Packers star CB Jaire Alexander is worth every penny of his massive contract

The Packers have gotten everything they paid for in All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander and then some. The team agreed to terms on a four-year, $84 million deal earlier this offseason, which makes him the highest-paid cornerback in the league on a per-year basis. The former Louisville Cardinal has been and will be a massive piece of this Packers defense now moving into the future.

Despite an injury-riddled 2021 campaign  — he missed all but four regular-season games due to a shoulder injury — Alexander is one of the best shutdown cornerbacks in the game. In 2020, Alexander was named to both the Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro rosters. He finished tied for sixth in passes defensed with 13 and set career highs in completion percentage allowed and sacks. The North Carolina native should've been named to at least a Pro Bowl in 2019. He logged 17 pass-breakups, which was fourth-best in the NFL. He has recorded at least one interception in every season, which can be taken with a grain of salt. He has seven forced turnovers in his career, but most quarterbacks don't even attempt to throw his way because they know what he is capable of. Aside from his rookie season in 2018, Alexander has started in every single game that he has played in, which is pretty remarkable.

Speaking of his rookie season, he set a career-high in blitzes with 11 that season. That is by far the most he has ever had in his four-year career. That shows how versatile he really is. Forget about the fact that he can lockdown the slot and the outside receiver. He can come on a surprise blitz if need be. That effort ended up resulting in him sacking Vikings QB Kirk Cousins for a safety in the 2020 season-opener.

His versatility, consistency and speed are all what make him the complete package. He has recorded at least 50 tackles in every season, aside from last year. However, what was special about last year was that he fought back to play in the postseason. Most players would've thrown in the towel on the season. Not No. 23. In what would be a tough playoff loss in the divisional round against San Francisco, the trio of Alexander, standout acquisition Rasul Douglas and talented rookie Eric Stokes would go on to help Green Bay's defense hold the 49ers to zero offensive points. That was the first time that trio played together all year.

As the team moves toward training camp and the 2022 season, Alexander, Douglas and Stokes look to be the best cornerback trio in the entire league. They are quick. They are instinctive. They perform their roles to perfection. They will help the Packers to possibly put themselves into Super Bowl contention once again and maybe even win it. But with the $84 million man in Alexander as part of that room, this defense is in great hands for the foreseeable future.