Nothing reflects true respect like the admiration of peers. According to one of the NFL’s best receivers, Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers sits in an elite category of cornerbacks.
Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf recently told Kevin Hart that Alexander is among three different cornerbacks who give him the “most trouble” on the field. In order, Metcalf listed Jalen Ramsey, Alexander and Xavien Howard as his top three.
Ramsey has been a first-team All-Pro each of the last two seasons. Howard was a first-team pick in 2020 and a second-team pick in 2021. Alexander, a second-team All-Pro in 2020, might have joined the pair as back-to-back All-Pros had he not injured his shoulder in Week 4 last season.
Metcalf has played the Packers twice: Once during the 2019 divisional round playoffs, and once during the regular season last year. Alexander helped hold Metcalf to 59 yards on four catches in the Packers’ playoff win in January of 2020. But that has been the only meeting between the two elite players. Last season, the Alexander-less Packers held Metcalf to just 26 yards on three catches during a 17-0 shutout at Lambeau Field.
Metcalf probably isn’t alone in his opinion. Alexander, who just signed the most lucrative contract by a defensive back, has given a lot of No. 1 receivers problems over the last few seasons.
It’s unclear when Alexander and Metcalf will meet again. The Packers don’t play the Seahawks during the 2022 season, although a postseason matchup is theoretically possible. Metcalf is a free agent following the 2022 season, and the Packers aren’t certain to play the Seahawks again until the 2024 season.
