter pass plays;
- makes plays with above average initial burst and ball skills;
- operates with fluid hips and soft, effortless footwork;
- uses solid wrap up technique when tackling;
- willing and able to climb towards the line of scrimmage and contribute in run support;
- teams will like the added value he brings on special teams;
- intense competitor who plays with focused aggression.
Weaknesses
- susceptible to panic grabs if receiver gets in behind;
- must do a better job jolting receivers off their initial step in press coverage;
- could have issues downfield with big-bodied vertical playmakers;
- too often plays with his back to the football, especially in the red zone;
- doesn’t time moves into the backfield on corner blitzes particularly well;
- inconsistent when forced to tackle in open space;
- dealt with a variety of injuries in college which elicit questions over durability.
NFL Comparison: Desmond Trufant
Teams With Need at Position: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks
Projection: Early to mid second round
Bottom Line
Alexander’s injury-riddled 2017 campaign made it a challenge for teams at the next level to evaluate him. For the most part, his tape from the previous season provides the biggest clue as to what he’s capable of. But he did have a fairly impressive Combine workout where his burst and lateral athleticism were on full display. Combine that with his on-field instincts and plus ball skills that he showcased as a true sophomore and you have a prospect with all the makings of a next level playmaker at corner. Add in his ability to contribute on special teams and there’s the potential for him to see quite a bit of the field as a rookie.
