2018 NFL Draft: Packers Trade For New Pick, Select Lousiville CB

WISCONSIN — The Green Bay Packers struggled to a 7-9 season in 2017, falling short of a playoff berth after quarterback Aaron Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone early in the season. As a result, the Packers had the 14th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

The Packers eventually selected Jaire Alexander, a cornerback from Lousville after a couple first-round trades. Here's what NFL.com says about the 5-foot-10-inch defender: "Twitchy and quick, Alexander is an instinctive cornerback with the ability to anticipate routes and the quickness to close on throws and make plays on the ball."

PACKERS DRAFT JAIRE ALEXANDER Louisville CB Jaire Alexander has the ability to anticipate routes, and the quickness to close on throws to make impact plays • 5’ 10” 196 lbs • 4.38s 40 #GoPackGo| #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/3Qitmp6vtJ — IKE Packers (@IKE_Packers) April 27, 2018

The Packers started the evening with the 14th pick. They traded that pick to New Orleans. The Packers got the 27th pick this year, a first-rounder in 2019 and a fifth-rounder later this year.

Then, the Packers made a trade with Seattle, acquiring the No. 18 pick in the first round and the No. 248 pick for the No. 27 pick and the 76th pick in the third round and the 186 pick in the sixth.

Here is what various NFL Draft analysts thought the Packers would do:

Site: Lombardi Ave.

Player: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB Alabama

What they're Saying: Green Bay’s secondary still needs a ton of work, particularly at cornerback. Fitzpatrick would be a great addition.

Site: CBS Sports

Player: Denzel Ward, CB Ohio State

What they're saying: Most expect Denzel Ward to be a top-10 pick, but there is a scenario where he's available at No. 14.

Site: Dairyland Express

Player: Tremaine Edmunds, OLB, Virginia Tech

What they're saying: In this scenario, all the quarterbacks and reasonable corners (Minkah Fitzpatrick and Denzel Ward) went by 14 and the Packers end up selecting the best player available, Tremaine Edmunds.

Site: SB Nation https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2...

Player: Harold Landry, Edge, Boston College

What They're Saying: If Ward or Fitzpatrick were available, they’d be the choice for the Packers. If they’re gone, Green Bay could find an edge rusher at No. 14, whether it’s Landry or Marcus Davenport of UTSA.

Site: Draftek https://www.drafttek.com

Player: Marcus Davenport, Edge Rusher, UTSA

What they're saying: Davenport has length, speed, and aggressiveness galore and is likely only scratching the surface of his talent.

Site: NFL.com Charley Casserly http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/...

Player: Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida

What they're saying: Hughes might be the most complete cornerback in the draft.

Site: NFLDraftScout.com http://nfldraftscout.com/brugl...

Player: Marcus Davenport, DE/OLB, UTSA

What they're saying: Green Bay needs to add fresh talent on the edges and Davenport has all the traits to develop into a NFL sack artist.

Site: The Ringer https://www.theringer.com/2018...

Player: CB Jaire Alexander, Louisville

What they're Saying: After trading away Damarious Randall, Green Bay finds itself in the same boat as the Redskins: desperately needing to add talent to a depleted cornerback group.

Site: CBS Sports, Chris Trapasso https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/...

Player: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

What they're saying: This is a prudent pick for the beginning of the Brian Gutekunst era in Green Bay. McGlinchey is ready to be a quality player as a rookie.

Site: Walterfootball http://www.walterfootball.com/...

Player: Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa

What they're saying: The Packers had a huge need at cornerback going into the offseason. And then the Damarious Randall trade happened.

Site: NFL.com http://www.nfl.com/news/story/...
Player: Minkah Fitzpatrick - DB, Alabama
What they're saying: Malcolm Jenkins went 14th overall in the 2009 draft when teams weren't sure which position he would play in the secondary. The Packers could be the beneficiaries of similar thinking this year.

Green Bay Packers' Aaron Jones celebrates his touchdown run with teammates during overtime of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won 26-20. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)