Cornerback Jaire Alexander

I, for one, was incredibly disappointed to not see first-round pick Jaire Alexander play against the Titans. Alexander is the latest in the turnover and infusion of talent over the last several years at the cornerback position. Fellow rookie corner Josh Jackson did play on Thursday and he showed up. Now, it’s Alexander’s turn.

As there are for any first round pick, there are incredibly high expectations for the 2018 rookie from Louisville. Alexander has won fans over with his personality and swagger early in training camp. In one practice, he even intercepted an Aaron Rodgers pass and drew praise from the star quarterback. If that doesn’t make you excited, then I don’t know what does.

Alexander is expected to be an immediate contributor in the secondary. Some questions remain as to how exactly Alexander will be used. Early reports indicate his primary usage will be as a nickel corner. In past seasons, that role would be less significant than a starting role. But, with the evolution of NFL offenses, nickel corners have become more and more important. Under new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, the nickel formation could and probably will be the team’s base defensive formation. Alexander should see significant playing time this season.

As with any young NFL corner, it’s important to temper expectations just a little bit. Acclimation to the speed of the NFL game is particularly difficult for defensive backs. Sometimes it can take a couple of seasons to get fully up to speed. For Alexander, there will be some speed bumps in his rookie campaign, but his swagger is infectious and I expect his impact to be immediate.

Next Page: No. 1