With The 18th Pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, The Green Bay Packers Select Louisville CB Jaire Alexander

The Green Bay Packers caused some whiplash in the 1st round of the 2018 NFL draft by trading down from No. 14 to No. 27, and then trading back up to No. 18 to select Louisville CB Jaire Alexander.

But first about the trades, which reminded me of last year when they traded out of the 1st and into the high 2nd round before drafting CB Kevin King. The move down netted them a 4th round pick (Vince Biegel) for basically no cost.

The #Packers got a 2019 1st round pick, and gave up a 3rd round pick, to overall move down four spots.

That's a pretty remarkable trade, and they likely didn't lose any guys they were considering between 15-17.

— Eric Galko (@OptimumScouting) April 27, 2018

A 5th and a 6th round pick also changed hands but neither of those picks have a lot of value. If Alexander was always their guy, and they took advantage of the Saints to turn a 2018 3rd round pick into a 2019 1st round pick, that's a nifty piece of work. However, should Alexander have been the guy?

Jaire Alexander near top of my ‘rewatch post-combine’ list... Injury in ‘17 kept him quiet but has outstanding tape...

One of best workouts in Indy

40: 4.38
Vert: 35"
Broad: 127"
Shuttle: 3.98
3-Cone: 6.71 https://t.co/rg3JF8vWxs

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 7, 2018

Alexander to the Packers wasn't talked about until Mike Mayock's mock draft came out on Wednesday. I didn't want the Packers to reach for a corner just because the depth chart is paper thin, but a productive college player who had a fantastic workout isn't a reach. However there are reasons why Alexander was a mid-1st round player while a similar CB in Ohio State's Denzel Ward was always considered a Top 10 pick and ended up at No. 4 overall to the Browns.

https://t.co/eBjbzCQ8vR

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) April 27, 2018

It was already mentioned above that Alexander missed time in 2017 due to injury (concern #1) and in the above video it's discussed that he gave up a lot of touchdowns (concern #2). That second concern seems like something that can be fixed with experience and coaching, but injury concerns can plague a guy. But if Alexander can stay healthy, he could be as good as Denzel Ward.

But trading down meant that the Packers passed on Florida State SS Derwin James, who was typically in the Top 10 in every mock draft.

Derwin James on his slide: "It’s surprising, but it doesn’t matter where you get picked at. You look at the NFL, it’s not where you go. It’s what you do when you get there. I’m just happy that I’ve got the opportunity to go."

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) April 27, 2018

The Packers needed a cornerback more than another safety, but going into the draft I thought that if they have a chance to draft a great defensive back, take him and figure out positions later. One knock on James is that while Alexander posted fantastic times in the shuttle and 3-cone, which measures quickness, James skipped both at the NFL combine. Maybe that was enough to bring some doubt into it, plus the fact that the Packers really needed a cornerback more than a safety.

There's some risk here with Alexander because of past injuries and college inconsistencies (too many touchdowns allowed) but he's a 1st round talent and not a reach. Plus the move back to acquire an extra 1st round pick in 2019 made it a successful 1st round for 2018.