Jaire Alexander Should Get More Consideration for Defensive Player of the Year
Jaire Alexander is the best cornerback in football this season. Is that a belt he might have to give up next year? Maybe. There are a ton of talented corners who can contend year and year out. Alexander’s season has been taken for granted by the national media and maybe some Packers fans. Even though there is not a lot of noise from Alexander, he had the best season for a corner in 2020. Despite the lack of interceptions, Alexander is worthy of consideration.
According to @PFF, #Packers CB Jaire Alexander gave up just 35 catches over 563 pass-coverage snaps in 2020. QBs averaged 4.9 yards per attempt against his coverage. 13 pass breakups and only 1 penalty.
No. 1 rated CB in the NFL by overall grade and coverage grade.
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) January 4, 2021
The big problem is the interceptions though. That’s what people see out there. Alexander disrupts a game and disrupts what an offense is trying to do. But guys like Aaron Donald and T.J. Watt are making splash plays all over the field. We’re always seeing Watt and Donald getting to the quarterback. No one sees Alexander keeping number one receivers from doing anything meaningful on the field. It is similar to baseball awards. If Alexander was a pitcher, he would have a great WAR, FIP, and all the advanced metrics that matter while Watt or Donald would both have 20 wins. It’s not fair, but that’s life.
Another thing that isn’t working in Alexander’s favor is the popular vote. People know him, but they don’t really know him that well. Fantasy poisoned all of us with the offensive players in the league. Everyone knew who Mo Allie-Cox was in Week 2. But unless you’re playing in a weird fantasy league, Alexander is not a household name. In awards like this, you would hope that doesn’t matter, but some utilize it. Let’s hope he has a breakout game in the playoffs, so, people know his name.
If Jaire has a season where he picks off four to six passes and keeps up the lockdown defense, a DPOY will be coming to Green Bay like it did for Charles Woodson and Reggie White.
Charlie.