Packers pick up fifth-year option on CB Jaire Alexander

The Packers have picked up the fifth-year option for cornerback Jaire Alexander, ensuring one of the league’s top young defenders will be in Green Bay through at least 2022.

According to OvertheCap.com, Alexander’s fifth-year option amounts to a fully guaranteed base salary of $13.294 million. News broke of the deal on Friday, amidst news of an impending summer of discontent on the horizon involving Aaron Rodgers and Brian Gutekunst, whom Rodgers reportedly would like to see fired.

Whatever issues Rodgers and Gutekunst may have, it’s hard to deny that Gutekunst’s first-ever first round pick has lived up to expectations. Taken 18th overall in 2018, Alexander has appeared in 44 of 48 possible games, recording four interceptions and 41 passes defensed in that span. He was voted to his first Pro Bowl in 2020, capping off his season by intercepting Tom Brady twice in the NFC Championship game.

Alexander, still just 24, graded out as Pro Football Focus’s top coverage corner last season, allowing catches on just 35 of 69 passes where he was the primary defender. Opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of just 68.3 when targeting Alexander.