The Green Bay Packers are the NFL’s only team with three players in Pro Football Focus’ rankings of the top 32 cornerbacks entering the 2022 season.
Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas all made the top 32 for PFF.
Alexander ranked No. 2 overall (behind only Jalen Ramsey) and was placed in the “elite” category. Stokes (No. 29) and Douglas (No. 32) were in the “up-and-comers” tier.
No other team had more than two players make the top-32 list.
Alexander was PFF’s top-graded cornerback during the 2020 season but missed all but four games due to a shoulder injury in 2021. He’ll return in 2022 as the highest-paid defensive back in football, and the Packers could have him follow around No. 1 receivers.
Key stat from PFF: Alexander has the NFL’s highest single-coverage grade since 2018.
Stokes was incredible as a rookie, especially after the Packers lost Alexander during the first month of the season. The 2021 first-round pick handled No. 1 cornerback duties for most of his first year and proved to be sticky in coverage. He brings elite speed and length to the table on the perimeter. His ascension will continue in 2022 if he can make more plays on the football in the air.
Key stat from PFF: Stokes allowed the lowest rate of separation among cornerbacks in 2021.
Douglas was a revelation after arriving in Green Bay in October, intercepting a team-high five passes and returning a pair for touchdowns. He signed a three-year deal with the Packers this offseason. His ability to read and react helped turn him into a big-play corner in Green Bay.
Key stat from PFF: Douglas set a new career-high in overall grade in 2021.
Cornerback play can be a foundational piece of any elite defense. The Packers were tough to throw on during the 2021 season even without Alexander in the lineup. With Alexander healed, Stokes entering Year 2 and Douglas re-signed, the Packers have a very strong case for possessing the best trio of cornerbacks in the NFL. Combine the talent at corner with the players rushing the passer up front and the experience at safety, and the Packers should have all the pieces necessary for being a top defense against the pass in 2022.
